And as _Jesus_ passed by, he saw a man which was blind from _his_ birth. Ver. 1. _He saw a man which was blind_] This was enough to move Christ to mercy, the sight of a fit object. When God sets us up an altar be we ready with our sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Ver. 2. _Who did sin, this man?_] How could he sin before he was born? But the disciples dreamed of a Pythagorical transanimation; hence this foolish question. _Imbuti erant Iudaei dogmate_ μ... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Ver. 3. _But that the works of God, &c._] _Hinc Alexander Ales, Poena, inquit, duplicem habet ordinationem, Unam ad culpam, quae praecedit; alteram ad gloriara, quam praecedit._... [ Continue Reading ]
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Ver. 4. _While it is day_] As other men do, Psalms 104:22. None can say he shall have twelve hours to his day. And night (death) is a time of receiving wages, not of doing work. On this moment depend... [ Continue Reading ]
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Ver. 5. _I am the light of the world_] See John 12:46. He is light essential, the Father of lights, the Sun of righteousness; who at his nativity was as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, in his life rejoiced as a strong man to run his... [ Continue Reading ]
When 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, Ver. 6. _Made clay_] As he did at first in making man (the poets tell us some such thing of their Prometheus), to show that this cure was done by that Almighty powe... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 7. _He went his way and washed_] He obeyed Christ blindling, he looked not upon Siloam with Syrian eyes, as Naaman did upon Jordan; but, passing by the... [ Continue Reading ]
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Ver. 8. _Is not this he that sat and begged?_] As once blind Belisarius did with _Da obolum Belisarlo._ Give a coin to Belisarius.... [ Continue Reading ]
Some said, This is he: others _said_, He is like him: _but_ he said, I am _he_. Ver. 9. _I am he_] Thus their doubting (by divine disposition) made much for the manifestation of Christ's power in the before mentioned miracle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? Ver. 10. _How were thine eyes opened?_] It is good to ask Christ's illuminates such savoury questions, how they were called out of darkness into marvellous light? what discoveries of himself Christ had made unto them? &c. Austin (Confess. vi... [ Continue Reading ]
He 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. Ver. 11. _I went and washed, and received sight_] His blind obedience made him see. Let God be obeyed readily withou... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. Ver. 12. _I know not_] For Christ disappeared, asJohn 5:13. _See Trapp on "_ Joh 5:13 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. Ver. 13. _They bring him to the Pharisees_] Who should have been moved with the miracle to think the better of him that wrought it; and have better informed those that brought the man to them, with what mind soever. But they had conceived... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Ver. 14. _It was the sabbath day_] And our Saviour knew it would be as ill resented as that other miracle on the sabbath day done, John 5:9, for which they sought to kill him. Men be they pleased or displeased, duty must be d... [ Continue Reading ]
Then 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. Ver. 15. _How he had received his sight_] Gr. how he had recovered his sight. It may be that (to lessen the miracle) they would have had it, that the man h... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore 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. Ver. 16. _This man is not of God_] True, if he had indeed made no conscience of keeping the sabbat... [ Continue Reading ]
They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. Ver. 17. _He is a prophet_] The more the Pharisees opposed the truth, the more it appeared. _Veritas abscondi erubeseit, _ saith Tertullian. The Reformation was much furthered in Ge... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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. Ver. 18. _But the Jews did not believe_] The Pharisees, who held themselves the only Jews, that is, true confessors; like as the Swenckfeldi... [ Continue Reading ]
And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? Ver. 19. _Is this your son?_] Here they try another trick to obscure the miracle; but it would not be. "God taketh the wise in their own craftiness." Again, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise... [ Continue Reading ]
His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: Ver. 20. _We know that this is our son_] They answer obliquely and over warily; but Christ had better deserved of them. Squirrels ever set their holes to the sunny side. Political professors, neuter passiv... [ Continue Reading ]
But 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. Ver. 21. _He is of age_] ηλικιαν εχει. _Faelix ab_ ηλιξ ηλικια, say the etymologists, _ut faelix sit homo floridae et vegetae aetatis, corpore et animo valens._... [ Continue Reading ]
These _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. Ver. 22. _Put out of the synagogue_] This was that kind of excommunication they called Niddui, or separation; and su... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Ver. 23. _He is of age_] See John 9:21,22 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. Ver. 24. _Give God the glory_] It appears, Joshua 7:19; 1 Samuel 6:5, that this was some solemn form, in use among that people when they required an oath of delinquents. This th... [ Continue Reading ]
He 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. Ver. 25. _Whether he be a sinner or no, &c._] That is, a notorious impious man, as you affirm him. And this is an ironic speech; as if he should say, You may make of him what yo... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? Ver. 26. _What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?_] How fain would envy here have fastened her fangs, and have found somewhat to say, whereby to cast a slur on the miracle. They are even question sick, as those 1 Tim... [ Continue Reading ]
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear _it_ again? will ye also be his disciples? Ver. 27. _Will ye also be his disciples?_] A bold speech of so mean a man, so little enlightened, to the chief priests and Pharisees. Such was that of Dirick Carver, ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. Ver. 28. _Then they reviled him_] As an apostate from the law, a noveller, a Nazarite, a disciple of Christ, Thou art his disciple, say they, and therefore a dolt, a dunce; as at this day in Italy and at Rome, the... [ Continue Reading ]
We know that God spake unto Moses: _as for_ this _fellow_, we know not from whence he is. Ver. 29. _We know not whence he is_] _i.e._ Whence he had his mission and commission to act the part of a prophet. His parents they knew, but doubted about his authority, as Papists and officials do of ours. T... [ Continue Reading ]
The 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. Ver. 30. _And yet he hath opened mine eyes_] Which was a foretold sign of the Messiah, Isaiah 35:4,5, and an office whereto Paul was sent of God, Acts 26:18... [ Continue Reading ]
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Ver. 31. _We know that God heareth not sinners_] Their incense smells of the hand that offers it: the leper's lips should be covered, according to the law: the wicked "compass God wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. Ver. 32. _Since the world began was it not heard_] Those historians then that have ascribed such a power to Vespasian, as to cure men that were born blind, are in no wise to be believed. (Dio in Vespas.)... [ Continue Reading ]
If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. Ver. 33. _If this man were not of God, he could do nothing_] _i.e._ Nothing of this nature, he could not work a true miracle. The devil's miracles, _ut plurimum, sunt praestigiae, imposturae, phantasmata, ludibria._ (Bucholcer.)... [ Continue Reading ]
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Ver. 24. _Thou wast altogether born in sins_] Because born blind: so they upbraid him with his misery, as if therefore a notorious offender. This is harsh and rash judgment. _ And dos... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus 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? Ver. 35. _And when he had found him_] So when the pope had excommunicated Luther, and the emperor proscribed him, Christ Jesus was with him, and carried on the work. _Longe maio... [ Continue Reading ]
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? Ver. 36. _Who is he, that I might believe on him?_] A man of God, he held Christ, John 9:33. The Son of God he yet knew him not to be; but was willing to be further informed, as appeareth by this question. They that hold fast what... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. Ver. 37. _Thou hast both seen him_] This seems to have been but some part of the discourse that passed between them, to make the man believe. Or if it were all, then we see as in a mirror the mighty power of Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. Ver. 38. _And he worshipped him_] _sc._ as the Son of God, with divine adoration. This our Saviour would not have suffered had he not been of God. And being so, and to us so good a God, we must not only _adorare Christum, sed et adulari, _ as Ter... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 39. _For judgment I am come_] To judge, much otherwise than those unjust judges have done, that have cast out this poor servant of mine for a blasphemer. Bish... [ Continue Reading ]
And _some_ of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Ver. 40. _Are we blind also?_] Yes, none more: for who so blind as he that will not see? "Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant?" Isaiah 42:19; "Thou blind Pharisee... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. Ver. 41. _But now ye say, We see_] If, after conviction, men run away with the bit in their mouths, the sin is the greater; but their case is deplorable, _qui quod verum sit neque sc... [ Continue Reading ]