John 9

1 et praeteriens vidit hominem caecum a nativitate

2 et interrogaverunt eum discipuli sui rabbi quis peccavit hic aut parentes eius ut caecus nasceretur

3 respondit Iesus neque hic peccavit neque parentes eius sed ut manifestetur opera Dei in illo

4 me oportet operari opera eius qui misit me donec dies est venit nox quando nemo potest operari

5 quamdiu in mundo sum lux sum mundi

6 haec cum dixisset expuit in terram et fecit lutum ex sputo et linuit lutum super oculos eius

7 et dixit ei vade lava in natatoria Siloae quod interpretatur Missus abiit ergo et lavit et venit videns

8 itaque vicini et qui videbant eum prius quia mendicus erat dicebant nonne hic est qui sedebat et mendicabat alii dicebant quia hic est

9 alii autem nequaquam sed similis est eius ille dicebat quia ego sum

10 dicebant ergo ei quomodo aperti sunt oculi tibi

11 respondit ille homo qui dicitur Iesus lutum fecit et unxit oculos meos et dixit mihi vade ad natatoriam Siloae et lava et abii et lavi et vidi

12 dixerunt ei ubi est ille ait nescio

13 adducunt eum ad Pharisaeos qui caecus fuerat

14 erat autem sabbatum quando lutum fecit Iesus et aperuit oculos eius

15 iterum ergo interrogabant eum Pharisaei quomodo vidisset ille autem dixit eis lutum posuit mihi super oculos et lavi et video

16 dicebant ergo ex Pharisaeis quidam non est hic homo a Deo quia sabbatum non custodit alii dicebant quomodo potest homo peccator haec signa facere et scisma erat in eis

17 dicunt ergo caeco iterum tu quid dicis de eo qui aperuit oculos tuos ille autem dixit quia propheta est

18 non crediderunt ergo Iudaei de illo quia caecus fuisset et vidisset donec vocaverunt parentes eius qui viderat

19 et interrogaverunt eos dicentes hic est filius vester quem vos dicitis quia caecus natus est quomodo ergo nunc videt

20 responderunt eis parentes eius et dixerunt scimus quia hic est filius noster et quia caecus natus est

21 quomodo autem nunc videat nescimus aut quis eius aperuit oculos nos nescimus ipsum interrogate aetatem habet ipse de se loquatur

22 haec dixerunt parentes eius quia timebant Iudaeos iam enim conspiraverant Iudaei ut si quis eum confiteretur Christum extra synagogam fieret

23 propterea parentes eius dixerunt quia aetatem habet ipsum interrogate

24 vocaverunt ergo rursum hominem qui fuerat caecus et dixerunt ei da gloriam Deo nos scimus quia hic homo peccator est

25 dixit ergo ille si peccator est nescio unum scio quia caecus cum essem modo video

26 dixerunt ergo illi quid fecit tibi quomodo aperuit tibi oculos

27 respondit eis dixi vobis iam et audistis quid iterum vultis audire numquid et vos vultis discipuli eius fieri

28 maledixerunt ei et dixerunt tu discipulus illius es nos autem Mosi discipuli sumus

29 nos scimus quia Mosi locutus est Deus hunc autem nescimus unde sit

30 respondit ille homo et dixit eis in hoc enim mirabile est quia vos nescitis unde sit et aperuit meos oculos

31 scimus autem quia peccatores Deus non audit sed si quis Dei cultor est et voluntatem eius facit hunc exaudit

32 a saeculo non est auditum quia aperuit quis oculos caeci nati

33 nisi esset hic a Deo non poterat facere quicquam

34 responderunt et dixerunt ei in peccatis natus es totus et tu doces nos et eiecerunt eum foras

35 audivit Iesus quia eiecerunt eum foras et cum invenisset eum dixit ei tu credis in Filium Dei

36 respondit ille et dixit quis est Domine ut credam in eum

37 et dixit ei Iesus et vidisti eum et qui loquitur tecum ipse est

38 at ille ait credo Domine et procidens adoravit eum

39 dixit ei Iesus in iudicium ego in hunc mundum veni ut qui non vident videant et qui vident caeci fiant

40 et audierunt ex Pharisaeis qui cum ipso erant et dixerunt ei numquid et nos caeci sumus

41 dixit eis Iesus si caeci essetis non haberetis peccatum nunc vero dicitis quia videmus peccatum vestrum manet

John 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.