Matthew 15:14

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Cross-reference

In Matthew 23:16-24, Jesus elaborates on the 'blind guides' accusation, detailing their hypocrisy and misguidance.

Matthew 16:4 shows Jesus leaving the Pharisees after refusing a sign — reinforcing the dismissive attitude toward blind guides here.

Matthew 21:27 has Jesus refusing to answer the chief priests — continuing the pattern of not engaging with blind leaders.

Isaiah 9:16 Parallel

In Isaiah 9:16, leaders who mislead the people are condemned, just as Jesus calls Pharisees blind guides leading to the pit.

In Isaiah 56:10, watchmen are called blind and ignorant, prefiguring Jesus' designation of Pharisees as blind guides.

In Jeremiah 5:31, false prophets and priests lead the people astray, and the question 'what will you do in the end?' echoes the fatal fall of both leaders and followers.

Jeremiah 6:15 shows unashamed false leaders who will fall — mirroring the blind leaders in Matthew who fall into the ditch.

Jeremiah 8:12 repeats the same judgment: unashamed false prophets will fall — parallel to the blind leaders falling into the ditch.

2 Peter 2:1 Parallel

2 Peter 2:1 warns of false teachers bringing swift destruction on themselves and others — a clear New Testament parallel to the blind leading the blind.

Malachi 2:8 Parallel

In Malachi 2:8, priests caused many to stumble by their instruction, echoing Jesus' warning about blind guides leading into a pit.

Luke 6:39 Parallel

In Luke 6:39, Jesus uses the identical proverb about a blind man leading another into a pit, reinforcing the warning.

Hosea 4:17 Allusion

In Hosea 4:17, God says to leave Ephraim because of idolatry, mirroring Jesus' command to leave the blind guides.

In 1 Timothy 1:7, false teachers lack understanding — directly parallel to Jesus' 'blind guides' who mislead while ignorant.

Mark 8:13 Parallel

Mark 8:13 is the synoptic parallel — Jesus leaves the Pharisees, confirming the same dismissal of blind guides.

Deuteronomy 27:18 pronounces a curse on leading the blind astray — the same imagery Jesus uses for the Pharisees here.

John 12:40 Parallel

In John 12:40, John cites Isaiah on God blinding Israel — both use blindness imagery, but here it's divine judgment rather than human folly.

Romans 2:19 Allusion

In Romans 2:19, Paul uses 'guide to the blind' to rebuke hypocritical teachers — directly echoing Jesus' critique of the Pharisees.

Jeremiah 23:1 pronounces woe on shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock — directly parallel to blind leaders causing ruin.

Isaiah 3:12 Parallel

Isaiah 3:12 condemns guides who lead God's people astray — directly parallels the blind guides leading to the pit.

Proverbs 4:19 describes the wicked stumbling in darkness — directly parallels the blind falling into a pit.

Micah 3:5 Parallel

Micah 3:5 condemns prophets who lead God's people astray for profit — a direct parallel to the blind guides Jesus dismisses.

Jeremiah 23:32 condemns false prophets causing God's people to err with lies — parallel to blind guides leading followers into a ditch.

Zechariah 11:15 presents a 'foolish shepherd' — a type of blind guide who fails to care for the flock.

Hosea 4:9 Parallel

Hosea 4:9 says priest and people will be punished alike — echoes both blind falling into the ditch together.

Hosea 4:6 Parallel

Hosea 4:6 says people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because priests rejected it — similar to blind guides leading to destruction.

Acts 19:9 Parallel

In Acts 19:9, Paul withdraws from stubborn unbelievers — mirroring Jesus' command to 'leave them' when faced with hardened opposition.

Jeremiah 27:15 warns false prophets cause people to perish — similar to both falling when the blind lead the blind.

Jeremiah 14:16 shows false prophets leading people to destruction by sword and famine — similar to blind guides causing both to fall.

Mark 11:33 Parallel

Mark 11:33 parallels Matthew 21:27 — Jesus refuses to answer, consistent with his 'let them alone' response to blind guides.

Romans 1:24 Related theme

In Romans 1:24, God gives people over to their desires — a consequence of rejecting truth, similar to the blind falling into a pit.

Revelation 22:11 echoes the 'let them alone' command, applying it to final judgment — the unrighteous remain unrighteous.