John 9:39
Then Jesus declared, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind."
Then Jesus declared
This phrase marks a significant moment where Jesus is making a profound statement. The Greek word for "declared" is "εἶπεν" (eipen), which is often used to denote authoritative speech. In the context of the Gospel of John, Jesus' declarations are pivotal, revealing His divine mission and authority. This moment follows the healing of the man born blind, serving as a culmination of the miracle and a deeper revelation of spiritual truths.

For judgment
The Greek word for "judgment" is "κρίμα" (krima), which can mean a decision, a verdict, or a divine judgment. In the conservative Christian perspective, this does not contradict Jesus' mission of salvation but complements it. Jesus' coming into the world inherently brings judgment because His presence and message force a decision—acceptance or rejection. This judgment is not merely punitive but is a separation of truth from falsehood, light from darkness.

I have come into this world
This phrase emphasizes the incarnation, the act of God becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The Greek word "κόσμος" (kosmos) for "world" often refers to the fallen human system opposed to God. Jesus' coming into the world signifies a divine intervention in human history, a pivotal moment where God steps into the temporal realm to fulfill His redemptive plan.

so that the blind may see
Here, "blind" and "see" are used metaphorically. The Greek word for "blind" is "τυφλοί" (typhloi), and "see" is "βλέπωσιν" (bleposin). This phrase speaks to spiritual enlightenment. Those who are "blind" are those who do not understand or perceive spiritual truths. Jesus' mission is to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, granting them insight into God's kingdom and truth. This is a fulfillment of prophetic promises, such as those found in Isaiah, where the Messiah would bring light to those in darkness.

and those who see may become blind
This paradoxical statement uses "see" and "blind" in a spiritual sense. The Greek word for "see" here is "βλέποντες" (blepontes), referring to those who believe they have spiritual insight or understanding. Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and religious leaders who, in their self-righteousness, are blind to the truth of Christ. This blindness is a result of pride and rejection of Jesus' message. It serves as a warning that self-assuredness in one's spiritual state without true faith in Christ leads to spiritual blindness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking about His mission and the spiritual implications of His coming into the world.

2. The Blind Man
Earlier in John 9, Jesus heals a man who was born blind, which sets the stage for this declaration. The physical healing symbolizes spiritual enlightenment.

3. Pharisees
Religious leaders who are spiritually blind, despite their physical sight and knowledge of the law. They are often in opposition to Jesus.

4. Disciples
Followers of Jesus who are learning from His teachings and witnessing His miracles.

5. Jerusalem
The city where these events take place, a central location for Jesus' ministry and confrontations with religious leaders.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Sight vs. Physical Sight
Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual insight over mere physical sight. True understanding comes from recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.

Judgment and Division
Jesus' coming brings a division between those who accept Him and those who reject Him. This division is a form of judgment.

Humility and Openness
To gain spiritual sight, one must be humble and open to Jesus' teachings, acknowledging one's own blindness and need for His light.

The Danger of Spiritual Pride
The Pharisees' confidence in their own understanding leads to spiritual blindness. Believers must guard against pride and self-righteousness.

The Role of Faith
Faith in Jesus is the key to moving from spiritual blindness to sight. Trusting in Him opens our eyes to the truth.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the healing of the blind man earlier in John 9 illustrate the spiritual truths Jesus is teaching in verse 39?

2. In what ways can we be spiritually blind today, and how can we seek Jesus' help to see clearly?

3. How does the concept of judgment in John 9:39 relate to Jesus' overall mission as described in the Gospels?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure we are not like the Pharisees, who were confident in their sight but were actually blind?

5. How can we apply the lesson of spiritual sight in our daily interactions with others, especially those who may not yet see the truth of the Gospel?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 42:7
This prophecy speaks of opening the eyes of the blind, which connects to Jesus' mission of bringing spiritual sight.

Matthew 13:13-15
Jesus explains why He speaks in parables, highlighting the theme of seeing and not seeing, hearing and not hearing.

2 Corinthians 4:4
Paul speaks about the god of this age blinding the minds of unbelievers, which relates to the spiritual blindness Jesus addresses.

Revelation 3:17-18
The message to the church in Laodicea about being blind and needing to see spiritually.

Acts 26:18
Paul's mission to open the eyes of the Gentiles, turning them from darkness to light.
Enlightening and Blinding PowerJ.R. Thomson John 9:39
Spontaneous Judgment and Self-Enacting VerdictGeorge Brown John 9:39
The Passage of a Soul from Darkness into LightJ.R. Thomson John 9:1-41
Blind Yet SeeingJ. Trapp.John 9:39-41
Christ's Mission to the WorldD. Thomas, D. D.John 9:39-41
Help for the NeedyC. H. Spurgeon.John 9:39-41
Misery of Unconscious BlindnessC. H. Spurgeon.John 9:39-41
Sight for Those Who See NotC. H. Spurgeon., Epictetus., Dr. Hammond., Bp. Hall.John 9:39-41
The Emptiness of Self-Righteous BoastingC. H. Spurgeon.John 9:39-41
The Opening of the EyesPhillips Brooks, D. D.John 9:39-41
The Sense of Sin Leads to Holiness and the Conceit of Holiness to SinProf. Shedd.John 9:39-41
People
Jesus, Disciples
Places
Jerusalem, Siloam
Topics
Blind, Judge, Judgment, Seeing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 9:39

     1466   vision
     2309   Christ, as judge
     2354   Christ, mission
     5263   communication

John 9:1-41

     8442   good works

John 9:39-41

     5135   blindness, spiritual
     6257   unbelievers
     7552   Pharisees, attitudes to Christ
     8824   self-righteousness, nature of
     8844   unforgiveness

Library
June 13 Evening
Dost thou believe on the Son of God?--JOHN 9:35. Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.--The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.--I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 9 Evening
The night cometh when no man can work.--JOHN 9:4. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, . . . they . . . rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.--There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.--Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.--The dead praise not the Lord, neither any
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

August 24 Evening
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day.--JOHN 9:4. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.--He that watereth shall be watered. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest: behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

One Metaphor and Two Meanings
'I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.'--JOHN ix. 4. 'The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.'--ROMANS xiii. 12. The contrast between these two sayings will strike you at once. Using the same metaphors, they apply them in exactly opposite directions. In the one, life is the day, and the state beyond death the night; in the other, life is the night,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Sixth Miracle in John's Gospel --The Blind Made to See, and the Seeing Made Blind
'When Jesus had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7. And said unto him, Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way, therefore, and washed, and came seeing.'--JOHN ix. 6, 7. The proportionate length at which this miracle and its accompanying effects are recorded, indicates very clearly the Evangelist's idea of their relative importance. Two verses are given to the story
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

What Think Ye of Christ?
Matthew 22:42 -- "What think ye of Christ?" When it pleased the eternal Son of God to tabernacle among us, and preach the glad tidings of salvation to a fallen world, different opinions were entertained by different parties concerning him. As to his person, some said he was Moses; others that he was Elias, Jeremias, or one of the ancient prophets; few acknowledged him to be what he really was, God blessed for evermore. And as to his doctrine, though the common people, being free from prejudice, were
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

The Brevity of Life.
"I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh."--ST. JOHN ix. 4. There are few things more commonly disregarded by us in our early years than the brevity of our life through all its successive stages, and the fleeting nature of its opportunities. In childhood we are almost entirely unconscious of both these characteristics of life. Indeed, it would hardly be natural if it were otherwise. That reflective habit which dwells upon them is the result of our experience,
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

On the Words of the Gospel, John ix. 4 and 31, "We must Work the Works of Him that Sent Me," Etc. Against the Arians. And
1. The Lord Jesus, as we heard when the Holy Gospel was being read, opened the eyes of a man who was born blind. Brethren, if we consider our hereditary punishment, the whole world is blind. And therefore came Christ the Enlightener, because the devil had been the Blinder. He made all men to be born blind, who seduced the first man. Let them run to the Enlightener, let them run, believe, receive the clay made of the spittle. The Word is as it were the spittle, the Flesh is the earth. Let them wash
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Same Lesson of the Gospel, John ix. , on the Giving Sight to the Man that was Born Blind.
1. We have heard the lesson of the Holy Gospel which we are in the habit of hearing; but it is a good thing to be reminded: good to refresh the memory from the lethargy of forgetfulness. And in fact this very old lesson has given us as much pleasure as if it were new. Christ gave sight to one blind from his birth; why do we marvel? Christ is the Saviour; by an act of mercy He made up that which He had not given in the womb. Now when He gave that man no eyes, it was no mistake of His surely; but a
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

A Pressed Man Yielding to Christ
"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on he Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him."--John 9:35-38. D LAST Sabbath morning,[9]* I spoke to you concerning one who was impressed into the King's service. That was Simon, the Cyrenian, who was compelled to bear
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900

Contention Over the Man Born Blind.
(Jerusalem.) ^D John IX. 1-41. [Some look upon the events in this and the next section as occurring at the Feast of Tabernacles in October, others think they occurred at the Feast of Dedication in December, deriving their point of time from John x. 22.] ^d 1 And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. [The man probably sought to waken compassion by repeatedly stating this fact to passers-by.] 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Healing of the Man Born Blind.
After the scene in the Temple described in the last chapter, and Christ's consequent withdrawal from His enemies, we can scarcely suppose any other great event to have taken place on that day within or near the precincts of the Sanctuary. And yet, from the close connection of the narratives, we are led to infer that no long interval of time can have elapsed before the healing of the man born blind. [4116] Probably it happened the day after the events just recorded. We know that it was a Sabbath,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Doctrine of Christ.
2 John 9-11. "WHOSOEVER transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11). What then is the doctrine of Christ? It is the revealed truth concerning the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Opened Eyes
Gerhard Ter Steegen John ix. 37 "Where is a God?" doth weary Reason say-- "I see but starlit skies." "Where is the sun?" So calleth at noonday The man with sightless eyes. Thou, little child, from thee God is not far; Look inwards, not above: Thou needest not to roam from star to star, For God is Love.
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

The Man Born Blind and Joseph of Arimathea
There were two extraordinary men living in the city of Jerusalem when Christ was on earth. One of them has come down through history nameless--we do not know who he was; the name of the other is given. One was not only a beggar, but blind from his birth; the other was one of the rich men of Jerusalem. Yet in the Gospel of John, there is more space given to this blind beggar than to any other character. The reason why so much has been recorded of this man is because he took his stand for Jesus Christ.
Dwight L. Moody—Men of the Bible

Whether a Man Can Merit Perseverance
Whether a Man can Merit Perseverance We proceed to the ninth article thus: 1. It seems that a man can merit perseverance. For a man in grace can merit what he obtains through petition, and men obtain perseverance through petition, since otherwise perseverance would be asked of God in vain by the petition of the Lord's prayer, as Augustine says (2 De Bono Persev.). [47] It follows that perseverance can be merited by a man in grace. 2. Again, to be unable to sin is more than not to sin. Now to be unable
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Sight Given to the Blind.
"And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, Rabbi, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. We must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. When I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
Sections. 1. Summary of the doctrine of Divine Providence. 1. It embraces the future and the past. 2. It works by means, without means, and against means. 3. Mankind, and particularly the Church, the object of special care. 4. The mode of administration usually secret, but always just. This last point more fully considered. 2. The profane denial that the world is governed by the secret counsel of God, refuted by passages of Scripture. Salutary counsel. 3. This doctrine, as to the secret counsel of
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Jesus and the Blind Man.
This miracle is reported only by John, a fact that is not strange when we remember that he alone gives a report of the ministry in Judea in which it occurred. The time cannot be certainly determined. Some have supposed that it occurred on the same day, only a few moments after Christ had escaped from the attempt to stone him; others regard it improbable that he should have stopped at such a moment to perform a miracle. All that is certain is that it was on the Sabbath day; a fact that intensified
B.W. Johnson—The New Testament Commentary Vol. III: John

Triumph. L. M.
Go, labor on, while it is day; The world's dark night is hastening on; Speed, speed thy work,--cast sloth away! It is not thus that souls are won. 2 Men die in darkness at your side, Without a hope to cheer the tomb; Take up the torch and wave it wide-- The torch that lights time's thickest gloom. 3 Toil on, faint not;--keep watch and pray! Be wise the erring soul to win; Go forth into the world's highway; Compel the wanderer to come in. 4 Go, labor on; your hands are weak; Your knees are faint,
Edmund S. Lorenz—The Otterbein Hymnal

Letter Lxviii. To Castrutius.
Castrutius, a blind man of Pannonia, had set out for Bethlehem to visit Jerome. However, on reaching Cissa (whether that in Thrace or that on the Adriatic is uncertain) he was induced by his friends to turn back. Jerome writes to thank him for his intention and to console him for his inability to carry it out. He then tries to comfort him in his blindness (1) by referring to Christ's words concerning the man born blind (Joh. ix. 3) and (2) by telling him the story of Antony and Didymus. The date
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Mr. John Bunyan's Dying Sayings.
OF SIN. Sin is the great block and bar to our happiness, the procurer of all miseries to man, both here and hereafter: take away sin and nothing can hurt us: for death, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, is the wages of it. Sin, and man for sin, is the object of the wrath of God. How dreadful, therefore, must his case be who continues in sin! For who can bear or grapple with the wrath of God? No sin against God can be little, because it is against the great God of heaven and earth; but if the sinner
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Struggler;
CONTAINING THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER IN WHICH MR. BUNYAN'S BOOKS WERE PUBLISHED, AND THE NUMBER OF EDITIONS THEY PASSED THROUGH DURING HIS LIFE. THIRTY REASONS WHY CHRISTIAN PEOPLE SHOULD PROMOTE THEIR CIRCULATION, AND THE STRUGGLER FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THESE LABOURS.--PUBLISHED IN 1691. BY CHARLES DOE, ONE OF MR. BUNYAN'S PERSONAL FRIENDS. A CATALOGUE-TABLE OF MR. BUNYAN'S BOOKS. AND THEIR SUCCESSION IN PUBLISHING, MOST ACCORDING TO HIS OWN RECKONING. Note.--Those that are in Italic letter are
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Transfiguration: an Emergency Measure. Matthew 16:28-17:1-8. Mark 9:1-8. Luke 9:27-36.
God in Sore Straits: the darkest hour save one, fugitive, John 7:1. ban, John 9:22, 34. pushing, Matthew 15:1. Mark 7:1.--the danger zone, "withdrew," Matthew 4:12. 12:15. 14:13. 15:21. Tabernacles, John 7:32. 8:59.--Galileans desert, John 6:60-66.--the inner circle infected, John 6:67-71.--God needs men. Fire and anvil for Leaders: mental strength--seasoned leadership--Simon and Peter. An Irresistible Plan: alone with the twelve--the changed plan, Matthew 16:18-21.--Peter's stupid boldness,
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

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