Saying 34 - The Blind Cannot Lead The Blind

Nag Hammadi Coptic Text

BLATZ (34) Jesus said: If a blind man leads a blind man, they both fall into a pit.

LAYTON (34) Jesus said, "If a blind person leads a blind person both will fall into a hole."

DORESSE 39 [34]. Jesus says: "If a blind man leads another blind man, both of them fall into a ditch."

 

Funk's Parallels

Luke 6:39
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

Matt 15:10-20
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

 

Scholarly Quotes

Robert M. Grant and David Noel Freedman write:

"This saying is derived from Matthew 15:14; for its substance is presented as a question in Luke 6:39. It follows Saying 34, because the mention of 'light' in that saying leads Thomas to think of sight or the lack of it."

(The Secret Sayings of Jesus, p. 151)

Funk and Hoover write:

"This saying has the earmarks of a proverb. As prudential wisdom, it would be appropriate on the lips of almost any sage and it could have entered the tradition at almost any point."

(The Five Gospels, p. 492)

 

Visitor Comments

If you do not have the correct understanding of God's word and then preach your beliefs to another you will lead them to false beliefs.
- seeker of truth

Only a teacher can teach a pupil. Self-teaching is impossible because the would-be aspirant lacks the lower [basic] development. Only somebody who has walked the path [tariqa, way] knows the path. And because he/she HAS walked that path be can lead the obedient aspirant.
- Thief37

Everyone who does not understand and teaches is a murderer, for you take the very everlasting life that a person could have attained. You work iniquity, and whoever you teach will follow. Both of you will taste death.
- Random

Sure, the blind may tag along with those who see (they're called "disciples"), but they're still blind and in no qualified position to lead other blind people around, regardless of assertions that they can see perfectly fine.
- Jonnylucid