John 9:2 Commentary and Bible Study

We see the difference between the disciples and the Lord. As they look at the man they say, ‘Why was he born blind? Did he somehow sin in the womb? Or more likely – was it his parents who sinned? Was he born in fornication?’ In their mind, there had to be a cause. This question came out of a great misunderstanding in those days, because the rabbis had been teaching for some generations that every illness is due to some particular sin. If you have an illness, it arises because of a sin. They misinterpreted various passages in the Old Testament and carried them too far in their meaning in order to arrive at this teaching. But the teaching of the rabbis had become equal in authority to the Scriptures. But Christ looks upon the man with the intention of giving him sight, and then giving him spiritual life and conversion. The disciples look upon the man at best as an object of enquiry.