John 9:18

The Pulpit Commentary - John 9:18-19

The narrative once more brings "the Jews" into prominence—the hierarchical party, adverse to Jesus. The angry magistrates who were in the court allowed it to be seen at once that they will not be tampered with, nor lose the chance, if possible, of pursuing their malicious plans already formed against Jesus. They take the ground that no miracle had occurred. At all events, they must have further evidence of the fact. The Jews then did not believe , or refused to believe, concerning him, that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 9:18-19

Is this your son? ... - The Pharisees proposed three questions to the parents, by which they hoped to convict the man of falsehood:Whether he was their son? Whether they would affirm that he was born blind? and, Whether they knew by what means he now saw? They evidently intended to intimidate the parents, so that they might give an answer to one of these questions that would convict the man of deception. We see here the art to which men will resort rather than admit the truth. Had they been... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 9:17-23

John 9:17-23 . They say unto the blind man, What sayest thou of him What inference dost thou draw from what thou sayest he hath done for thee? He said, He is a prophet For surely otherwise he would have been unable to perform so great a miracle. But the Jews did not believe that he had been blind The Jews, hoping to make the whole turn out a cheat, would not believe that the beggar had been blind, although all his neighbours had testified the truth of it, pretending, no doubt, that it... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 9:1-41

92. Dispute concerning a blind man (John 9:1-41)Some Jews believed that diseases and physical disabilities were the result of either a person’s own sins or the sins of the person’s parents. When Jesus met a blind man, his disciples asked him which was the most likely cause of the man’s blindness (John 9:1-2).Jesus was not interested in discussing theoretical questions just to satisfy people’s curiosity. He was more concerned with healing the man, and in this way he would bring glory to God. His... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 9:18

But = Therefore. the Jews . See note on John 1:19 . See the Structure "P" believe . See App-150 and p. 1511. concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 . him = the very one. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 9:18

The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?Such unbelief on the part of the majority of the Sanhedrin suggests the quotation ascribed to Voltaire:If in the market of Paris, before the eyes of a thousand men, a miracle should be performed, I would much rather disbelieve their two... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 9:18

John 9:18. But the Jews did not believe, &c.— Nothing is more remarkable than the power and goodness of Providence, throughout this transaction, which turned the malice of the Jews to the praise of HIM, whom they wanted to prove an impostor, and whom they longed to destroy. The neighbours of the man who had known him to have been blind for many years,—his parents,—the blind man himself, though intimidated by the sanhedrim, before whom they were solemnly examined, all unanimously persist in... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 9:18

18-23. the Jews did not believe . . . he had been born blind . . . till they called the parents of him that had received his sight—Foiled by the testimony of the young man himself, they hope to throw doubt on the fact by close questioning his parents, who, perceiving the snare laid for them, ingeniously escape it by testifying simply to the identity of their son, and his birth-blindness, leaving it to himself, as a competent witness, to speak as to the cure. They prevaricated, however, in... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 9:13-23

The Pharisees’ first interrogation 9:13-23"John evidently wants us to see that the activity of Jesus as the Light of the world inevitably results in judgment on those whose natural habitat is darkness. They oppose the Light and they bring down condemnation on themselves accordingly." [Note: Morris, p. 429.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 9:18-19

The Jews in view are the Pharisees (John 9:13). Evidently they chose to interview the healed man’s parents because they could not unite on a decision about Jesus. They wanted more information from people closer to him than just his neighbors (John 9:8). Only his parents could affirm that he had been truly blind from birth. If he had not been, the Pharisees could dispute Jesus’ miracle. read more

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