They brought to the PhariseesThe act of bringing the man to the Pharisees reflects the Jewish custom of seeking religious leaders for judgment on matters of the Law. The Pharisees were a prominent religious group known for their strict adherence to the Torah and oral traditions. This event occurs in Jerusalem, where the Pharisees held significant influence. The Pharisees often acted as arbiters in religious disputes, and their involvement here underscores the tension between Jesus' miraculous works and the established religious order. This setting foreshadows the growing conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities, as seen in other Gospel accounts.
the man who had been blind.
The man in question had been blind from birth, as detailed earlier in the chapter. His healing by Jesus on the Sabbath was a point of contention, as it challenged the Pharisees' interpretation of Sabbath laws. This miracle serves as a sign of Jesus' divine authority and fulfillment of messianic prophecies, such as those inIsaiah 35:5, which speak of the blind receiving sight. The man's transformation from blindness to sight is symbolic of spiritual enlightenment and the revelation of truth through Christ. This healing also prefigures the spiritual awakening that Jesus offers to those who are spiritually blind.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Man Born BlindThis individual was healed by Jesus, who restored his sight. His healing becomes a pivotal event that challenges the religious authorities.
2.
The PhariseesA religious group known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses. They are often depicted in the Gospels as being in opposition to Jesus and His teachings.
3.
The Event of HealingJesus performed a miracle by healing a man who was blind from birth, which was a significant sign of His divine authority and compassion.
4.
JerusalemThe city where this event likely took place, as it was a central location for Jewish religious life and the activities of the Pharisees.
5.
The SabbathThe healing took place on the Sabbath, which was a day of rest according to Jewish law. This becomes a point of contention between Jesus and the Pharisees.
Teaching Points
Understanding LegalismThe Pharisees' focus on the letter of the law rather than its spirit serves as a warning against legalism in our own faith practices.
Recognizing Jesus' AuthorityThe miracle of healing the blind man is a testament to Jesus' divine authority and His fulfillment of messianic prophecies.
The Role of Faith and ObedienceThe blind man's journey from physical to spiritual sight illustrates the importance of faith and obedience in experiencing God's work in our lives.
Compassion Over RitualJesus' actions demonstrate that compassion and mercy should take precedence over ritualistic adherence to religious practices.
Witnessing to OthersThe healed man's testimony to the Pharisees encourages believers to boldly share their experiences of God's work in their lives, even in the face of opposition.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of John 9:13?
2.How does John 9:13 illustrate the Pharisees' response to Jesus' miracles?
3.What can we learn from the healed man's obedience in John 9:13?
4.How does John 9:13 connect to the theme of spiritual blindness?
5.How should we respond when questioned about our faith, like in John 9:13?
6.What does John 9:13 teach about witnessing to those skeptical of Jesus?
7.Why did the Pharisees question the man healed by Jesus in John 9:13?
8.How does John 9:13 challenge the authority of religious leaders?
9.What does John 9:13 reveal about the Pharisees' understanding of the Sabbath?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from John 9?
11.In John 9:13–16, why would the Pharisees react so harshly if this account were verifiable?
12.What does it mean to be pharisaical?
13.What does it mean to be pharisaical?
14.In John 9:35-38, how could the blind man immediately acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God without prior teaching?What Does John 9:13 Mean
They brought• The word “brought” shows deliberate action by the man’s neighbors who had just witnessed the miracle (John 9:8-12).
• They did not keep the wonder to themselves; they moved the story forward, much like the four men who carried the paralytic to Jesus inMark 2:3-4.
• By escorting the healed man, they provided multiple witnesses—fulfilling the principle ofDeuteronomy 19:15 that “every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
• God often uses ordinary people to carry evidence of His work to places of influence (2 Kings 5:2-3;John 4:28-30).
to the Pharisees• The Pharisees were the recognized theological authorities of the day (John 3:1-2). Bringing the case to them looked like the logical next step for a religious verdict on the miracle.
• Earlier, these leaders had already opposed Jesus for healing on the Sabbath (John 5:16). Verse 14 reveals that this healing also occurred on a Sabbath, so tension was inevitable.
• Their role highlights a contrast: while Jesus gives sight, the Pharisees often choose spiritual blindness (John 7:47-49;Luke 6:7).
• God permits scrutiny so that His works may stand the test (Acts 4:13-14).
the man who had been blind• Scripture stresses his former condition to spotlight the magnitude of the miracle.Psalm 146:8 declares, “The LORD opens the eyes of the blind,” and here that promise is literally fulfilled.
• His presence before the Pharisees turns him into a living testimony. Later he will boldly say, “One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!” (John 9:25).
• Physical sight becomes a doorway to spiritual sight (John 9:35-38), illustrating Jesus’ claim, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5).
• The healing anticipates the prophetic hope that the Messiah would open blind eyes (Isaiah 35:5;Luke 7:22).
summaryJohn 9:13 is more than a narrative transition; it shows God moving eyewitnesses, religious authorities, and a transformed life onto the same stage. The neighbors carry undeniable proof, the Pharisees must confront evidence that challenges their traditions, and the once-blind man stands as living confirmation of messianic power. The verse sets up the coming conflict and invites every reader to decide whether to remain in darkness or joyfully testify, “I was blind, but now I see.”
(13)
They brought to the Pharisees.--More exactly,
They bring . . . The present tense speaks of what they did, as the writer thinks of it in actual occurrence. Their question in the previous verse, and the fact stated in the following verse, seem to indicate that they did this in the spirit of opposition to our Lord. They may have been influenced also, as the parents were, by the agreement of the Jews to excommunicate any who should confess Christ (
John 9:22). By the term, "to the Pharisees," we are not to understand the Sanhedrin, which did not meet on the Sabbath, and which is not spoken of by St. John as simply "the Pharisees," but a body of the leading Pharisees who were the most bitter foes of Christ, and who seem at this time to have formed practically a permanent committee of the Sanhedrin, always ready to take counsel or action against Him. (Comp. Notes on
John 7:32;
John 7:45;
John 7:48.)
Verse 13. -
They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. The "Pharisees" is not a conclusive definition of the Sanhedrin itself, which is generally denoted by the addition of the phrase, "the chief priests" (
John 7:32 or 45). The Pharisees were a highly organized society, and some well-known gathering of them may have been easily accessible. They were the generally accredited religious guides of the people. One thing militates against such a casual gathering. In ver. 18 the term, "the Jews," the synonym of the ruling ecclesiastical powers in the city, is once more introduced. Moreover, the authorities before whom the discussion and examination were taken appear to possess the power of excommunication from the synagogue. It appears that, in Jerusalem, there existed two minor councils or synagogue-courts, of twenty-three assessors each, corresponding with the similar courts in the Jewish cities, standing in relation to the Sanhedrim and possessing the faculty of delivering the minor degrees of excommunication from the congregation of Israel. It cannot be said that this presentation of the case to an ecclesiastical court of more or less authority necessarily took place on the day of the healing. It is an open question whether the courts sat on the sabbath. There is nothing to prove immediate trial of the matter.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
They broughtἌγουσιν(Agousin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 71:A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.toπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.theτοὺς(tous)Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.PhariseesΦαρισαίους(Pharisaious)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330:Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.[the man]αὐτὸν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.whoτόν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.had beenποτε(pote)Particle
Strong's 4218:At one time or other, at some time, formerly. From the base of pou and te; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever.blind.τυφλόν(typhlon)Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5185:Blind, physically or mentally. From, tuphoo; opaque, i.e. blind.
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NT Gospels: John 9:13 They brought him who had been blind (Jhn Jo Jn) 
