Blindness, Spiritual.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 1 min. read • grade level: 13

Explained. John. 1:5. 1 Cor. 2:14¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14).

The effect of sin. Isa. 29:10¹⁰For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isaiah 29:10). Mat. 6:23. John. 3:19, 20.

Unbelief the effect of. Rom. 11:8⁸(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. (Romans 11:8). 2 Cor. 4:3, 4³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:3‑4).

Uncharitableness, a proof of. 1 John. 2:9, 11.

A work of the devil. 2 Cor. 4:4⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Leads to all evil. Eph. 4:17-19¹⁷This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, ¹⁸Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: ¹⁹Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Ephesians 4:17‑19).

Is inconsistent with communion with God. 1 John. 1:6, 7.

Of ministers, fatal to themselves and to the people. Mat. 15:14.

The wicked are in. Psa. 82:5⁵They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. (Psalm 82:5). Jer. 5:21²¹Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: (Jeremiah 5:21).

The self-righteous are in. Mat. 23: 19, 26. Rev. 3:17¹⁷Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17).

The wicked willfully guilty of. Isa. 26:11¹¹Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. (Isaiah 26:11) Rom. 1:19-21¹⁹Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. ²⁰For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ²¹Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:19‑21).

Judicially inflicted. Psa. 69:23²³Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. (Psalm 69:23). Isa. 29:10¹⁰For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isaiah 29:10). Isa. 44:18¹⁸They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. (Isaiah 44:18). Mat. 13:13, 14. John. 12:40.

Pray for the removal of. Psa. 13:3³Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (Psalm 13:3). Psa. 13:3³Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (Psalm 13:3)

Christ appointed to remove. Isa. 42:7⁷To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:7). Luke 4:18¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18). John. 8:12. John. 9:39. 2 Cor. 4:6⁶For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Christ's ministers are lights to remove Mat. 5:14. Acts 26:18¹⁸To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18).

Saints are delivered from. John 8:12¹²Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12). Eph. 5:8⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8). Col. 1:13¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13). The. 5:4, 5. 1 Pet 2:9.

Removal of, illustrated. John. 9:7, 11, 25. Acts 9:18¹⁸And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:18). Rev. 3:18¹⁸I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18).

Exemplified. Israel, Rom. 11:25²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25). 2 Cor. 3:15¹⁵But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (2 Corinthians 3:15). Scribes and Pharisees, Mat. 23:16, 24.

Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3:17¹⁷Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Ark of the Covenant, the.

• Armies.

• Armies of Israel, the.

• Arms, Military.

• Arrows.

• Arts of the.

• Ascension of Christ, the.

• Asher, the Tribe of.

• Atonement, the Day of.

• Atonement, Under the Law.

• Babylon.

• Backsliding

• Baptism.

• Baptism With the Holy Ghost.

• Benjamin, Tribe of.

• Birds.

• Blasphemy.

• Blessed, the.

• Blindness, Spiritual.

• Blood.