João 9

1 E passando Jesus, viu um homem cego de nascença.
2 Perguntaram-lhe os seus discípulos: Rabi, quem pecou, este ou seus pais, para que nascesse cego?
3 Respondeu Jesus: Nem ele pecou nem seus pais; mas foi para que nele se manifestem as obras de Deus.
4 Importa que façamos as obras daquele que me enviou, enquanto é dia; vem a noite, quando ninguém pode trabalhar.
5 Enquanto estou no mundo, sou a luz do mundo.
6 Dito isto, cuspiu no chão e com a saliva fez lodo, e untou com lodo os olhos do cego,
7 e disse-lhe: Vai, lava-te no tanque de Siloé (que significa Enviado). E ele foi, lavou-se, e voltou vendo.
8 Então os vizinhos e aqueles que antes o tinham visto, quando mendigo, perguntavam: Não é este o mesmo que se sentava a mendigar?
9 Uns diziam: É ele. E outros: Não é, mas se parece com ele. Ele dizia: Sou eu.
10 Perguntaram-lhe, pois: Como se te abriram os olhos?
11 Respondeu ele: O homem que se chama Jesus fez lodo, untou-me os olhos, e disse-me: Vai a Siloé e lava-te. Fui, pois, lavei-me, e fiquei vendo.
12 E perguntaram-lhe: Onde está ele? Respondeu: Não sei.
13 Levaram aos fariseus o que fora cego.
14 Ora, era sábado o dia em que Jesus fez o lodo e lhe abriu os olhos.
15 Então os fariseus também se puseram a perguntar-lhe como recebera a vista. Respondeu-lhes ele: Pôs-me lodo sobre os olhos, lavei-me e vejo.
16 Por isso alguns dos fariseus diziam: Este homem não é de Deus; pois não guarda o sábado. Diziam outros: Como pode um homem pecador fazer tais sinais? E havia dissensão entre eles.
17 Tornaram, pois, a perguntar ao cego: Que dizes tu a respeito dele, visto que te abriu os olhos? E ele respondeu: É profeta.
18 Os judeus, porém, não acreditaram que ele tivesse sido cego e recebido a vista, enquanto não chamaram os pais do que fora curado,
19 e lhes perguntaram: É este o vosso filho, que dizeis ter nascido cego? Como, pois, vê agora?
20 Responderam seus pais: Sabemos que este é o nosso filho, e que nasceu cego;
21 mas como agora vê, não sabemos; ou quem lhe abriu os olhos, nós não sabemos; perguntai a ele mesmo; tem idade; ele falará por si mesmo.
22 Isso disseram seus pais, porque temiam os judeus, porquanto já tinham estes combinado que se alguém confessasse ser Jesus o Cristo, fosse expulso da sinagoga.
23 Por isso é que seus pais disseram: Tem idade, perguntai-lho a ele mesmo.
24 Então chamaram pela segunda vez o homem que fora cego, e lhe disseram: Dá glória a Deus; nós sabemos que esse homem é pecador.
25 Respondeu ele: Se é pecador, não sei; uma coisa sei: eu era cego, e agora vejo.
26 Perguntaram-lhe pois: Que foi que te fez? Como te abriu os olhos?
27 Respondeu-lhes: Já vo-lo disse, e não atendestes; para que o quereis tornar a ouvir? Acaso também vós quereis tornar-vos discípulos dele?
28 Então o injuriaram, e disseram: Discípulo dele és tu; nós porém, somos discípulos de Moisés.
29 Sabemos que Deus falou a Moisés; mas quanto a este, não sabemos donde é.
30 Respondeu-lhes o homem: Nisto, pois, está a maravilha: não sabeis donde ele é, e entretanto ele me abriu os olhos;
31 sabemos que Deus não ouve a pecadores; mas, se alguém for temente a Deus, e fizer a sua vontade, a esse ele ouve.
32 Desde o princípio do mundo nunca se ouviu que alguém abrisse os olhos a um cego de nascença.
33 Se este não fosse de Deus, nada poderia fazer.
34 Replicaram-lhe eles: Tu nasceste todo em pecados, e vens nos ensinar a nós? E expulsaram-no.
35 Soube Jesus que o haviam expulsado; e achando-o perguntou- lhe: Crês tu no Filho do homem?
36 Respondeu ele: Quem é, senhor, para que nele creia?
37 Disse-lhe Jesus: Já o viste, e é ele quem fala contigo.
38 Disse o homem: Creio, Senhor! E o adorou.
39 Prosseguiu então Jesus: Eu vim a este mundo para juízo, a fim de que os que não vêem vejam, e os que vêem se tornem cegos.
40 Alguns fariseus que ali estavam com ele, ouvindo isso, perguntaram-lhe: Porventura somos nós também cegos?
41 Respondeu-lhes Jesus: Se fosseis cegos, não teríeis pecado; mas como agora dizeis: Nós vemos, permanece o vosso pecado.

João 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

Christ give sight to one born blind. (1-7) The account given by the blind man. (8-12) The Pharisees question the man that had been blind. (13-17) They ask concerning him. (18-23) They cast him out. (24-34) Christ's words to the man that had been blind. (35-38) He reproves the Pharisees. (39-41)

Verses 1-7 Christ cured many who were blind by disease or accident; here he cured one born blind. Thus he showed his power to help in the most desperate cases, and the work of his grace upon the souls of sinners, which gives sight to those blind by nature. This poor man could not see Christ, but Christ saw him. And if we know or apprehend anything of Christ, it is because we were first known of him. Christ says of uncommon calamities, that they are not always to be looked on as special punishments of sin; sometimes they are for the glory of God, and to manifest his works. Our life is our day, in which it concerns us to do the work of the day. We must be busy, and not waste day-time; it will be time to rest when our day is done, for it is but a day. The approach of death should quicken us to improve all our opportunities of doing and getting good. What good we have an opportunity to do, we should do quickly. And he that will never do a good work till there is nothing to be objected against, will leave many a good work for ever undone, ( Ecclesiastes 11:4 ) . Christ magnified his power, in making a blind man to see, doing that which one would think more likely to make a seeing man blind. Human reason cannot judge of the Lord's methods; he uses means and instruments that men despise. Those that would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him. He came back from the pool wondering and wondered at; he came seeing. This represents the benefits in attending on ordinances of Christ's appointment; souls go weak, and come away strengthened; go doubting, and come away satisfied; go mourning, and come away rejoicing; go blind, and come away seeing.

Verses 8-12 Those whose eyes are opened, and whose hearts are cleansed by grace, being known to be the same person, but widely different in character, live as monuments to the Redeemer's glory, and recommend his grace to all who desire the same precious salvation. It is good to observe the way and method of God's works, and they will appear the more wonderful. Apply this spiritually. In the work of grace wrought upon the soul we see the change, but we see not the hand that makes it: the way of the Spirit is like that of the wind, which thou hearest the sound of, but canst not tell whence it comes, nor whither it goes.

Verses 13-17 Christ not only worked miracles on the sabbath, but in such a manner as would give offence to the Jews, for he would not seem to yield to the scribes and Pharisees. Their zeal for mere rites consumed the substantial matters of religion; therefore Christ would not give place to them. Also, works of necessity and mercy are allowed, and the sabbath rest is to be kept, in order to the sabbath work. How many blind eyes have been opened by the preaching of the gospel on the Lord's day! how many impotent souls cured on that day! Much unrighteous and uncharitable judging comes from men's adding their own fancies to God's appointments. How perfect in wisdom and holiness was our Redeemer, when his enemies could find nothing against him, but the oft-refuted charge of breaking the sabbath! May we be enabled, by well-doing, to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Verses 18-23 The Pharisees vainly hoped to disprove this notable miracle. They expected a Messiah, but could not bear to think that this Jesus should be he, because his precepts were all contrary to their traditions, and because they expected a Messiah in outward pomp and splendour. The fear of man brings a snare, ( Proverbs 29:25 ) , and often makes people deny and disown Christ and his truths and ways, and act against their consciences. The unlearned and poor, who are simple-hearted, readily draw proper inferences from the evidences of the light of the gospel; but those whose desires are another way, though ever learning, never come to the knowledge of the truth.

Verses 24-34 As Christ's mercies are most valued by those who have felt the want of them, that have been blind, and now see; so the most powerful and lasting affections to Christ, arise from actual knowledge of him. In the work of grace in the soul, though we cannot tell when, and how, and by what steps the blessed change was wrought, yet we may take the comfort, if we can say, through grace, Whereas I was blind, now I see. I did live a worldly, sensual life, but, thanks be to God, it is now otherwise with me, ( Ephesians 5:8 ) . The unbelief of those who enjoy the means of knowledge and conviction, is indeed marvellous. All who have felt the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, wonder at the wilfulness of others who reject him. He argues strongly against them, not only that Jesus was not a sinner, but that he was of God. We may each of us know by this, whether we are of God or not. What do we? What do we for God? What do we for our souls? What do we more than others?

Verses 35-38 Christ owns those who own him and his truth and ways. There is particular notice taken of such a suffer in the cause of Christ, and for the testimony of a good conscience. Our Lord Jesus graciously reveals himself to the man. Now he was made sensible what an unspeakable mercy it was, to be cured of his blindness, that he might see the Son of God. None but God is to be worshipped; so that in worshipping Jesus, he owned him to be God. All who believe in him, will worship him.

Verses 39-41 Christ came into the world to give sight to those who were spiritually blind. Also, that those who see might be made blind; that those who have a high conceit of their own wisdom, might be sealed up in ignorance. The preaching of the cross was thought to be folly by such as by carnal wisdom knew not God. Nothing fortifies men's corrupt hearts against the convictions of the word, more than the high opinion which others have of them; as if all that gained applause with men, must obtain acceptance with God. Christ silenced them. But the sin of the self-conceited and self-confident remains; they reject the gospel of grace, therefore the guilt of their sin remains unpardoned, and the power of their sin remains unbroken.

João 9 Commentaries

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