John 9:32

"We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, he listens to him."

Key Reflection

In John 9:32, Jesus' opponents argue that the man born blind has been rejected by God because he was a sinner. This assertion is rooted in their understanding of divine justice as reflected in the broader Old Testament context, where sin often leads to punishment (Psalms 106:31). However, this statement overlooks the fact that true worship and obedience are more important than mere outward piety (Romans 2:12). The man born blind's miraculous healing and subsequent faith demonstrate that genuine devotion and willingness to do God’s will can lead to divine favor.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 32. Since the world began. Neither Moses nor any of the prophets had ever done this. No instance of this kind is recorded in the Old Testament. As this was a miracle which had never been performed, the man argued justly that he who had done it must be from God. As Jesus did it not by surgical operations, but by clay, it showed that he had power of working miracles by any means. It may be also remarked that the restoration of sight to the blind by surgical operations was never performed until the year 1728. Dr. Cheselden, an English surgeon, was the first who attempted it successfully, who was enabled to remove a cataract from the eye of a young man, and to restore sight.

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