[Note: Fr. Noël Alexandre (1639-1724) was a French Dominican theologian and ecclesiastical historian. This commentary reflects the literal-historical method characteristic of post-Tridentine Catholic exegesis, with attention to patristic sources and doctrinal precision.]
John 9:1-2: The Encounter and the Disciples' Question
"And Jesus passing by, saw a man blind from birth"
Jesus, having departed from the Temple—or as He was departing—saw a man blind from birth, a defect incurable by human means.
"And His disciples asked Him: 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'"
Master, they ask: Was this man's blindness due to some sin committed by himself—whether foreseen by God, or committed by his pre-existent soul before union with the body, as many Jews imagined—or was this congenital blindness to be attributed to the sin of his parents as its cause?
John 9:3: Christ's Response—Divine Providence, Not Punishment
"Jesus answered: 'Neither this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.'"
Jesus responds: This man did not sin so that he might be born blind, nor did his parents draw this calamity upon him by their sins. Rather, by divine providence disposing, this came to pass that the works of God might be manifested in him—that through his illumination, it might become evident how great and how admirable are the works of God.
[St. John Chrysostom, Homily 55 on John]: "He speaks of Himself, not of the Father; for the glory of the Father was already manifest," says St. John Chrysostom.
John 9:4-5: The Urgency of Mission and Christ as Light
"I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
I must work the works of Him who sent Me: As His Legate, I must declare My divinity and confirm My mission through doctrine and miracles.
While it is day: Throughout all the time of mortal life that remains to Me.
The night is coming when no one can work: I must complete the Father's works before I suffer, just as laborers finish their daily task before nightfall, as it is written: "Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening" (Psalm 103:23). For night is not a suitable time for undertaking work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world: As long as I live a mortal life on earth, I illuminate the world, insofar as it depends on Me, through My doctrine, My examples, and My miracles.
John 9:6-7: The Manner of the Miracle—Clay, Saliva, and Siloam
"When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which is translated, 'Sent'). So he went and washed, and came back seeing."
He spat on the ground and made clay… and anointed the eyes: The less fitting this remedy seemed for healing eyes, the more it demonstrated the omnipotence of the Physician. For since they had heard and believed that man was formed by God from clay, Christ therefore now fashioned eyes in the same manner. If He had merely said, "I am He who formed man from the earth," this would have seemed difficult for His hearers to accept; but by demonstrating it in fact, it could no longer be denied. For this reason, He manifested His hidden glory in the mixture of saliva and dust—nor was it a small thing to be regarded as the Creator of creatures. For this purpose He undertook other works as well, and all belief was referred to the Father; for greater faith is confirmed even by lesser things. Moreover, among all creatures man is most excellent, and among our members, the eye.
And having anointed the blind man's eyes with clay, He said to him: "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam": that is, at the place into which the water of the spring of Siloam is received. The word Siloam signifies Sent—which term Siloam denotes. This interpretation is not the Lord Jesus's but the Evangelist's, alluding to the name of the Messiah, who is called The One to Be Sent by the Prophets. Moreover, that famous spring was called Siloam because the water flowing from it into a pool was distributed and sent forth into various gardens.
So he went and washed… and came back seeing: The blind man went, washed his eyes according to Jesus's command, and returned seeing.
John 9:8-9: Public Verification—Neighbors Debate
"Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was a beggar said, 'Is not this he who sat and begged?' Some said, 'This is he.' Others said, 'He is like him.' He himself said, 'I am he.'"
The neighbors… and those who had seen him before: Those who lived nearby, or his parents, and who had seen him previously—because he was a beggar, sitting daily perhaps at the Temple gate (not going door-to-door)—said: "Is not this he who sat and begged?"
Some said, "This is he": Certainly, this is the very same man.
Others said, "No, but he is like him": By which disputes the truth of the miracle became even more evident.
He himself said, "I am he": I myself, who was previously blind from birth, now see.
John 9:10-12: Inquiry into the Manner
"Therefore they said to him, 'How were your eyes opened?' He answered, 'The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, "Go to the pool of Siloam and wash." So I went and washed, and I received sight.' And they said to him, 'Where is He?' He said, 'I do not know.'"
How were your eyes opened?: How did this most unusual and admirable event come about—that you now see, who were blind from birth?
He answered: "The man called Jesus…": Known to me only by name and public reputation.
And they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know": For Jesus had withdrawn and hidden Himself to avoid the fury of the Pharisees.
John 9:13-17: The Pharisees' Investigation and Division
"They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. And he said to them, 'He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.' Therefore some of the Pharisees said, 'This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.' But others said, 'How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?' And there was a division among them."
They brought him… to the Pharisees: To the Sanhedrin, in which many Pharisees were present—him who had been blind.
Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay: From this the Pharisees, capital enemies of Jesus, seized an occasion for calumny. For the Pharisaic superstition reckoned the anointing of eyes among the servile works forbidden on the Sabbath.
Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God": Because He does not keep the Sabbath.
But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?": How could an impious man—who falsely boasts that he is sent by God and seduces the people—perform such admirable, such divine works, surpassing all the power of nature, as a sign of his mission? Certainly God would never permit this, since He cannot support error and falsehood.
And there was a division among them: Some holding one opinion about Jesus, others another.
"They said to the blind man again, 'What do you say about Him who opened your eyes?' He said, 'He is a prophet.'"
They said to the blind man again: "What do you think of Him who opened your eyes on the Sabbath?"
He said, "He is a prophet": Far be it from me to consider Him a sinner; rather, I am firmly persuaded that He is a man sent by God, pleasing to God—a prophet.
John 9:18-23: The Parents Summoned—Fear and Evasion
"But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, 'Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?' His parents answered them and said, 'We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.' His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.'"
But the Jews did not believe… until they called the parents: It does not follow that they believed afterward; but when they did not believe, they wished to ascertain the truth of the fact from the father and mother of the man born blind.
And they asked them… "Is this your son…? How then does he now see?": They desired to hear from them either that he had not truly been blind, or certainly that he had not been born such—so that faith in the miracle might be overthrown or its praise diminished.
His parents answered… "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind": This indeed is certain to us.
"But by what means he now sees we do not know… He is of age; ask him": We were not present when this was done; we cannot give testimony concerning this matter. Ask him himself; he is of proper and legitimate age to respond appropriately to questions; let him speak for himself. He will give testimony concerning what is known to him.
His parents said these things because they feared the Jews: The leading Jews—the Scribes, Pharisees, and senators—had already conspired, that is, the greater part of them had decreed by conspiracy that if anyone confessed Jesus to be the Christ, he would be cast out of the synagogue—excluded from all synagogues and from the entire congregation of Israel as profane and impious.
Therefore his parents… "He is of age; ask him": The parents of the man born blind, fearing men more than God, consulting for themselves rather than for their son, said this.
John 9:24-27: Confrontation and Bold Witness
"So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, 'Give glory to God! We know that this Man is a sinner.' He answered and said, 'Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.' Then they said to him, 'What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?' He answered them, 'I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?'"
They again called the man who was blind: Urging him with closer interrogation, so that by pressing him they might elicit something that would obscure the clarity of the miracle.
"Give glory to God!": Confess before God the truth which you have hitherto concealed.
"We know that this Man is a sinner": We, the princes and judges of the people, to whom it belongs to judge concerning true and false prophets, know that this man is a sinner—not a prophet, not a worker of miracles as you claim.
He answered… "Whether He is a sinner I do not know… One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see": That He is a sinner, as you claim is certain to you, I do not know; I have no argument for that matter. One thing I know: that when I was blind, now I see—by His benefit and grace.
They said… "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?": They were confident they would discover something from the very manner of the cure by which they might persuade the people that the blindness was not real or certainly not congenital.
He answered… "I told you already… Do you also want to become His disciples?": I have told you already, and you heard with the ears of the body—if only also with the heart! Why do you wish to hear again, if you do not wish to believe? Or do you also wish to become His disciples? Would that it were so! If you do not wish to remain obstinate in your unbelief, in vain do you weary me with repeated interrogations.
John 9:28-34: Reproach and the Blind Man's Defense
"Then they reviled him and said, 'You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.' The man answered and said to them, 'Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from, yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.' They answered and said to him, 'You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?' And they cast him out."
They reviled him: "You be his disciple, if you wish to follow this master! You are certainly worthy of such a teacher. But we are disciples of Moses; we seek no other teacher. We know that God spoke to Moses; but as for this man, we do not know where He is from—whether sent by God or teaching by His own counsel."
The man answered… "In this indeed is a marvelous thing…": A truly remarkable thing—that you, who are teachers in Israel and glory in having the knowledge to discern true prophets from false, do not know where Jesus is from, yet He has opened my eyes! Indeed, He restored my sight, by which miracle He clearly proved His mission.
"Now we know that God does not hear sinners": He never hears the impious and false prophets so as to work miracles to prove their holiness or mission from God. But if anyone is a worshiper of God—that is, holds and teaches right doctrine concerning God and does His will—him He hears, as it is written in the Psalms: "He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them" (Psalm 145:19). Are you ignorant of this?
"Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind": From the creation of the world, nothing like this has been heard. No prophet—not even Moses himself, of whom you glory as your teacher—performed a similar miracle. Unless this Jesus were sent by God, He could not do any of these things that He does.
They answered… "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?": You, entirely as you are from your mother's womb, reek of sins—and that bodily defect with which you were born indicates the deformity of your soul—and you presume to teach us, wretch!
And they cast him out: They expelled him shamefully from the place where they were assembled, from the Temple and the entire synagogue.
John 9:35-38: Christ Finds the Cast-Out Man—Faith and Adoration
"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.' Then he said, 'Lord, I believe!' And he worshiped Him."
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when He had found him, He said to him: "Do you believe in the Son of God?"—that is, in the Christ promised to the Jews, who is the Son of God.
He answered… "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?": Where is He? Has He already come?
And Jesus said to him: "You have both seen Him"—having experienced His power, receiving sight through Him—"and it is He who is talking with you": I myself, who am speaking with you, am the Christ, the Son of God.
Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him: Professing faith and internal adoration by an external rite and gesture of the body. Certainly the blind man was prompt to confession of faith and to piety. For after he knew the Only-Begotten to be present and truly subject to his eyes, he adored Him as God, even though he saw Him in the flesh, entirely lacking glory worthy of God. But with his heart illuminated, he is able to rise by the power inherent in him to good and wise thoughts, and represents to his mind the beauty of that divine and ineffable nature. For he would not have adored Him as God unless he had believed Him to be God, instructed by the miracle worked in him to think thus.
[St. Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John, Book 6]
John 9:39-41: Spiritual Judgment—The Paradox of Sight and Blindness
"And Jesus said, 'For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.' And some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, 'Are we also blind?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, "We see." Therefore your sin remains.'"
"For judgment I have come into this world": I have come into this world to exercise the judgment of discernment—illuminating men who simply do not know the things of their salvation and humbly acknowledge their ignorance and blindness; and leaving in the darkness of ignorance, and permitting to be more blinded as punishment for their sins—and especially for their unbelief—those who presume that they know all things and do not need My doctrine.
[St. Augustine, Tractate 44 on John]: "What therefore is this: That those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind? It is this: that those who confess they do not see, and seek the Physician, may see; and what is that those who see may be made blind? That those who think they see, and do not seek the Physician, may remain in their blindness. Therefore He called this discernment judgment, when He said, For judgment I have come into this world—by which He discerns the cause of those who believe and confess from the proud who think they see, and are therefore more grievously blinded—as if He had said to the confessing sinner seeking the Physician: Judge me, O God, and discern my cause from the unholy nation (Psalm 42:1)—that is, from those who say, We see, and whose sin remains; who have become vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened; professing themselves to be wise, they became fools (Romans 1:21-22)."
And some of the Pharisees… said to Him, "Are we also blind?": With that blindness of soul of which you speak?
Jesus said to them: "If you were blind"—by your own judgment, that is, if you acknowledged yourselves blind and sought My light, and with obedient mind heard My doctrine, which is the light of minds—"you would have no sin": the sin of unbelief would not remain with you.
"But now you say, 'We see'": You think yourselves wise, puffed up by the sense of your flesh, swollen with pride.
"Therefore your sin remains": The sin of unbelief is not forgiven you. For you have no excuse whatsoever, since your blindness is voluntary.
[End of Fr. Noël Alexandre's Commentary on John 9:1-41]
Translator's Notes:
Method: Alexandre's commentary exemplifies the sensus literalis approach favored in post-Tridentine Catholic exegesis—focusing on the historical-grammatical sense while drawing on patristic authorities (especially Chrysostom, Cyril, and Augustine) for doctrinal clarification.
Theological Emphases:
Divine providence over retributive justice in suffering (v. 3)
Christ's mission as urgent and time-bound (v. 4)
The sacramental symbolism of clay, saliva, and washing (vv. 6-7)
The progression from physical healing to faith and worship (vv. 35-38)
The paradox that acknowledged ignorance is curable, but pretended knowledge condemns (vv. 39-41)
Historical Context: Written in the late 17th century, this commentary reflects Catholic responses to Protestant exegesis, emphasizing ecclesial authority, the continuity of Old and New Testaments, and the necessity of grace for true understanding.
Textual Notes: Some characters in the source PDF appear corrupted (e.g., mixed Greek/Latin symbols); these have been rendered according to context and standard Vulgate readings.
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