Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5125 Parts of the body and clothing  »  5133 blindness  »  5135 blindness, spiritual

An inability or unwillingness to perceive the truth of the gospel.

Unbelievers are spiritually blind

1 Corinthians 2:14 See also Psalm 32:9; Psalm 92:6-7; Proverbs 4:19

The blindness both of idols and those who worship them:

Isaiah 44:9,18-19 Ezekiel 12:2; Micah 4:12

Jesus Christ speaks in parables because of the spiritual dullness of the people:

Matthew 13:13-15; Luke 8:10; Isaiah 6:9-10 Matthew 15:16; Luke 24:25; John 1:5; John 9:40-41 the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees; Romans 3:11; 1 Corinthians 14:23,24

Spiritual blindness is a result of sin

Lamentations 4:14; Zephaniah 1:17; 2 Corinthians 4:4 See also Mark 9:32; Luke 18:34; John 3:19-20; John 12:39-40; Ephesians 4:17-19

The consequences of spiritual blindness

Romans 1:18-23 See also Deuteronomy 28:28-29 lack of success, oppression and robbery; Psalm 82:5; Isaiah 42:25 the violence of war; Isaiah 59:10; Lamentations 4:14; Matthew 6:23; Acts 28:26-27; Isaiah 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 1:6

Hatred and darkness:

1 John 2:9,11

The removal of spiritual blindness

2 Corinthians 4:6 See also Numbers 24:4; 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha asks the LORD to open his servant's eyes; Psalm 119:18,130; Psalm 146:8; Isaiah 32:3; Isaiah 35:5; Isaiah 42:16-18; Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1 fn; Luke 24:31; John 3:3 No-one can see the kingdom of God without being born again; John 8:12 Jesus Christ is the light of the world; John 9:39; Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9

The spiritual blindness of Israel

Isaiah 1:3 See also Deuteronomy 29:4; Deuteronomy 32:28; Isaiah 29:10; Jeremiah 4:22; Jeremiah 5:21; Micah 4:12; Romans 11:7-8,25; 2 Corinthians 3:14-15

The spiritual blindness of leaders

Matthew 15:14 See also Isaiah 29:9-12; Isaiah 56:10; Matthew 23:16-19,24-26; Luke 6:39; John 3:10; John 8:27; John 9:40-41; John 10:6; Romans 2:19-21; 2 Peter 2:12

The spiritual blindness of believers

John 14:9 See also Job 42:3; Daniel 12:8; Matthew 15:16 pp Mark 7:18; Matthew 16:9 pp Mark 8:21; Luke 2:50; Luke 9:45; Luke 24:25; John 12:16; 2 Peter 1:9

The spiritual blindness of a church

Revelation 3:17-18

See also

1439  revelation
4123  Satan, deceiver
4809  darkness
4835  light, spiritual
5004  human race & sin
6139  deadness, spiritual
6181  ignorance
6728  regeneration
7781  seer
8226  discernment
8474  seeing God
8834  unbelief