John 9:40

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.

Are we also blind ... was a sneering, insincere question, such as Pilate's "What is truth?"

If ye were blind ... cannot mean "if ye were physically blind"; and there can be no doubt that Jesus considered them to be spiritual blind; then why the "if"? It means "if" they had only admitted their arrogance, pride, and ignorance, they might have found salvation. The verse is addressed to their conceit. They were the ones who shouted "We know!" (John 9:29); and they were typical examples of the men described by Paul (Romans 2:17-20), who boasted of themselves that they were a guide to the blind, etc. Jesus' statement, "If ye were blind" contrasts with their conceited self-glorification outlined by Paul. Blindness was the last thing on earth the proud Pharisee would have attributed to himself; yet how blind he was!

Now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth ... This is a reference to the conceit mentioned above. Those who would receive life and salvation of Christ must come in meekness and humility, confessing their sins, denying themselves, and crying, "Lord be merciful to me a sinner." The entrenched pride and conceit of the religious leaders were utterly repugnant to the Lord; and, as long as men were wrapped up in such a cloak of self-righteousness, there was absolutely no hope for them. As long as they cried, "We see!" their sin remained.

We see ... And yet, despite the sixth sign, they could not even see the Son of God!