Church Fathers Commentary John 9:35-41

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him? Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind. Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth." — John 9:35-41 (ASV)

St. John Chrysostom: Those who suffer for the sake of the truth and the confession of Christ come to the greatest honor, as we see in the case of the man born blind. For the Jews cast him out of the temple, and the Lord of the temple found him. He received him as a judge receives a wrestler after his labors and crowned him. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when He had found him, He said to him, Do you believe in the Son of God? The Evangelist makes it clear that Jesus came in order to say this to him. He asks him, however, not out of ignorance, but wanting to reveal Himself to him and to show that He valued his faith. It is as if He said: The people have cast reproaches on Me, but I do not care for them; I care for only one thing, that you may believe. He who does the will of God is better than ten thousand of the wicked.

St. Hilary of Poitiers: If any mere confession of Christ whatsoever were the perfection of faith, it would have been said, Do you believe in Christ? But since all heretics would have had this name on their lips—confessing Christ, yet denying the Son—that which is true of Christ alone is required of our faith: namely, that we should believe in the Son of God. But what good does it do to believe in the Son of God as a creature, when we are required to have faith in Christ not as a creature of God, but as the Son of God?

St. John Chrysostom: But the man born blind did not yet know Christ. Before he went to Christ he was blind, and after his cure, he was taken hold of by the Jews. He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? This is the speech of a longing and inquiring mind. He does not know who He is for whom he had contended so much, which is a proof to you of his love of truth. The Lord, however, does not say to him, "I am He who healed you," but uses a more indirect way of speaking: You have both seen Him.

Theophylact of Ohrid: This He says to remind him of his cure, which had given him the power to see. And observe: He who speaks is born of Mary, and this same person is the Son of God—not two different Persons, as in the error of Nestorius. And it is He that talks with you.

St. Augustine of Hippo: First, He washes the face of his heart. Then, with the face of his heart washed and his conscience cleansed, he acknowledges Him not only as the Son of Man (which he believed before) but as the Son of God, who had taken on flesh. And he said, Lord, I believe. To say, "I believe," is a small thing. Do you want to see what he believes about Him? And falling down, he worshipped Him.

The Venerable Bede: This is an example to us not to pray to God with an uplifted neck, but to prostrate ourselves on the earth and humbly implore His mercy.

St. John Chrysostom: He adds the deed to the word as a clear acknowledgment of His divine power. The Lord replies in a way that confirms the man's faith and at the same time stirs up the minds of His followers. And Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world.

St. Augustine of Hippo: The day, then, was divided between light and darkness. So it is rightly added, that they which see not, may see, for He relieved men from darkness. But what about what follows: And that they which see might be made blind? Hear what comes next. Some of the Pharisees were moved by these words.

And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, Are we blind also? What had moved them were the words, And that they which see might be made blind. It follows, Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you should have no sin; that is, if you called yourselves blind and ran to the physician.

But now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains. For in saying, "We see," you do not seek a physician, and so you will remain in your blindness.

This, then, is what He had just said: I came, that they that see not might see—that is, those who confess they cannot see and seek a physician, in order that they may see. And, that they which see might be made blind—that is, those who think they can see and do not seek a physician, will remain in their blindness. This act of division He calls "judgment," saying, For judgment I have come into this world. This is not the judgment by which He will judge the living and the dead at the end of the world.

St. John Chrysostom: Or, He said, for judgment, meaning for greater punishment, showing that those who condemned Him were the very ones who were condemned. Regarding what He says, that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind, it is the same as what St. Paul says: The Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

Theophylact of Ohrid: As if to say: "Behold, he who did not see from his birth now sees in both body and soul, whereas those who seem to see have had their understanding darkened."

St. John Chrysostom: For there is a twofold vision and a twofold blindness: namely, that of the senses and that of the understanding. But they were focused only on physical things and were ashamed only of physical blindness. Therefore, He shows them that it would be better for them to be blind than to see in such a way: If you were blind, you should have no sin; your punishment would be easier. But now you say, We see.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Overlooking the miracle performed on the blind man, you deserve no pardon, since even visible miracles make no impression on you.

St. John Chrysostom: What they thought was their great praise, He shows, would turn to their punishment. At the same time, He consoles the man who had been afflicted with bodily blindness from his birth. For it is not without reason that the Evangelist says, And some of the Pharisees which were with him, heard these words, but so that he may remind us that these were the very persons who had first opposed Christ and then wished to stone Him. For there were some who followed only in appearance and were easily changed to the opposing side.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Or, if you were blind—that is, ignorant of the Scriptures—your offense would by no means be as heavy as one committed out of ignorance. But now, since you call yourselves wise and understanding in the Law, you condemn yourselves.