The man's response, "He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see," is strikingly concise. While the Pharisees focused on the how and the when (questioning the Sabbath violation), his simple statement emphasizes the undeniable result and his present reality of sight. It highlights how a clear, personal encounter with God's power cuts through rigid rules and endless debate.
So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees, still unwilling to accept Jesus' miracle, bring the formerly blind man before them to investigate further. Their primary concern isn't whether the man can see, but how Jesus performed the healing, especially since it happened on the Sabbath, which they strictly observed. The man simply recounts Jesus' actions – the mud and the washing – but his growing confidence in his sight and in Jesus begins to cause a division among the Pharisees themselves.
The Pharisees kept drilling down on the details of the miracle. Why were they so fixated on the method, and what did it reveal about their hearts?
The Pharisees' repeated questioning about how the man received his sight reveals their desperate attempt to discredit Jesus. Instead of focusing on the undeniable fact of a miracle – a man born blind now seeing – they fixated on the means and the timing (the Sabbath).
A Misplaced Focus
This highlights a common human tendency: getting lost in the 'how' and missing the 'what'.
The blind man had already explained the miracle once. Why did he repeat his simple story, and what does his courage teach us?
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When confronted by the Pharisees the second time, the man’s response is brief but firm: 'He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.' This simple, consistent testimony stands in stark contrast to the Pharisees' complex accusations and debates.
The Power of Lived Experience
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A group of religious leaders in first-century Judaism known for their strict adherence to the law and oral traditions. They often acted as the primary theological opponents to Jesus in the Gospels.
sabbaton · Hebrew (via Greek Σάββατον) Noun
The seventh day of the week, ordained by God in creation and codified in the Mosaic Law as a day of rest and holy assembly. In the New Testament, Jesus challenged the legalistic interpretations of the Sabbath to reveal its true intent as a day for God's grace and mercy.
hamartōlos · Greek Adjective/Noun
One who misses the mark of God's holiness and righteousness; a transgressor of the law. In the Gospels, it is often used by religious leaders to label those they deemed ceremonially or morally impure.
sēmeion · Greek Noun
Miraculous acts that serve as divine authentication of a messenger or message. In John's Gospel, these acts are meant to point beyond themselves to the identity and glory of Jesus as the Son of God.
The Pharisees' relentless questioning of the healed man wasn't just about understanding the miracle; it was a desperate attempt to find any reason to condemn Jesus, revealing their deep-seated opposition and the growing division among their own ranks over Jesus' identity and actions.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus Ministry in Jerusalem
During Jesus' public ministry, he frequently visited Jerusalem, especially during the major festivals. This period saw numerous miracles and teachings that drew crowds and attracted the attention of religious authorities.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Healing of the Man Born Blind
Jesus encounters a man blind from birth and heals him, an act that challenges the religious laws and traditions of the time, particularly concerning the Sabbath.
c. AD 27-30
Pharisees Investigate the Healing
The religious leaders, including the Pharisees, scrutinize the miracle. They question the healed man and Jesus, attempting to find fault and discredit Jesus' authority, especially due to the healing occurring on the Sabbath.
c. AD 27-30
Division Among the Pharisees
The questioning of the healed man reveals a division within the Pharisaic leadership. Some argue that Jesus cannot be from God because he violated the Sabbath, while others contend that a sinner could not perform such a powerful miracle.
c. AD 27-30
Man's Bold Confession
The formerly blind man, under intense questioning and pressure, boldly declares Jesus to be a prophet, further complicating the Pharisees' investigation and highlighting his own conviction.
This verse speaks of Jesus being anointed to 'give sight to the blind,' directly echoing the miraculous healing described in John 9 and highlighting the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies through such acts.
John 9:30-33The formerly blind man's bold defense of Jesus' power directly mirrors his simple, unwavering testimony in John 9:15, showing how a genuine encounter with God's power silences doubt and reasoning.
Isaiah 35:5This prophecy foretells that 'the eyes of the blind shall be opened' during the Messianic age, providing a foundational Old Testament promise that Jesus' healing of the blind man in John 9 clearly demonstrates.
Acts 4:16Here, religious leaders debate how to deal with the apostles for performing a miracle, much like the Pharisees in John 9, showing a recurring pattern of human reasoning trying to invalidate divine power.
barnesJohn 9:15: "Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see."
The Pharisees asked him how ... - The proper question to have been asked in the case was whether he had in fact done it, and not in what way. The question, also, about a sinner's conversion is whether in fact it has been done, and not about the mode or manner in which it is effected; yet it is remarkable that no small part of the disputes a…
calvinJohn 9:13-17: "They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind."
- They bring to the Pharisees him who formerly had been blind. 14. Now it was the Sabbath when Jesus had made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15. The Pharisees also, therefore, asked him again, how he had received his sight. And he said to them, He put clay on mine eyes, and I washed, and I see. 16. Wherefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath. Others said, How can a…
The man's response, "He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see," is strikingly concise. While the Pharisees focused on the how and the when (questioning the Sabbath violation), his simple statement emphasizes the undeniable result and his present reality of sight. It highlights how a clear, personal encounter with God's power cuts through rigid rules and endless debate.
The Pharisees, still unwilling to accept Jesus' miracle, bring the formerly blind man before them to investigate further. Their primary concern isn't whether the man can see, but how Jesus performed the healing, especially since it happened on the Sabbath, which they strictly observed. The man simply recounts Jesus' actions – the mud and the washing – but his growing confidence in his sight and in Jesus begins to cause a division among the Pharisees themselves.
The Pharisees, still unwilling to accept Jesus' miracle, bring the formerly blind man before them to investigate further. Their primary concern isn't whether the man can see, but how Jesus performed the healing, especially since it happened on the Sabbath, which they strictly observed. The man simply recounts Jesus' actions – the mud and the washing – but his growing confidence in his sight and in Jesus begins to cause a division among the Pharisees themselves.
"So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others sai…" — The man's response, "He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see," is strikingly concise. While the Pharisees focused on the how and the when (questioning the Sabbath violation), his simple st…
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Last reviewed October 2026
