John 9:22

"but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.”"

Key Reflection

In first-century Israel, it was customary for parents to take responsibility if their child became blind or disabled, often seen as a punishment from God. However, in this case, the parents of the man who had been healed were hesitant to acknowledge that Jesus had performed the miracle, perhaps fearing retaliation from religious authorities. By stating he is "of age," they imply it’s his right to speak for himself, possibly to avoid direct confrontation or accusation, reflecting a common pragmatic approach among Jewish families in handling such matters.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 22. No notes from Barnes on this verse. {l} "they feared the Jews" Pr 29:25; Joh 7:13; 12:42 {m} "he should be put out of the synagogue" Joh 9:34; 16:2 __________________________________________________________________

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