Albert Barnes Commentary Mark 8:25

"Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly." — Mark 8:25 (ASV)

Every man clearly. He could see their form and features. His sight was completely restored. Though our Lord probably did not, by this, intend to teach any lesson regarding the way in which a sinner's mind is enlightened, yet it affords a striking illustration of it.

Sinners are by nature blind (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:11; John 9:39). The effect of religion, or of the influence of the Holy Spirit, is to open the eyes, to show the sinner his condition and his danger, and to lead him to look on him whom he has pierced.

Yet at first he sees indistinctly. He does not soon learn to distinguish objects. When converted, he is in a new world. Light is shed on every object, and he sees the Scriptures, the Savior, and the works of creation, the sun, and stars, and hills, and valleys, in a new light.

He sees the beauty of the plan of salvation and wonders that he has not seen it before. Yet at first he sees indistinctly. It is only by repeated applications to the Source of Light that he sees all things clearly. At first, religion may appear full of mysteries. Doctrines and facts that he cannot fully comprehend appear on every side.

His mind is still perplexed, and he may doubt whether he has ever seen anything or has ever been renewed. Yet let him not despair. Light, in due time, will be shed on these obscure and mysterious truths. Faithful and repeated application to the Father of Lights—in prayer, and in searching the Scriptures, and in the ordinances of religion—will dissipate all these doubts. Then he will see all things clearly, and the universe will appear to be filled with one broad flood of light.