John Calvin Commentary Matthew 15:14

"Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit." — Matthew 15:14 (ASV)

Let them alone. He sets them aside as unworthy of notice and concludes that the offense they take should not cause us much uneasiness. This has led to the distinction, about which we hear so much, regarding avoiding offenses: that we should be careful not to offend the weak, but if any obstinate and malicious person takes offense, we should not be uneasy. For if we were determined to satisfy all obstinate people, we would have to bury Christ, who is the stone of offense (1 Peter 2:8).

Weak people, who are offended through ignorance and later return to correct views, must be distinguished from haughty and disdainful men who are themselves the authors of offenses. It is important to pay attention to this distinction, so that no one who is weak may be distressed because of our fault.

But when wicked men, through their obstinacy, bring about their own violent stumbling, let us walk on, unmoved in the midst of offenses. For whoever does not spare weak brethren tramples underfoot, as it were, those to whom we are commanded to extend our hand. It would be pointless to pay attention to others whom we cannot avoid offending if we wish to stay on the right path. And when, under the pretext of taking offense, they happen to fall away and revolt from Christ, we must let them alone, so that they do not drag us along with them.⁴⁰⁸

They are blind leaders of the blind. Christ means that all who allow themselves to be driven here and there under the direction of those men will perish miserably. For when they stumble on a plain road, it is evident that they are willfully blind. Why then should anyone allow themselves to be directed by them, except to fall into the same ditch?

Now Christ, who has risen upon us as the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2), not only points out the road to us with the torch of his Gospel but also desires that we keep it before us. He justly calls on his disciples to shake off that slothfulness and not to wander in the dark, as it were, for the sake of gratifying the blind.⁴⁰⁹ Therefore, we also infer that all who, under the pretense of simplicity or modesty, allow themselves to be deceived or ensnared by errors are without excuse.

⁴⁰⁸ “De peur qu’ils nous tirent en perdition avec eux;” — “lest they draw us to perdition along with them.”;” — “lest they draw us to perdition along with them.”

⁴⁰⁹ “A bon droict retire ses disciples de ceste nonchalance et stupidite de suyvre les aveugles, et pour leur faire plaisir d’aller tastonnant en tenebres comme eux;” — “properly withdraws his disciples from that indifference and stupidity in following the blind, and—for the sake of gratifying them—in groping in the dark like them.”;” — “properly withdraws his disciples from that indifference and stupidity in following the blind, and—for the sake of gratifying them—in groping in the dark like them.”