What is happening in this passage about the man born blind and the Pharisees?

In this passage, the man who had been blind is brought to the religious leaders after Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. The Pharisees question him again and again about how he received his sight. Some say Jesus cannot be from God because He did this on the Sabbath, while others are unsure because of the clear miracle. They call the man’s parents, who confirm he was born blind but avoid talking about Jesus because they fear being thrown out of the synagogue. The man then boldly argues that someone who opened his eyes must be from God, and for this the leaders insult him and cast him out.

Why were the blind man’s parents afraid to speak openly about Jesus?

The man’s parents were afraid because the leaders had already decided that anyone who said Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. Being cast out meant losing your place in the religious and social life of the community. That could affect friendships, business, and family honor. So even though they knew this was their son and that he was born blind, they refused to say how he now saw. Instead they said, “He is of age; ask him,” trying to avoid trouble. Their fear shows how costly it could be to confess Jesus openly.

What does the phrase “Give God the praise” mean in this passage?

When the Pharisees say “Give God the praise” to the healed man, they are basically putting him under a kind of oath. They are telling him to speak as if standing directly before God, to stop talking about Jesus in a good way, and to agree with them that Jesus is a sinner. They claim, “We know that this man is a sinner.” Instead of giving in, the man answers honestly from his experience: he does not argue every detail about Jesus, but says, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”

What is the meaning of “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see”?

When the healed man says, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see,” he is holding to the plain truth of what God has done for him. The leaders try to trap him in arguments about Jesus, calling Him a sinner and doubting His work. The man does not claim to know everything about Jesus yet, but he refuses to deny the miracle. He sticks to what he cannot deny: he used to be blind, and now he can see. This shows that simple, honest testimony about what God has done is powerful, even when facing pressure and ridicule.

Why did the Pharisees say they were Moses’ disciples and reject the healed man’s words?

The Pharisees say, “We are Moses’ disciples,” to claim that they stand in the true line of God’s revelation, while treating the healed man and Jesus as unreliable. They insist they know God spoke to Moses, but say they do not know where Jesus is from. When the man points out that opening the eyes of someone born blind must be a work of God, they become angry. They insult him, saying he was “altogether born in sins,” and then cast him out. Their reaction shows pride and spiritual blindness: instead of letting the miracle correct them, they cling to their status and reject correction from someone they look down on.

What does this passage teach about spiritual blindness and sight?

This passage shows that a person can have working physical eyes yet be spiritually blind. The man who was born blind gains both physical sight and growing insight about Jesus. He first calls Jesus a prophet and later reasons that He must be from God. The religious leaders, who knew the Scriptures and claimed to follow Moses, refuse to see what God is doing right in front of them. They twist the Sabbath, ignore the miracle, and attack the man. Spiritual sight here means being willing to receive what God shows through Jesus, even when it challenges long-held traditions or social safety.

Why was the healing on the Sabbath such a problem for the religious leaders?

The healing caused trouble because it took place on the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest. The leaders had built up many detailed rules about what counted as work. Jesus made clay and healed on that day, which they treated as breaking the Sabbath. Instead of seeing that bringing healing and mercy fits God’s heart, they focused on their traditions. Some of them said, “This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.” Others were not so sure, because they could not deny such a powerful miracle. The story shows how legalism can blind people to God’s kindness.

How does the boldness of the healed man speak to believers today?

The healed man starts out simply telling what happened, but as the questioning goes on, he becomes bolder. He even asks the leaders if they also want to be Jesus’ disciples and points out that God hears those who worship Him and do His will, not those who reject Him. His courage grows as he holds to the truth, even when it costs him his place in the synagogue. For believers today, his example encourages honest, steady testimony about what Christ has done, without harshness but also without backing down just to keep comfort, approval, or position.

John.9.13

John 9:13

KJV

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.