Teks -- John 9:13 (NET)

The Pharisees’ Reaction to the Healing

9:13 They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Joh 9:13 - They bring him

They bring him ( agousin auton ).

Vivid dramatic present active of agō . These neighbours bring him.

Robertson: Joh 9:13 - To the Pharisees

To the Pharisees ( pros tous Pharisaious ).

The accepted professional teachers who posed as knowing everything. The scribes were usually Pharisees.

Robertson: Joh 9:13 - Him that aforetime was blind

Him that aforetime was blind ( ton pote tuphlon ).

Simply, "the once blind man."

JFB: Joh 9:8-15 - The neighbours therefore . . . said, Is not this he that sat and begged

Here are a number of details to identify the newly seeing with the long-known blind beggar.

JFB: Joh 9:13 - They brought to the Pharisees

Sitting probably in council, and chiefly of that sect (Joh 7:47-48).

Clarke: Joh 9:13 - They brought to the Pharisees

They brought to the Pharisees - These had the chief rule, and determined all controversies among the people; in every case of religion, their judgment was final: the people, now fully convinced that the man had been cured, brought him to the Pharisees, that they might determine how this was done, and whether it had been done legally.

Calvin: Joh 9:13 - They bring to the Pharisees

13.They bring to the Pharisees The following narrative shows that wicked men are so far from profiting by the works of God, that, the more they are urged by their power, so much the more are they constrained to pour out the venom which dwells within their breasts. The restoration of sight to the blind man ought undoubtedly to have softened even hearts of stone; or, at least, the Pharisees ought to have been struck with the novelty and greatness of the miracle, so as to remain in doubt for a short time, until they inquired if it were a divine work; but their hatred of Christ drives them to such stupidity, that they instantly condemn what they are told that he has done.

The Evangelist mentions the Pharisees; not that other sects were favorable to Christ, but because this sect was more zealous than the rest in maintaining the present condition. Hypocrisy is always proud and cruel. Being swelled with a false opinion of their holiness, they were chiefly wounded by the doctrine of the Gospel, which condemned all their counterfeit righteousnesses; and above all, they fought for their power and kingdom, under the pretense of endeavoring to maintain the Law.

When the Evangelist says that the multitude brought the blind man to the Pharisees, it is difficult to determine with what disposition or with what intention they did so. Scarcely an individual among them could then be ignorant of the inveterate hostility of the Pharisees to Christ; and therefore it is possible that many flatterers, in order to obtain their favor, purposely attempted to conceal the glory of the miracle. Yet I think it is probable that the greater part of the people, suspending their judgment, as usually happens, determined to refer to the arbitration and decision of those who held the government. But wilfully shutting their eyes, while the sun is shining, they bring darkness on themselves to obscure its light. It is a foolish superstition of the common people that, under the pretense of honoring God, they adore the wicked tyrants of the Church, and despise God himself, both in his word and in his works, or, at least, do not deign to look at him.

TSK: Joh 9:13

Joh 8:3-8, Joh 11:46, Joh 11:47, Joh 11:57, Joh 12:19, Joh 12:42

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Joh 9:13

Whether the neighbours, or his near relations, is not said. Nor is the place mentioned where this convention of Pharisees was, whether in the temple, or in some synagogue, or in the great court which they called the sanhedrim; nor is it material for us to inquire into.

Lightfoot: Joh 9:13 - They brought him to the Pharisees

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.   

[They brought him to the Pharisees.] The Pharisees; in this evangelist, are generally to be understood the Sanhedrim; nor indeed do we find in St. John any mention of the Sadducees at all. Consult Joh 1:24; Joh 4:1; Joh 8:3; Joh 11:46; etc.   

The Pharisees have such a sway amongst the people, that if they should say any thing against the king or high priest, they would be believed. And a little after,   

"The Pharisees have given out many rules to the people from the traditions of the fathers which are not written in the laws of Moses: and for that very reason the Sadducees rejected them, saying, They ought to account nothing as law or obligatory but what is delivered by Moses; and what hath no other authority but tradition only ought not to be observed. And hence have arisen questions and mighty controversies; the Sadducees drawing after them the richer sort only; while the multitude followed and adhered to the Pharisees."   

Hence we may apprehend the reason why the whole Sanhedrim is sometimes comprehended under the name of the Pharisees; because the common people and the main body of that nation were wholly at the management of the Pharisees, governed by their decrees and laws. But there was once a Sanhedrim that consisted chiefly of the sect of the Sadducees, and what was done then? R. Eliezer Ben Zadok saith, There was a time when they burnt a priest's daughter for whoredom, compassing her about with bundles of young twigs. But the answer is, There was not a Sanhedrim at that time that was well skilled. Rabh Joseph saith, " that Sanhedrim was made up of Sadducees." It is worth our taking notice of this passage.

Gill: Joh 9:13 - They brought to the Pharisees // him that was aforetime blind

They brought to the Pharisees,.... That is, to the sanhedrim, which chiefly consisted of Pharisees; and so Nonnus calls them the priests and chief priests:

him that was aforetime blind; to be examined by them. And something like this is the method used by carnal relations and friends, who when they have any belonging to them under a work of grace, have them to their learned doctors of a different religion, to talk to them, and dissuade them from the ways of truth and godliness.