John 9:28

KJV

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G3767} they reviled {G3058} him {G846}, and {G2532} said {G2036}, Thou {G4771} art {G1488} his {G1565} disciple {G3101}; but {G1161} we {G2249} are {G2070} Moses {G3475}' disciples {G3101}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then they railed at him. “You may be his talmid,” they said, “but we are talmidim of Moshe!

Berean Standard Bible

Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses.

American Standard Version

And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 9:28 captures a pivotal moment of escalating hostility from the Jewish religious leaders, specifically the Pharisees, towards the man miraculously healed of blindness by Jesus. Following their repeated interrogations and the man's steadfast testimony, their frustration culminates in a direct verbal assault, accusing him of being Jesus's disciple while defiantly asserting their own allegiance to Moses, thereby highlighting the irreconcilable divide between their traditional authority and Jesus's divine claims.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded in the dramatic narrative of [John 9](/john/9 "John 9 - Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind"). The chapter opens with Jesus healing a man born blind from birth on the Sabbath, an act that immediately provokes the Pharisees' scrutiny. Instead of marveling at the miracle, their focus is on the perceived violation of Sabbath law and Jesus's identity. They repeatedly question the healed man and his parents, seeking to discredit the miracle and Jesus. The man, initially hesitant, grows increasingly bold in his defense of Jesus, culminating in his insightful challenge to their spiritual understanding in [John 9:27](/john/9-27 "John 9:27 - The Man's Bold Reply"). The Pharisees' retort in [John 9:28](/john/9-28 "John 9:28 - The Pharisees Revile the Healed Man") marks their exasperation boiling over into open contempt and personal attack, setting the stage for the man's eventual expulsion from the synagogue and his subsequent confession of faith in [John 9:38](/john/9-38 "John 9:38 - The Man Worships Jesus").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Judaism, Moses was revered as the supreme lawgiver and prophet, the foundational figure of their covenant relationship with God. To be a "disciple of Moses" meant to adhere strictly to the Torah (Law) and the traditions passed down through generations, as interpreted by the authoritative religious leaders like the Pharisees. The Sabbath was a cornerstone of Jewish identity and practice, and any perceived violation, even for a miraculous healing, was considered a serious offense. The Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial body, held significant religious and social power, including the authority to excommunicate individuals from the synagogue, a severe punishment that meant social ostracism and spiritual alienation. The accusation "Thou art his disciple" was not merely an observation but an insult, implying association with a perceived sinner and a challenge to their established religious order.
* **Key Themes:** The exchange in this verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [John's Gospel](/john/1 "The Gospel of John - Prologue"). First, it underscores the theme of **Allegiance and Discipleship**. The stark contrast between "his disciple" (Jesus's) and "Moses' disciples" forces a choice of loyalty, revealing the fundamental divide between those who recognize Jesus's divine authority and those who cling to traditional interpretations that reject Him. Second, it highlights the profound **Spiritual Blindness vs. True Sight**. The physically blind man gains sight and, more importantly, comes to spiritual understanding and faith in Jesus, while the Pharisees, who claim to possess spiritual insight and uphold the Law, are shown to be utterly blind to God's work right before their eyes. Jesus directly addresses this ironic spiritual blindness later in [John 9:39-41](/john/9-39-41 "John 9:39-41 - Jesus on Spiritual Blindness"). Third, the verse emphasizes the **Rejection of Jesus' Authority**. By asserting their identity as "Moses' disciples" and reviling the man for following Jesus, the Pharisees implicitly reject Jesus's divine claims and authority, viewing Him as a threat to the very foundation of their faith, despite Jesus's consistent claim to fulfill, not abolish, the Law ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **reviled (Greek, _loidoréō_):** From G3058, meaning to reproach, vilify, or abuse verbally. This word signifies a strong, contemptuous verbal assault, indicating that the Pharisees' response was not a calm theological debate but a heated, personal attack filled with anger and disdain, designed to discredit and shame the healed man for his association with Jesus.
* **disciple (Greek, _mathētḗs_):** From G3101, meaning a learner or pupil. This term denotes someone who follows a teacher, adheres to their teachings, and seeks to emulate their life. The Pharisees use this term pejoratively when referring to the healed man's allegiance to Jesus, contrasting it sharply with their own esteemed position as "disciples" of Moses.
* **Moses (Greek, _Mōseús_):** From G3475, referring to the Hebrew lawgiver. Moses was the central figure of the Old Covenant, through whom God gave the Law to Israel. The Pharisees' declaration, "we are Moses' disciples," asserts their adherence to the Law and tradition, positioning themselves as the true guardians of God's revelation, in direct opposition to Jesus whom they consider a lawbreaker.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then they reviled him":** This clause indicates the immediate, hostile reaction of the Pharisees. The verb "reviled" (from _loidoréō_) conveys a deep-seated anger and contempt, suggesting a verbal assault intended to insult and demean the man who dared to challenge their authority and defend Jesus. It marks a shift from interrogation to outright abuse.
* **"and said":** This simple conjunction introduces the content of their verbal attack, framing it as a direct accusation and declaration.
* **"Thou art his disciple;":** This is the core accusation. It's a statement of perceived allegiance, hurled as an insult. By calling the man "his disciple" (referring to Jesus), they are associating him with someone they consider a sinner and a false prophet, thereby attempting to discredit his testimony and sever his ties with the Jewish community.
* **"but we are Moses' disciples.":** This contrasting statement serves as a self-righteous declaration of their own esteemed identity and authority. By aligning themselves with Moses, the revered lawgiver, they assert their legitimacy, orthodoxy, and adherence to the foundational traditions of Judaism, implicitly condemning Jesus and anyone who follows Him as outside the bounds of true faith.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is paramount, as the physically blind man gains spiritual sight and courage to defend Jesus, while the Pharisees, who claim to be "seers" and guardians of the Law, remain spiritually blind to the divine work before them. There is a clear **Contrast** established between being a "disciple" of Jesus and a "disciple" of Moses, highlighting the irreconcilable divide between the old covenant, as interpreted by the Pharisees, and the new covenant inaugurated by Christ. This contrast also serves as a **Foreshadowing** of the persecution and division that would characterize the early Christian movement, as followers of Jesus would often be ostracized by the established religious order. The use of direct speech also adds to the **Dramatic Tension**, making the conflict palpable and immediate.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The profound theological implication of [John 9:28](/john/9-28 "John 9:28 - The Pharisees Revile the Healed Man") lies in its stark portrayal of the clash between human tradition and divine revelation, and the ultimate test of allegiance. The Pharisees, in their rigid adherence to the Law as they understood it and their own established authority, fail to recognize God's redemptive work unfolding before their eyes in Jesus. Their declaration of being "Moses' disciples" is meant to assert their spiritual superiority and orthodoxy, yet it ironically reveals their spiritual blindness and their inability to perceive that Moses himself pointed to Jesus. True discipleship, as exemplified by the healed man, involves recognizing and submitting to God's present work through Christ, even when it challenges established norms and incurs social cost. This verse underscores that loyalty to Christ may require breaking from human traditions that oppose God's truth, demonstrating that true faith is not merely adherence to a past revelation but a living response to God's ongoing presence and power.

* [John 5:45-47](/john/5-45-47 "John 5:45-47 - Moses Accuses")
* [Matthew 10:24-25](/matthew/10-24-25 "Matthew 10:24-25 - Disciple Not Above Teacher")
* [Acts 7:37](/acts/7-37 "Acts 7:37 - Moses Prophesied of Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[John 9:28](/john/9-28 "John 9:28 - The Pharisees Revile the Healed Man") serves as a powerful mirror for believers today, challenging us to examine the nature of our own discipleship and openness to God's work. The healed man's unwavering allegiance to Jesus, despite facing scorn and the threat of excommunication, exemplifies costly discipleship. This verse prompts us to consider whether our loyalty is truly to Christ alone, or if we allow human traditions, social pressures, or even our own preconceived notions to hinder our recognition of God's activity in unexpected ways. Just as the Pharisees were so entrenched in their understanding of Moses' Law that they missed its fulfillment in Jesus, we too can become spiritually blind if we prioritize our comfort, reputation, or established interpretations over a fresh encounter with the living Christ. Standing for Christ may indeed bring reproach or insult, but the spiritual sight and eternal life offered through Him far outweigh any earthly cost.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing human tradition or my own comfort over radical obedience to Christ?**
* **How willing am I to face criticism or social disapproval for openly identifying as a disciple of Jesus?**
* **Am I open to God working in ways that challenge my established understanding or expectations, or do I risk spiritual blindness like the Pharisees?**
* **What does my daily life reveal about whose disciple I truly am?**

### FAQ
**Why were the Pharisees so angry and reviling the healed man?**

Answer: The Pharisees were angry for several reasons. First, Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath, which they considered a violation of their interpretation of the Law, making Jesus a "sinner" in their eyes. Second, the miracle itself was undeniable, yet it challenged their authority and their rejection of Jesus's claims. They couldn't explain it away, so they tried to discredit the man and his testimony. Third, the healed man, despite his humble status, grew increasingly bold and articulate in his defense of Jesus, even challenging their spiritual understanding ([John 9:27](/john/9-27 "John 9:27 - The Man's Bold Reply")). This defiance from someone they considered beneath them, coupled with his allegiance to Jesus, pushed their frustration into open hostility and verbal abuse.

**What did it mean to be a "disciple of Moses" in this context?**

Answer: To be a "disciple of Moses" meant to be a faithful follower of the Torah (the Law given through Moses) and the oral traditions that had developed around it, which were meticulously interpreted and upheld by the Pharisees. It signified adherence to the foundational covenant between God and Israel, as mediated by Moses. By declaring themselves "Moses' disciples," the Pharisees were asserting their orthodoxy, their spiritual authority, and their commitment to what they believed was the true path of God, in direct contrast to Jesus, whom they viewed as a dangerous innovator and a threat to their religious system.

**How does this verse relate to Jesus fulfilling the Law?**

Answer: This verse highlights the profound misunderstanding of the Pharisees regarding Jesus's relationship to the Law. While they saw Him as a lawbreaker, Jesus explicitly stated that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Moses and the Law were intended to point to Christ, revealing humanity's need for a Savior and foreshadowing God's ultimate redemptive plan. The Pharisees, by rigidly adhering to the letter of the Law and their traditions while rejecting its fulfillment in Jesus, ironically failed to grasp the very purpose of Moses's ministry. Their allegiance to Moses, divorced from the One Moses prophesied about ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")), became a barrier to recognizing God's ultimate revelation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The conflict in [John 9:28](/john/9-28 "John 9:28 - The Pharisees Revile the Healed Man")—the stark choice between being a "disciple of Jesus" or a "disciple of Moses"—finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God, the one to whom Moses and the entire Old Testament pointed. Moses himself prophesied of a prophet like him whom Israel must obey ([Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "Deuteronomy 18:15 - A Prophet Like Moses")), a prophecy understood by early Christians to refer to Jesus ([Acts 3:22](/acts/3-22 "Acts 3:22 - Peter's Sermon on Jesus as the Prophet")). The author of Hebrews powerfully argues that Jesus is superior to Moses, for Moses was a faithful servant in God's house, but Christ is the Son over God's house ([Hebrews 3:1-6](/hebrews/3-1-6 "Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus Greater Than Moses")). Therefore, to be a "disciple of Moses" in truth is to recognize that Moses's ministry was preparatory, leading to the greater reality of Christ. The Law, given through Moses, served as a "guardian" or "tutor" to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith ([Galatians 3:24](/galatians/3-24 "Galatians 3:24 - The Law as a Guardian")). The Pharisees’ error was in clinging to the shadow while rejecting the substance, failing to see that Jesus did not abolish Moses but perfectly fulfilled the Law's demands and prophecies, ushering in a new covenant of grace and truth ([John 1:17](/john/1-17 "John 1:17 - Grace and Truth Came Through Jesus Christ")). True discipleship, then, means following the One who is the culmination of all that Moses represented, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 2:17

¶ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

1 Corinthians 6:10

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Isaiah 51:7

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart [is] my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

1 Peter 2:23

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

Matthew 27:39

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

John 7:47

Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

John 7:52

They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.