And Jesussaid,"For judgmentI cameinto thisworld,sothat thosewho do not seemay see,and that thosewho seemay becomeblind."
For the LORDhas pouredoveryou a spiritof deepsleep,He has shutyour eyes,the prophets;And He has coveredyour heads,the seers.
They do not know,nordo they understand,for He has smearedovertheir eyessothat they cannotseeand their heartssothat they cannotcomprehend.
He said,"Go,and tellthispeople:'Keepon listening,but do not perceive;Keepon looking,but do not understand.'
"Sonof man,you livein the midstof the rebellioushouse,whohave eyesto seebut do not see,earsto hearbut do not hear;for they are a rebellioushouse.
[the] BLINDRECEIVE SIGHTand [the] lamewalk,[the] lepersare cleansedand [the] deafhear,[the] deadare raisedup, and [the] POORHAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHEDTO THEM.
"Let them alone;they are blindguidesof the blind.And ifa blind manguidesa blind man,bothwill fallinto a pit."
"But ifyour eyeis bad,your wholebodywill be full of darkness.Ifthenthe lightthat is in you is darkness,how greatis the darkness!
TO SHINEUPON THOSEWHO SITIN DARKNESSAND THE SHADOWOF DEATH,To guideour feetinto the wayof peace."
"And behold,[some] are lastwhowill be firstand [some] are firstwhowill be last."
And Simeonblessedthem and saidto MaryHis mother,"Behold,this[Child] is appointedfor the falland riseof manyin Israel,and for a signto be opposed--
"THE SPIRITOF THE LORDIS UPON ME, BECAUSEHE ANOINTEDME TO PREACH THE GOSPELTO THE POOR.HE HAS SENTME TO PROCLAIMRELEASETO THE CAPTIVES,AND RECOVERY OF SIGHTTO THE BLIND,TO SETFREETHOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
At that very timeHe curedmany[people] of diseasesand afflictionsand evilspirits;and He gavesightto many[who were] blind.
"Nowjudgmentis upon thisworld;nowthe rulerof thisworldwill be castout.
"I have come[as] Lightinto the world,sothat everyonewho believesin Me will not remainin darkness.
"For Goddid not sendthe Soninto the worldto judgethe world,but that the worldmight be savedthroughHim.
"Thisis the judgment,that the Lighthas comeinto the world,and menlovedthe darknessratherthanthe Light,for their deedswere evil.
ThenJesusagainspoketo them, saying,"I amthe Lightof the world;he who followsMe will not walkin the darkness,but will havethe Lightof life."
"You judgeaccordingto the flesh;I am not judginganyone.
He thenanswered,"WhetherHe is a sinner,I do not know;one thingI do know,that though I was blind,nowI see."
to opentheir eyesso that they may turnfrom darknessto lightand from the dominionof Satanto God,that they may receiveforgivenessof sinsand an inheritanceamongthosewho have been sanctifiedby faithin Me.'
to the onean aromafrom deathto death,to the otheran aromafrom lifeto life.And whois adequatefor these things?
For this reasonit says,"Awake,sleeper,And arisefrom the dead,And Christwill shineon you."
and with allthe deceptionof wickednessfor thosewho perish,becausethey did not receivethe loveof the truthsoas to be saved.
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
But the one who hateshis brotheris in the darknessand walksin the darkness,and does not knowwherehe is goingbecausethe darknesshas blindedhis eyes.
