John 9:22

The Pulpit Commentary - John 9:22

The evangelist accounts for the reticence of the parents by their fear of consequences. These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews. This passage provides strong evidence of the technical use of the term "the Jews." Doubtless these parents were Israelites, but they were not "Jews" in the Johannine sense. The "Jews" were the hierarchical and ecclesiastico-political authorities. For they had already come to the agreement ( Luke 22:5 ; Acts 23:20 ; 1 Macc. 9:70); had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 9:22

Excommunication. Here is a weapon that attacks religion in the name of religion. Here are people whom the plainest facts would prompt into a confession of Jesus as the Christ, if only they were left to themselves. The truth as it is in Jesus is on one side; threatenings of dire consequences on the other; and truth suffers for the time from the ecclesiastical powers that be. I. SUPERSTITION AS OPPOSED TO JESUS . Here is a special foe, over and above the ordinary foes with whom... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 9:20-22

His parents answered ... - To the first two questions they answered without hesitation. They knew that he was their son, and that he was born blind. The third question they could not positively answer, as they had not witnessed the means of the cure, and were afraid to express their belief. It appears that they had themselves no doubt, but they were not eye-witnesses, and could not be therefore legal evidence.He is of age - He is of sufficient age to give testimony. Among the Jews this age was... 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 9:22

agreed . . . that = agreed together, to this end that if. For the condition see App-118 . Not the same as John 9:41 . any man = any one. App-123 . did confess = should confess. Compare Matthew 7:23 ; Matthew 10:32 Christ = Messiah. See App-98 . No art. be = become. put out , &c. Greek. aposunagogos. Occurs only here, John 12:42 and John 16:2 = our Eng. "excommunicated". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 9:22

These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him to be the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.They feared the Jews ... This means fear of the Sanhedrin, a fear mentioned four times in John: here, and in John 7:13; John 12:42, and in John 19:38. Excommunication was the dreaded penalty by which the unscrupulous leaders enforced their will upon the people.... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 9:22

John 9:22. These words spake his parents because, &c.— As the man who had been born blind, knew who had opened his eyes; without doubt he had given his parents an account both of the name of his benefactor, and of the manner in which he had conferred the great blessing upon him. Besides, having repeated these particulars frequently to his neighbours and acquaintance, Joh 9:11 we can conceive no reason why he should conceal them from his parents. The truth is, they were ungrateful enough to... 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 9:22-23

The reason for the parents’ silence was their fear of excommunication from their local synagogue for affirming that Jesus was the Messiah."For a Jew to be put out of the synagogue meant that he was ostracized by everyone." [Note: The New Scofield …, p. 1139.] We now learn that the official position about Jesus was that He was not the Messiah, and anyone who affirmed that He was suffered religious persecution (cf. John 7:13). Some scholars have argued that such a test of heresy was impossible... read more

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