John 9:41

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Jesus {G2424} said {G2036} unto them {G846}, If {G1487} ye were {G2258} blind {G5185}, ye should {G302} have {G2192} no {G3756} sin {G266}: but {G1161} now {G3568} ye say {G3004},{G3754} We see {G991}; therefore {G3767} your {G5216} sin {G266} remaineth {G3306}.

Yeshua answered them, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you still say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.

Commentary

John 9:41 KJV: "Jesus said unto them, ‹If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.›"

Context of John 9:41

This powerful statement from Jesus concludes the dramatic narrative of the man born blind, healed by Jesus in John chapter 9. The Pharisees, who claimed to be spiritual guides and experts in God's law, refused to accept the undeniable miracle performed by Jesus. Instead of rejoicing, they repeatedly interrogated the healed man and his parents, ultimately excommunicating the man for daring to confess Jesus as the Son of God. Their spiritual pride and stubborn refusal to acknowledge Jesus' divine authority, despite overwhelming evidence, is the immediate backdrop to this verse. Jesus had previously declared Himself the "light of the world," and here He exposes the darkness of those who claim to see but are, in fact, spiritually blind.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Spiritual Blindness vs. Physical Sight: The central irony of John 9 is highlighted here. The man who was physically blind gained not only sight but also spiritual insight into who Jesus is. Conversely, the Pharisees, possessing physical sight, were profoundly blind to the truth and the identity of the Messiah.
  • The Danger of Intellectual and Spiritual Pride: Jesus confronts the Pharisees' arrogance. Their declaration, "We see," was a boast of their superior knowledge and understanding of God's ways. This self-proclaimed insight prevented them from recognizing the true Light.
  • Accountability and Remaining Sin: Jesus implies that if they were genuinely ignorant or incapable of understanding (truly "blind"), their sin might be excused or mitigated. However, because they claimed to "see" (i.e., they had knowledge and access to truth) yet deliberately rejected the light and truth embodied by Jesus, their sin was not forgiven but "remaineth." This underscores the principle that greater knowledge brings greater accountability, as seen in Luke 12:48.
  • Rejection of Revelation: Their sin remained because they actively chose to reject the clear revelation of God in Christ, despite the evidence of His miracles and words. This willful ignorance leads to condemnation, as also warned in John 3:19.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek words for "blind" (typhlos - τυφλός) and "see" (blepō - βλέπω or horaō - ὁράω) are used both literally and metaphorically throughout John 9. In verse 41, the contrast is stark: the physical "blindness" of the man is contrasted with the spiritual "seeing" claimed by the Pharisees. The phrase "your sin remaineth" (ἡ ἁμαρτία ὑμῶν μένει - hē hamartia hymōn menei) emphasizes that their guilt is not removed or excused; it persists because of their willful rejection of the truth.

Practical Application

John 9:41 serves as a profound warning for all who claim spiritual understanding:

  • Humility is Key: We must approach God with humility, recognizing that true spiritual sight comes from Him, not from our own intellect or self-righteousness.
  • Beware of Spiritual Pride: The danger of believing we "see" everything clearly can lead to spiritual blindness, preventing us from receiving new truth or acknowledging our own shortcomings.
  • Responsibility for Truth: When God reveals truth to us, whether through His Word, His Spirit, or His works, we are accountable for our response. To reject truth we have seen or been shown carries serious consequences.
  • Continual Self-Examination: This verse encourages us to regularly examine our own hearts and minds, asking if there are areas where we are spiritually blind or resistant to God's leading, even if we claim to "see" clearly.

Ultimately, Jesus' words remind us that spiritual sight is a gift, and its rejection, especially when claimed to be possessed, leads to a deepening of sin rather than its removal.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 5:21 (15 votes)

    Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

  • John 15:22 (15 votes)

    If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

  • John 15:24 (15 votes)

    If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • 1 John 1:8 (12 votes)

    ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

  • 1 John 1:10 (12 votes)

    If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

  • Luke 18:14 (11 votes)

    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Hebrews 10:26 (10 votes)

    For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,