Check Your Blindspots: Vision Determines Direction

“Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39)

Vision determines direction. And direction determines destination.

Jesus understood vision, which is why He spoke so often about sight—not just physical vision, but spiritual perception. In Luke 6, He gives a sobering warning about leadership, discipleship, and the danger of spiritual blindness.

Your judgment of others is your ultimate error!

Blind Leaders, Blind Followers

Jesus is clear: unqualified or spiritually blind leaders are dangerous—not only to themselves, but to everyone who follows them. Someone who lacks discernment cannot safely guide others. When the blind lead the blind, the outcome is shared ruin.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

These words are both a warning and an invitation to evaluate ourselves honestly (again!) If you are following the wrong (blind) leader, you will become like them!

The most important vision correction happens within.

• Spiritual authority requires spiritual sight. Many leaders have a position but lack spiritual clarity and God-given direction.

  
  

• Your discernment matters. What you see or fail to see shapes your choices.

  
  

• Who you follow matters. Are you a blind follower, or even a blind leader?

  
  

• Disciples inevitably become like their teachers. This is a promise and a warning. If you follow the wrong people, you will end up in the wrong place.

Choose teachers and mentors carefully. Disciples reflect their mentors.

What’s Causing Your Sight Problem?

Jesus then shifts the focus inward.

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?” (Luke 6:41)

Perceive Your Planks

This teaching cuts straight to the heart of spiritual blindness. It is crazy to have such a distorted sight yet think we have perspective! We often mistake our blurred vision for the faults of others. By revisiting Jesus’ challenge to the hypocrite, we find a path toward truer connection and deeper humility.

"Plank Vision" ruins relationships, leadership, and spiritual authority.

The word "plank" means a log or beam. Imagine a massive piece of timber that completely obstructs vision. The size is laughable, but the problem isn’t subtle. It’s obvious—just not to us.

Hypocrisy blinds. When we refuse honest self-examination, we deceive ourselves and lose clarity.

A few things to notice:

“Brother” means a fellow believer, not an enemy. This is about community, not combat, competition, or comparison.

Jesus exposes our hypocrisy. We are quick to criticise minor faults in others while ignoring major issues in ourselves.

“First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6:42)

Jesus suggests we can only help others with their "specks" after our own vision is clear. Is my current "help" actually helpful, or is it just masked criticism?

Perceive and remove your planks first!

Before correcting others:

• Check yourself. Where might you be a hypocrite?

  
  

• Identify the planks. What is blocking your spiritual vision?

  
  

• Remove them. Clarity comes after repentance, not before.

Ironically, specks are tiny and very painful - planks are easier to see and remove than specks. The real issue isn’t complexity; it’s perception. Address the perception problem, and vision follows.

Clear Sight Leads to Maturity

Prioritise your own growth over the critique of others.

Spiritual maturity requires honest self-examination. The health of your heart determines how accurately you see. Without clarity, you cannot judge well, lead well, or help others see clearly.

When your vision is healed:

• You gain discernment.

  
  

• You grow in humility.

  
  

• You can genuinely help others with their sight.

Clear eyes lead to wise steps—and wise steps lead to life.

The invitation to remove the plank isn't a call to shame; it’s a call to freedom. When we stop exhausting ourselves by policing the specks in every eye we meet, we find the clarity to tend to our own hearts with honesty. By clearing our own vision first, we don’t just see the world more accurately, we see the people in it more beautifully."

Reflection Questions

• If I were to give my current "plank" a name (e.g., pride, insecurity, a specific habit), what would it be?

  
  

• What would happen if I spent the next 24 hours focusing exclusively on my own "plank" instead of noticing anyone else’s "speck"?

  
  

• Who is a "safe" person I can ask to help me identify the planks I might be blind to?

Self-reflection is a lifelong practice, and it’s always better in community. If these questions sparked something in you today, I’d love to have you join our mailing list.

Subscribe to receive weekly reflections on living with intention, courage, and faith.

Subscribe