John 9

1 And Jesus passing, saw a man blind from the birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, Master, who sinned, this man, or his elders [And his disciples asked him, Rabbi, that is, Master, who sinned, this man, or his father and mother], that he should be born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither this man sinned, neither his elders [neither his father and mother]; but that the works of God be showed in him.

4 It behooveth me to work the works of him that sent me, as long as the day is [the while the day is]; the night shall come, when no man may work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 When he had said these things, he spat into the earth, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed the clay on his eyes,

7 and said to him, Go, and be thou washed in the water of Siloam, that is to say, Sent. Then he went, and washed, and came seeing. [and said to him, Go, and be thou washen in the water, or cistern, of Siloam, that is interpreted, Sent. Therefore he went, and washed, and came seeing.]

8 And so neighbours, and they that had seen him before, for he was a beggar, said, Whether this is not he, that sat, and begged?

9 Other men said, That this it is; and other men said, Nay, but he is like him. But he said, I am [he].

10 Therefore they said to him, How be thine eyes opened?

11 He answered, That man, that is said Jesus, made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said to me, Go thou to the water of Siloam, and wash [Go thou to the water, or cistern, of Siloam, and wash]; and I went, and washed, and saw.

12 And they said to him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

13 They led him that was blind to the Pharisees.

14 And it was sabbath, when Jesus made clay, and opened his eyes.

15 Again the Pharisees asked him, how he had seen. And he said to them, He laid to me clay on the eyes [He put to me clay on the eyes]; and I washed, and I see.

16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, that keepeth not the sabbath. Other men said, How may a sinful man do these signs. And strife was among them. [Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, for he keepeth not the sabbath. Other men said, How may a man sinner do these signs, or miracles? And division was among them.]

17 Therefore they said again to the blind man [Therefore they say again to the blind man], What sayest thou of him, that opened thine eyes? And he said, That he is a prophet.

18 Therefore the Jews believed not of him, that he was blind, and had seen, till they called his father and mother, that had seen.

19 And they asked them, and said, Is this your son, which ye say was born blind [And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, whom ye say, for he is born blind]? how then seeth he now?

20 His father and mother answered to them, and said, We know, that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

21 but how he seeth now, we know not, or who opened his eyes, we know not; ask ye him, he hath age, speak he of himself.

22 His father and mother said these things, for they dreaded the Jews; for then the Jews had conspired [forsooth now the Jews had conspired], that if any man acknowledged him Christ, he should be done out of the synagogue.

23 Therefore his father and mother said, That he hath age, ask ye him.

24 Therefore again they called the man, that was blind, and said to him, Give thou glory to God; we know, that this man is a sinner.

25 Then he said, If he is a sinner, I know not; one thing I know, that when I was blind, now I see.

26 Therefore they said to him, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27 He answered to them, I said to you now, and ye heard; what will ye again hear? whether [and] ye will be made his disciples?

28 Therefore they cursed him, and said, Be thou his disciple; we be [the] disciples of Moses.

29 We know, that God spake to Moses; but we know not this, of whence he is.

30 That man answered, and said to them, For in this is a wonderful thing, that ye know not, of whence he is, and he hath opened mine eyes.

31 And we know, that God heareth not sinful men, but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, he heareth him. [Soothly we know, for God heareth not sinners, but if any man is worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.]

32 From the world it is not heard, that any man opened the eyes of a blind-born man;

33 but this man were of God, he might not do any thing.

34 They answered, and said to him, Thou art all born in sins, and teachest thou us? And they put him out. [They answered, and said to him, Thou art all born in sins, and thou teachest us? And they cast him out.]

35 Jesus heard, that they had put him out [Jesus heard, for they had cast him out]; and when he had found him, he said to him, Believest thou in the Son of God?

36 He answered, and said, Lord, who is he, that I believe in him?

37 And Jesus said to him, And thou hast seen him, and he it is, that speaketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he fell down, and worshipped him.

39 Therefore Jesus said to him, I came into this world, into doom, that they that see not, see, and they that see, be made blind.

40 And some of the Pharisees heard, that were with him, and they said to him, Whether [and] we be blind?

41 Jesus said to them, If ye were blind, ye should not have sin; but now ye say, That we see, your sin dwelleth still [your sin dwelleth].

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.