_And as Jesus passed by_ The word Jesus is not in the Greek, which is παραγων ειδεν ανθρωπον τυφλον, _and passing on; he found a man blind from his birth_ This chapter, therefore, seems to be a continuation of the preceding. As Jesus and his disciples (having left the temple, where the Jews were goi... [ Continue Reading ]
_I must work the works of him that sent me_ Called in the preceding verse the works of God; that is, I must not cease doing this, however the malice of the Jews may be irritated thereby; I must not desist from doing the will of my heavenly Father, in order to please them; _while it is day_ While I h... [ Continue Reading ]
_As long as I am in the world_ These words show what our Lord meant by _the day_ mentioned in the preceding verse, namely, the time he should be in the world. So long, says he, _I am the light of the world_ Teaching men inwardly by my Spirit, and outwardly by my preaching, what is the will of God; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground_, &c. He did the things here mentioned, that he might exercise the faith and obedience of the patient, and show that he could command efficacy from whatever means he should please to use; could work without means, or even by such as seemed evidently ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_The neighbours, therefore_ Those who lived in the beggar's neighbourhood, and those who had frequently passed by where he used to beg, being well acquainted with his form and visage, were astonished at the alteration which they observed in his countenance, by reason of the new faculty that was best... [ Continue Reading ]
John 9:10 ; JOHN 9:12. _How were thine eyes opened?_ The fact being ascertained that a man, born blind, had received his sight, they are disposed to inquire how so extraordinary an event was brought about. Observe, reader, the works of the Lord, being great, ought to be sought out: and they will app... [ Continue Reading ]
_They brought to the Pharisees him that was blind_ They brought him to the sanhedrim, which consisted chiefly of Pharisees, at least the Pharisees in the sanhedrim were most active against Christ. Some think they who brought this man to the Pharisees did it with a good design, to show them that this... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then again the Pharisees asked him_, &c. They hoped to find something in the manner of the cure, which would show it to be no miracle, or, at least, which would prove Jesus to be a bad man. _He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes_, &c. He honestly and plainly told them the whole matter, as h... [ Continue Reading ]
_They say unto the blind man, What sayest thou of him_ What inference dost thou draw from what thou sayest he hath done for thee? _He said, He is a prophet_ For surely otherwise he would have been unable to perform so great a miracle. _But the Jews did not believe that he had been blind_ The Jews, h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then again called they the man_ The court, finding that nothing could be learned from the man's parents, by which the miracle could be disproved, called the man himself a second time, and tried, by fair words, to extort from him a confession to the disparagement of Jesus. They said, _Give God the p... [ Continue Reading ]
_The man answered_ Utterly illiterate as he was: and with what strength and clearness of reason! So had God opened the eyes of his understanding, as well as his bodily eyes! _Why, herein is a marvellous thing, that ye_ The teachers and guides of the people; _know not whence he is_ From whence he com... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus heard that they had cast him out_ Had excommunicated the poor man for his sake; _and when he had found him_ Which it appears he did soon after; _he said unto him_, privately, _Dost thou believe on the Son of God_ The great expected Messiah? Dost thou give credit to the promises of the Messiah... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jesus said_ While he stood talking with the blind man who had received his sight, several people, it seems, being gathered about them; _For judgment_, as well as mercy, _I am come into this world, that they which see not might see_ That the ignorant, who are willing and desirous to be instructe... [ Continue Reading ]