This is the treatment which Christ received from his
enemies. It refers to a sport which was common among children, called
μυΐνδα, in which it was the manner first to blindfold, then to strike,
and to ask who gave the blow, and not to let the person go till he had
named the right man who had struck him. It was used in reproach of our
blessed Lord as a Prophet, or divine instructer, and to expose him to
ridicule, Luke xxii, 63, 64.
BLINDNESS is often used in Scripture to express ignorance or want of
discernment in divine things, as well as the being destitute of natural
sight. See Isa. xlii, 18, 19; vi, 10; Matt. xv, 14. “Blindness of heart”
is the want of understanding arising from the influence of vicious
passions. “Hardness of heart” is stubbornness of will, and destitution
of moral feeling. Moses says, “Thou shalt not put a stumbling block
before the blind,” Lev. xix, 14, which may be understood literally; or
figuratively, as if Moses recommended that charity and instruction
should be shown to them who want light and counsel, or to those who are
in danger of going wrong through their ignorance. Moses says also,
“Cursed be he who maketh the blind to wander out of his way,” Deut.
xxvii, 18, which may also be taken in the same manner. An ignorant or
erring teacher is compared by our Lord to a blind man leading a blind
man;--a strong representation of the presumption of him that professes
to teach the way of salvation without due qualifications, and of the
danger of that implicit faith which is often placed by the people in the
authority of man, to the neglect of the Holy Scriptures.
enemies. It refers to a sport which was common among children, called
μυΐνδα, in which it was the manner first to blindfold, then to strike,
and to ask who gave the blow, and not to let the person go till he had
named the right man who had struck him. It was used in reproach of our
blessed Lord as a Prophet, or divine instructer, and to expose him to
ridicule, Luke xxii, 63, 64.
BLINDNESS is often used in Scripture to express ignorance or want of
discernment in divine things, as well as the being destitute of natural
sight. See Isa. xlii, 18, 19; vi, 10; Matt. xv, 14. “Blindness of heart”
is the want of understanding arising from the influence of vicious
passions. “Hardness of heart” is stubbornness of will, and destitution
of moral feeling. Moses says, “Thou shalt not put a stumbling block
before the blind,” Lev. xix, 14, which may be understood literally; or
figuratively, as if Moses recommended that charity and instruction
should be shown to them who want light and counsel, or to those who are
in danger of going wrong through their ignorance. Moses says also,
“Cursed be he who maketh the blind to wander out of his way,” Deut.
xxvii, 18, which may also be taken in the same manner. An ignorant or
erring teacher is compared by our Lord to a blind man leading a blind
man;--a strong representation of the presumption of him that professes
to teach the way of salvation without due qualifications, and of the
danger of that implicit faith which is often placed by the people in the
authority of man, to the neglect of the Holy Scriptures.