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Observe here, 1. How the Pharisees, who watched all opportunities to ensnare our Saviour, look upon these last words as reflecting upon them; as if Christ did insinuate that they were blind; Are we blind also? They that shut their eyes, and will not see the light which Christ offers to them, are the worst of blind ones.
Observe, 2. Our Saviour's reply to the Pharisees' question, If ye were blind; that is, simply ignorant of your duty, and without the means of knowledge and instruction, you should have no sin: that is, comparatively to what you have: you should not have had so much sin and guilt upon you as now you have, by shutting your eyes against the light. But now you say we see: that is, being puffed up with the knowledge which you have, as if ye were the only men that saw; this proud conceit of yours renders your condition incurable, and your sin remaineth unpardonable.
Learn hence, 1. That it is a far greater sin to contemn the known laws of God, than to be ignorant of them; pride is a greater hindrance of knowledge than ignorance, because the proud man thinks he wants no knowledge.
2. That the most exalted knowledge is insufficient to salvation, without a suitable and correspondent practice. The Pharisees had the key of knowledge at their girdle, yet our Saviour tells them of double damnation;
Lord! how sad is it so to know Christ in this world, as that he will be ashamed to know us in another world!