Verse 9
9. But—Greek, "For." Confirming the need of these graces ( :-) by the fatal consequences of the want of them.
he that lacketh—Greek, "he to whom these are not present."
blind—as to the spiritual realities of the unseen world.
and cannot see afar off—explanatory of "blind." He closes his eyes (Greek) as unable to see distant objects (namely, heavenly things), and fixes his gaze on present and earthly things which alone he can see. Perhaps a degree of wilfulness in the blindness is implied in the Greek, "closing the eyes," which constitutes its culpability; hating and rebelling against the light shining around him.
forgotten—Greek, "contracted forgetfulness," wilful and culpable obliviousness.
that he was purged—The continually present sense of one's sins having been once for all forgiven, is the strongest stimulus to every grace ( :-). This once-for-all accomplished cleansing of unbelievers at their new birth is taught symbolically by Christ, :-, Greek, "He that has been bathed (once for all) needeth not save to wash his feet (of the soils contracted in the daily walk), but is clean every whit (in Christ our righteousness)." "Once purged (with Christ's blood), we should have no more consciousness of sin (as condemning us, :-, because of God's promise)." Baptism is the sacramental pledge of this.
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