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John 9

1And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.

2And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?

3Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Commentary · verses 1-3

The Disciples asked Jesus whose fault it was that a man was born blind. Jesus said the cause was neither the man's nor his parent's fault, but that the works of God would be shown in Jesus.

4We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5When I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay, 7and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

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

6When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Commentary · verses 4-7

Jesus healed the blind man by telling him to wash in the pool of Siloam after putting clay in his eyes made with Jesus' spit.

8The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am he.

8The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

Commentary · verses 8-9

The healed man testified that it was he who was blind and then could see.

10They said therefore unto him, How then were thine eyes opened?

11He answered, The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to Siloam, and wash: so I went away and washed, and I received sight.

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

10Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

12Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

Commentary · verses 10-12

The man confirmed the story but did not know where Jesus was.

13They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

14Now it was the sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

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

Commentary · verses 13-14

These people brought the man to the Pharisees because this healing occurred on the Sabbath. The first time Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, it resulted in the Pharisees wanting to kill Jesus, and Jesus staying away from Jerusalem for a year and a half of His three year public ministry.

15Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see.

16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them.

15Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

Commentary · verses 15-16

A division among the people started: some judged Jesus as a sinner for not keeping the Sabbath – some justified Jesus because they wondered how a sinner could do such signs.

17They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.

17They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

Commentary · verse 17

The healed man stated he believed Jesus was a prophet.

18The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight,

18But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

Commentary · verse 18

The Jews looked to resolve the conflict by claiming the man had not been born blind. They went to his parents to find out.

19and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself.

19And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

Commentary · verses 19-21

The parents confirmed that he was born blind but they told the people to ask their son how he could see because "he is of age." Clearly, the parents did not want to get involved in this dispute.

22These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

22These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

Commentary · verse 22

It was well known that anyone who confessed Jesus as Messiah would be put out of the synagogue, and this was why the healed man's parents did not want to be involved in this dispute.

23Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

24So they called a second time the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give glory to God: we know that this man is a sinner.

25He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

23Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

Commentary · verses 23-25

The Pharisees tried to convince the man Jesus was a sinner by just stating it. The healed man stated the only fact he knew for sure: he was blind and now he saw.

26They said therefore unto him, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27He answered them, I told you even now, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples?

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

27He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

Commentary · verses 26-27

Notice, the Pharisees' focus became how Jesus healed the man, essentially admitting the man was healed. Furthermore, the healed man was handling the Pharisees excellently. He was trying to get them to state their objective. He wanted to know why they kept asking him the same question, and would his answer cause them to be Jesus' disciples?

28And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.

29We know that God hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is.

28Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.

29We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

Commentary · verses 28-29

These Pharisees stated their frustration with Jesus.

30The man answered and said unto them, Why, herein is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and yet he opened mine eyes.

31We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth.

32Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind.

33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

30The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

32Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

33If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

Commentary · verses 30-33

The healed man presented his own short proof:

  • I was healed.
  • We have never heard of a person being healed after being born blind so God had to be a part of this healing.
  • God does not hear sinners.

Conclusion: Jesus must have been from God.

Conclusion: Worse, you religious leaders did not know Jesus, which meant you did not know God.

34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Commentary · verse 34

These Pharisees were in pride and cast him out of the synagogue because he was teaching them. What would it say about religious leaders today who refuse to be taught by members of their congregation? Notice, this man born blind was the first recorded person to be persecuted for his belief in Jesus!

35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

35Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

Commentary · verse 35

Jesus heard about the man being cast out and Jesus found him. Jesus asked him if he believed on the Son of God.

36He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?

37Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee.

38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Commentary · verses 36-38

Notice, Jesus indirectly revealed to the man that He was the Son of God through a question and a statement, neither of which directly/plainly stated, "I am the Son of God."

Jesus' answer in verse 37 meant nothing by itself: "Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee." Jesus' statement only takes on deeper meaning when we realize what the formerly blind man said. The man responded by confessing his faith in Jesus and worshipping Him: SAY and DO.

39And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.

40Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?

41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.

39And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Commentary · verses 39-41

The Pharisees heard Jesus reveal to the blind man that He was the Son of God, indirectly. The Pharisees witnessed all the words from Jesus that caused the formerly blind man to confess Jesus as the Son of God. However, this did not result in the Pharisees confessing Jesus as the Son of God! The Pharisees not only lost their ability to think rationally, their response was to think about themselves: Are we also blind? Jesus' answer began with an if: IF you were blind then you would have an excuse and not be sinning. However, because you say that you see, your sin remains. The formerly blind man and the Pharisees saw the same thing with the man born blind accepting Jesus as the Son of God and the Pharisees rejecting Jesus.

Commentary · verse 41

John 7-9 covered events that happened at the beginning of the last six months of Jesus' three year public ministry.

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