Lk 6:39-42
39[Jesus told his disciples] a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. 41Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? 42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
Blind Person: Blindness was very common in the Near East. The Bible recognizes two forms of blindness: (1) trachoma, a contagious infection of the inner mucous lining the eyelids (the conjunctiva) and of the cornea, usually transmitted by flies and poor hygiene; and (2) blindness due to old age, said of Isaac (Gn 27:1) and the priest Eli (1 Sm 3:2).
Because of the pitiful condition of the blind, the Mosaic Law prescribes kindness and assistance to them and forbids putting a “stumbling block” in their path (Lv 19:14; Dt 27:18).
In saying that a blind person cannot guide another blind person, Jesus is condemning a presumptuous, self-serving attitude. The self-proclaimed leader presumes to be a master of another’s destiny. To avoid disastrous consequences, the guide (teacher) needs clear vision. The disciple can be a true guide only when he becomes like his teacher Jesus. How can he do justice to his responsibility to others if he himself has not been thoroughly grounded in God’s word, if he has not made it his own?