John 9:13-17 Meaning: What Do You Say About Jesus?
13They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees.
14It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
15Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.”
16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” So there was division among them.
17Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
17They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
13They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14Now it was the sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see.
16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them.
17They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.
13They bring him to the Pharisees who once was blind,
14and it was a sabbath when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15Again, therefore, the Pharisees also were asking him how he received sight, and he said to them, `Clay he did put upon my eyes, and I did wash--and I see.'
16Of the Pharisees, therefore, certain said, `This man is not from God, because the sabbath he doth not keep;' others said, `How is a man--a sinful one--able to do such signs?' and there was a division among them.
17They said to the blind man again, `Thou--what dost thou say of him--that he opened thine eyes?'
13They bring him who was before blind to the Pharisees.
14Now it was sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
15The Pharisees therefore also again asked him how he received his sight. And he said to them, He put mud upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see.
16Some of the Pharisees therefore said, This man is not of God, for he does not keep the sabbath. Others said, How can a sinful man perform such signs? And there was a division among them.
17They say therefore again to the blind [man], What dost thou say of him, that he has opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.
Meaning in one sentence
The healed blind man is brought to the Pharisees. His simple testimony divides them and leads to a bold confession.
Context
John chapter 9 tells the story of a man born blind, given sight by Jesus on the Sabbath. After the miracle, his neighbors and those who knew him are unsure what to make of it. They bring him to the Pharisees, the religious authorities of the day. The reason seems mixed: the healing involved making mud, which the Pharisees considered work, and therefore a violation of the Sabbath. Some neighbors may have been seeking guidance on whether this was lawful. Others may have been suspicious of Jesus. Either way, the man who had been blind now stands before the experts, and the miracle becomes a point of contention.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this passage. First, the Greek word schisma, translated “division” in verse 16. It means a split or a rent, like tearing cloth. The Pharisees are torn apart by Jesus, some cannot accept Him because He broke their Sabbath rules, while others see His power and wonder if a sinner could do such things.
Second, sabbaton (Sabbath) stands at the center of the conflict. For the Pharisees, the Sabbath was defined by dozens of traditions about what work was forbidden. Making clay and applying it counted as work. But Jesus saw the Sabbath as a day to show mercy.
Third, the man calls Jesus a prophētēs, a prophet. In the Old Testament, prophets spoke for God and often performed signs. This is the man’s first step toward understanding who Jesus really is. He doesn’t have full knowledge yet, but he knows enough to speak up.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions notice that the Pharisees themselves could not agree. Some pointed to the Sabbath violation and concluded Jesus could not be from God. Others argued that such a powerful sign could not come from a sinner. This disagreement reflects a deeper struggle: when God acts in an unexpected way, how do we respond?
Many commentators see the neighbors’ motives as a mix of curiosity and concern for religious order. Some early interpreters (like John Calvin) note that the Pharisees’ questioning only made the truth clearer. Others, such as Matthew Henry, emphasize that the Pharisees were more interested in defending their traditions than in celebrating a man’s healing. Both readings remind us that miracles can either soften or harden hearts.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the neighbors brought the man to the Pharisees simply to cause trouble for Jesus. This may be partly true, but the text doesn’t say they were hostile. In fact, they had already heard the man’s story and might have been confused about the Sabbath issue. They may have wanted a religious ruling. In fact, the Gospel doesn’t condemn the neighbors for bringing him; it uses the situation to show how the Pharisees reacted, revealing the division among them.
Living This Out
This week, consider the question the Pharisees asked the healed man: “What do you say about Him, because He opened your eyes?” You may not have received physical sight, but if you know Jesus at all, you have something to say. It doesn’t have to be a full theology. The man simply said what he knew: “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.” Then later, “He is a prophet.” Your testimony can be just as simple. When someone asks why you trust Jesus, tell them what He has done for you. You don’t need to have all the answers. Just share what you know.
Main takeaway: A miracle of mercy can divide people, but it always invites a simple question: what do you say about Jesus?
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus healed a man who couldn’t see. Some people were happy, and some were angry because Jesus did it on a special day of rest. The man told everyone what Jesus did for him.
For ages 9, 12
The man who had been blind was brought to the religious leaders. They disagreed about Jesus: some thought He was bad because He worked on the Sabbath, and others thought He must be from God because of the miracle. When they asked the man what he thought, he said, “He is a prophet.” He wasn’t afraid to say what he knew, even when the adults argued. You can do the same when someone asks about your faith.
Questions People Ask
Why did the neighbors bring the blind man to the Pharisees in John 9:13?
The healing happened on the Sabbath, and making mud was considered work by the Pharisees. The neighbors likely brought the man to the religious authorities to get a ruling on whether the healing was lawful. Some may also have wanted to accuse Jesus, but the text doesn’t specify hostility, it shows confusion and a desire for official guidance.
What does ‘division’ mean in John 9:16?
The Greek word is schisma, which means a split or tear. It shows that the Pharisees were not unanimous. Some rejected Jesus because He broke their Sabbath rules, while others could not deny that a miracle had happened. This division is evidence that Jesus provoked strong reactions.
Why did the man call Jesus a prophet in John 9:17?
The man had just received his sight. He knew Jesus had done something only God could enable. In the Old Testament, prophets performed signs to confirm their message. Calling Jesus a prophet was a step toward recognizing Him as more than an ordinary man, though the man would grow in his understanding later in the chapter.
What is the main lesson of John 9:13-17?
A clear miracle does not convince everyone. Some people reject it because it challenges their traditions or assumptions. Others accept it based on the evidence. The healed man models simple honesty: he tells what happened and gives his opinion without fear, even when the experts disagree.
How do Christians interpret the Sabbath controversy in John 9?
Christians across traditions see that Jesus intentionally healed on the Sabbath to teach a lesson about mercy. The religious leaders had added many rules to God’s command to rest. Jesus showed that works of compassion are always appropriate on the Sabbath. Some traditions emphasize that the Sabbath points to Christ as our rest; others focus on the principle of doing good every day.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study