John 9:24-34 (WEL) Then again, they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give God the praise. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. I do know that I was blind, and now I see.” 26 So again they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have already told you, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to be his disciples, too?” 28 Then they lashed out at him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 “We know God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “This is really strange that you don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes! 31 “Now we know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, he listens to him. 32 “Since the world began, no one has heard that anyone has opened the eyes of one born blind. 33 “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him and said to him, “You were wholly born in sins, and you teach us?” Then they threw him out.
V24 Then again, they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give God the praise. We know that this man is a sinner.”
The religious leaders asked the former blind man and told him, “Do not praise this man, give God the glory.”
These religious leaders ignored the obvious that Jesus is Messiah. They have the prophets who foretold the signs of Messiah.
Principle: If you will not interpret the Bible in its plain, normal sense, you will fall into erroneous doctrine.
V25 He answered and said, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. I do know that I was blind, and now I see.”
The man stated he did not know about that guy who healed him, but he was the one who healed. He confessed the truth. The leaders wanted him to lie.
Principle: If your church leaders reject obvious truth and blatantly lie, they are encouraging a person to sin against God.
V26 So again they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
They try to trip him up to see if his account of the facts changes. Since the healed man is telling the truth, it is easy to repeat the same facts.
Principle: Truth does not change.
V27 He answered them, “I have already told you, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to be his disciples, too?”
The healed man is becoming upset, which is natural, so he mocks them.
Matthew Henry comments:
“But it rather seems to be spoken ironically: “Will you be his disciples? No, I know you abhor the thoughts of it; why then should you desire to hear that which will either make you his disciples or leave you inexcusable if you be not?” Those that willfully shut their eyes against the light, as these Pharisees here did, First, make themselves contemptible and base, as these here did, who were justly exposed by this poor man for denying the conclusion, when they had nothing to object against either of the premises. Secondly, they forfeit all the benefit of further instructions and means of knowledge and conviction: they that have been told once, and would not hear, why should they be told it again? Jeremiah 51:9. See Matthew 10:14. Thirdly, they hereby receive the grace of God in vain. This implied in that, “Will you be his disciples? No, you resolve you will not; why then would you hear it again, only that you may be his accusers and persecutors?” Those who will not see cause to embrace Christ, and join with his followers, yet, one would think, should see cause enough not to hate and persecute him and them.”
Note the three principles, he mentions concerning willful rejection in the face of obvious light and truth:
- Show themselves to be liars and encouraging others to lie and bear false witness.
- They forfeit further instruction, that is, don’t bother casting pearls of truth before swine.
- Rejecting God’s grace and mercy brings God’s judgment on them.
V28 Then they lashed out at him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples.
This is probably true about this man being a disciple of Jesus.
The Jewish leaders lie though when they state they are Moses’ disciples. Compare John 1:17, Acts 13:27, Romans 2:23.
V29 “We know God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where he comes from.”
This is a lie; Jesus has already told them such (John 7:27-28). Jesus was born in Bethlehem Ephrathah, Micah 5:2. Also see Matthew 2:6, Luke 2:4-7, and the shepherds are witnesses—Luke 2:8-20.
V30 The man answered and said to them, “This is really strange that you don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes!
Obvious truth. Jesus is fulfilling the words of the prophets as in Isaiah 61:1-2.
V31 “Now we know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, he listens to him.
Of course, God listens to sinners to forgive the greatest sickness of sin (Luke 18:13). Known sin must be confessed, made right, and God asked to forgive.
If we ask for sinful things, God very rarely will answer those prayers. See Psalm 106:13-15.
Also see: Mark 11:22-26 and 1 John 5:16.
V32 “Since the world began, no one has heard that anyone has opened the eyes of one born blind.
By the Spirit of God, this man rebukes them soundly. These religious leaders know this but hate Jesus so much that truth means little.
This is an example of what Jesus taught in Luke 12:11-12 that the Holy Spirit will give the best response possible.
Principle: The Holy Spirit will give the right words at the right time. Let us be confident and trust Him.
V33 “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
The healed man knows that only God can heal in this manner. The religious leaders are willfully ignorant of it.
V34 They answered him and said to him, “You were wholly born in sins, and you teach us?” Then they threw him out.
They have no answer and don’t even know what to say. Their reply is a fleshly-based and motivated response. They think they are so righteous and in good standing with God when in reality they are totally blind and dead in trespasses and sins.
Compare Revelation 3:17.
They contempt God just like some of the ancestors (Numbers 14:11).
From the Dictionary of Biblical Themes:
(Dictionary of Bible Themes)
“The motives for persecution
- Envy—Matthew 27:18
- Fear—Acts 19:23-27
- Hatred—1 Kings 22:11
“The means of persecution
- Deception—Jeremiah 20:10
- Threats—Psalms 10:7
- Ridicule—Nehemiah 4:1-3
- Ostracism—John 12:42
- Violence—Jeremiah 38:6
“How God deals with persecutors—Acts 12:1 with Acts 12:21-23”
We learn:
- How God gives us wisdom to give a godly reply.
- How to be bold in the face of dangerous enemies (especially religious enemies).
Questions:
- Do you trust God to provide the best response to these types of questions?
- Do you trust God to give you the boldness to reply the truth?