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John 9:39-41
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?”41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
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The narcissistic Pharisees were in fact blind, even though they claimed that they could see. They were blind to the true condition of their hearts, thinking themselves to be righteous teachers and spiritual leaders, when in fact their hearts were full of evil thoughts, desires, and motives. Jesus later was very direct in pointing out to the Pharisees their blindness.
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Matthew 23:15-26
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites….
16 “Woe to you, blind guides….
17 You fools and blind men…
19 You blind men…..
24 You blind guides……
26 You blind Pharisee…..
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When you think about this in physical terms, it is unimaginable that a physically blind person would claim to be able see, since it would be obvious to himself and everyone around him that he was blind. But in the unseen spiritual world, only the truly wise and discerning are able to tell the difference between spiritual seeing and blindness.
Even though the Pharisees were blind, they did not recognize or admit that they were blind. More than that, they were unwilling for anyone else to suggest that they were blind. While they couched their challenge to Jesus in diplomatic terms, they undoubtedly were seething on the inside at any suggestion by Him that they were spiritually blind.
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Proverbs 15:12
12 A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
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This is typical of narcissists, as even the secular literature discusses how narcissists
- Do not think they need help
- Will not admit (for some) that they are narcissists
- Refuse to go to counseling
- If they go to counseling, spend their time convincing the counselor why they don’t need help (or even try to turn the tables to try to make the counselor think that he is in the wrong)
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There is mercy for those who admit they have an problem (or realize and admit that they are spiritually blind)…….
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Proverbs 28:13
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion..
But those who in their pride refuse to admit problems, sins, failures will not be able to make progress and will continue in that path of failure.
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John 9:41
41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
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This is similar to the parable which Jesus told at another time
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Luke 18:9-14
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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Here is the entire passage where Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees their blindness…..
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Matthew 23:15-26
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ 17 You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19 You blind men, which is [h]more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?20 Therefore, [k]whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.
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