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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_9:13-17
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 14Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, "He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see. 16Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. 17So they said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" And he said, "He is a prophet."
Joh_9:13 "they" This must refer to the neighbors.
▣ "the Pharisees" The Jewish leaders go by two different terms in John. They are usually referred to as "the Jews" (cf. Joh_9:18; Joh_9:22). However, in this chapter they are called the Pharisees in Joh_9:13; Joh_9:15-16; Joh_9:40. See Special Topic at Joh_1:24.
Joh_9:14 "Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay" The Jewish leaders' traditional rules (the Oral Traditions codified in the Talmud) took precedent over this person's need (cf. Joh_5:9; Joh_9:16; Mat_23:24). It is almost as if Jesus acted on the Sabbath intentionally for the purpose of entering into a theological dialog with these leaders. See note at Joh_5:9.
Joh_9:16 The Pharisees might have been basing their judgement of Jesus on Deu_13:1-5.
▣ "there was a division among them" Jesus always causes this (cf. Joh_6:52; Joh_7:43; Joh_10:19; Mat_10:34-39).
Joh_9:17 "He is a prophet" This chapter shows the development of this man's faith (cf. Joh_9:36; Joh_9:38). For "Prophet" see Special Topic at Joh_4:19.