οὖτος. Contemptuous: comp. John 3:26; John 6:42; John 6:52; John 7:15; John 7:35; John 7:49; John 12:34. The fact of the miracle is as yet not denied; but it cannot have been done with God’s help. Comp. ‘He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils’ (Matthew 9:34); like this, an argument of the Pharisees.

πῶς δύναται. The less bigoted, men like Nicodemus (John 3:2) and Joseph of Arimathea, shew that the argument cuts both ways. They also start from the ‘sign,’ but arrive at an opposite conclusion. Their timidity in contrast with the man’s positiveness is very characteristic. Comp. Nicodemus’ question, v. 51. Perhaps Christ’s teaching about the Sabbath (John 5:17-23) has had some effect.

σχίσμα ἦν. see on John 7:43 and comp. John 10:19.

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Old Testament