A Guide (ὁδηγός)

A guide (ὁδηγός) is someone who leads the way to reach a destination or assists with following a path.

In Matthew 15, the scribes and Pharisees question Jesus concerning His disciples' transgression of the traditions of the elders. Jesus responds by asking them, “Why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3). He explains that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth (Matthew 15:11). After Peter informs Jesus that the Pharisees were offended, Jesus tells him to leave them alone, for they are blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14).

While speaking to the multitude, Jesus pronounces woes against the scribes and Pharisees, condemning their character. In one of these woes, He states that they travel land and sea to win one proselyte, only to make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as they are (Matthew 23:15). Jesus then declares a woe against those who are blind guides, saying, “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated to perform it” (Matthew 23:16). This was a common teaching among the scribes and Pharisees to avoid using the name of the Lord in vain while still permitting a way to break a contract.

A blind guide also emphasizes minor aspects of the law, such as tithing a tenth of mint, anise, and cumin, while neglecting the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23–24).

Judas Iscariot became a guide to the high priests of Israel, showing them the way to arrest Jesus (Acts 1:16). Having received thirty pieces of silver, he led them to deliver Christ into their hands (Matthew 26:15). After receiving a cohort of soldiers—about 600 men—Judas guided them to Jesus (John 18:3).

Be cautious of those who claim to be guides to the spiritually blind yet do not follow what they teach (Romans 2:17-24). Among the Church, these are those who teach the law yet neither understand what they say nor the things they affirm (1 Timothy 1:7). They are teachers who follow the latest “Christian”-labeled books and methodologies while ignoring Scripture. When the blind guide the blind, both fall into a ditch (Matthew 15:14).

Our guide is the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). He is the One who teaches us how to abide in Christ (1 John 2:27). Christ gave gifts to the Church, among which are pastors even teachers, who are responsible for equipping the saints for a work of ministry for the edification of the body of the Christ so that we come to a oneness of the faith and a full experiential knowledge of the Son of God, maturing to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). There are those who guide us in understanding Scripture (Acts 8:31). Through pastors we are taught how to have victory over our sin nature by applying the truth (Romans 6:4-13), how to defend ourselves against Satan (Ephesians 6:10-18), and overcoming the world system—using it, but not abusing it—because we have been crucified to it in Christ (Galatians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 7:31). The Holy Spirit takes this knowledge and guides us in how to use it properly in the circumstances that we face in our daily lives so that we learn to feel at ease with who we are in Christ. Therefore, we are not to forsake the gathering of the saints, so that we may encourage one another, learn, and mature in Christ (Hebrews 10:25). This kind of environment is best for the Christian to be guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth.