Christ's Ambiguity

Jesus said things that were difficult to understand.

Jesus did say that “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” John 9:39

There is irony in this statement.  Jesus said this in the hearing of the Pharisees, the religious leaders. They perceived that he spoke about them. Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore, your sin remains.” John 9:40-41

The Pharisees believed that they did “see,” and so, Jesus through what he said, as a form of judgment, was making them blind. He spoke in an ambiguous manner, so that they would not receive the benefit of the teaching. The “blind” were those who saw their spiritual need, while the Pharisees believed that they did not have a spiritual need, and so they claimed to “see,” while in reality they were blind to their spiritual need.  The irony of it all! Their sin was in their rejection of their spiritual need and who Jesus was.

Jesus spoke from the perspective that some believed they were righteous, and righteousness was necessary to enter the kingdom. If one believed this about themselves, then they must do what is necessary to qualify from that belief.

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

This parable is pretty clear that the Pharisees trusted in their own righteousness. If one is trusting in their own righteousness to stand “justified” before God, then they better make sure they do not sin.

²⁷ "You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not commit adultery.' ²⁸ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:27-30

These words of Jesus are extreme. Is he saying one needs to mutilate his body, if it causes him to sin, so as to escape the judgment of hell? In appears to be the case. But it is what one must do, if they trust in their own righteousness to get into the kingdom of God. But one must consider that sin is more than just physical action, for if one even lusts in his heart, he has sinned. And if your eye causes you to sin, and you are trusting in your own righteousness, then you better pluck it out, because it's better to go through life without that eye than to end up in hell.

The pharisee needed to know what that tax collector knew: he came short of God's righteousness, and he needed the mercy of God to be “justified” before God.

Those who trusted in themselves and continued in their self-righteousness and rejected who Jesus was would not receive further revelation about the kingdom of God.

¹⁰ And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" ¹¹ He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; ¹⁵ For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; ¹⁷ for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Matthew 13:10-17

update 12/20/24