John 9:40 Commentary: The Pharisees' Indignant Question

This verse sits near the end of John chapter 9, a long narrative about Jesus healing a man born blind. The Pharisees had interrogated the healed man and his parents, then excommunicated the man for confessing Jesus as the Christ (John 9:34). Jesus later finds the man and reveals himself as the Son of Man (v. 35, 38). Then Jesus declares, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind” (v. 39). Some Pharisees were still nearby, perhaps lingering to watch Jesus or to catch him in something he might say (Luke 11:54).

These Pharisees saw themselves as the spiritual guides of the nation. They studied the Law rigorously and followed traditions they believed set them apart. They looked down on the common people as “accursed” and ignorant (John 7:49). So when Jesus spoke of the blind becoming sighted and the sighted becoming blind, they instantly understood the implication: he was calling them blind. Their self-image as enlightened leaders could not accept that label. The question they ask, “Are we also blind?”, is framed in Greek with mē (μή), a particle that signals the expected answer is “No.” They are not asking for information; they are pushing back against what they perceive as an insult.

Jesus’ reply in verse 41 drives the point home: “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” The Pharisees’ refusal to acknowledge their spiritual need is what condemns them. Their pride, though, is not unique to them, it is a warning for anyone who trusts in their own spiritual insight rather than in Christ.

The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for John 9:40. The Greek text is stable across major manuscripts. The only minor variation is that some early witnesses read “also blind” as “blind also,” but the sense is unchanged.

Early church fathers such as Irenaeus and Chrysostom saw this verse as a classic example of the Pharisees’ hardness of heart: they were offended by the truth. Augustine, in his Tractates on the Gospel of John, used the passage to discuss the nature of sin and pride, how refusing to acknowledge one’s blindness deepens the darkness. During the Reformation, Calvin and Luther employed this text to critique the self-righteousness of religious leaders who trust in their own knowledge rather than in Christ. In later preaching, John 9:40 has been used to call believers to humble self-examination, warning that the greatest obstacle to grace is thinking we already have it.

Three-point outline

1. The Danger of Pride: The Pharisees heard Jesus’ words and immediately took offense. Their question bristles with indignation because they cannot conceive of themselves as spiritually blind. Pride closes the heart to correction.
2. The Question That Condemns: “Are we also blind?” is not an open query but a defensive challenge. By rejecting the diagnosis, they reject the Physician. Their sin remains because they claim to see (v. 41).
3. The Tragedy of Self-Sufficiency: The Pharisees had the Scriptures, the traditions, the appearance of piety, but they missed the Messiah. Their self-assurance kept them from the very grace they thought they already possessed.

Five-point outline

1. Jesus’ declaration sets up a reversal: the humble blind man sees; the proud religious leaders are blind.
2. The Pharisees overhear and immediately understand the target of Jesus’ words.
3. Their reaction reveals their heart: indignation, not repentance.
4. The Greek construction (mē + emphatic hēmeis) shows they consider blindness impossible for people like them.
5. Jesus’ response in verse 41 seals their condition: claiming sight while rejecting the Light of the World leaves them in sin.

Illustration hooks

• A patient at the doctor’s office: The doctor says, “You have a serious illness,” but the patient replies, “Are you saying I am sick?” The question is defensive, not curious. The refusal to accept a diagnosis prevents treatment.
• A veteran driver taking a driving test for a license renewal: When the instructor points out a blind spot, the driver scoffs, “I’ve been driving forty years, I know what I’m doing.” The confidence that comes from long experience can block feedback.
• Students in a classroom: A teacher says, “Some of you are not understanding the basics.” A student who has always gotten good grades blurts out, “Are you saying I don’t get it?” The indignation reveals a belief that past success means present mastery.

Questions your congregation is asking

• “How do I know if I am spiritually blind without realizing it?”
• “What does it look like in daily life to say ‘I see’ while actually being blind?”
• “If I’ve been a Christian for years, is it possible that pride still blinds me to something Jesus wants to show me?”

This short exchange cuts to the heart of self-deception. The Pharisees heard Jesus’ claim that he came so the blind would see and the sighted would become blind. Instead of examining themselves, they reacted with pride. Their question revealed everything. As you guide your group, let the text do its work: our natural tendency is to defend ourselves against the very diagnosis we most need.

Discussion questions

1. What exactly did the Pharisees hear from Jesus that prompted their question (v. 39)?
2. Why do you think they answered not with a statement but with a question?
3. The Greek word mē in their question expects a “no” answer. Why does that matter for understanding their tone?
4. How would you describe the difference between the blind man’s response to Jesus (vv. 35, 38) and the Pharisees’ response here?
5. Jesus says in v. 41, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” What does that mean for people who think they already understand God and themselves?
6. Can you think of an area in your own life where you have been reluctant to admit you “can’t see”? What makes it hard to accept help or correction?
7. How does this passage invite us to come to Jesus not as experts but as people in need of sight?