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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
What then they thought their great praise, He shows would turn to their punishment; and at the same time consoles him who had been afflicted with bodily blindness from his birth. For it is not without reason that the Evangelist says, And some of the Pharisees which were with him, heard these words; but that he may remind us that those were the very persons who had first withstood Christ, and then wished to stone Him. For there were some who only followed in appearance, and were easily changed to the contrary side.
Cyril of Alexandria
The Pharisees keep close to the Saviour Christ and are eager to associate with Him, although they have a sharp arrow shot into their heart, and pine with vexation and envy at His glory; they associate with Him, however, gathering nourishment for their hatred, and devising various slanders against His marvellous deeds, and by these means perverting the guileless mind of such as are more ready to believe. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Pharisees, always grasping at the sensible, thought that He was speaking of sensible blindness, and said: "Are we blind also?" They were ashamed of this bodily blindness alone.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
"And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world." But didst not Thou say, Lord, "I judge no man;" and, "I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world"? We are making inquiry about Thy words: Thou saidst Thyself, "I judge no man;" Thou saidst Thyself, "I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world;" and now we hear, "For judgment I am come into this world." Distinguish the senses; do not confound the words. Judgment for condemnation is one kind; judgment for examination, another. …
Thomas Aquinas
1362 Now we see the grumbling of the Jews. They had understood our Lord's words in a bodily sense because they had seen the man born blind physically restored to sight, and had thought that our Lord was concerned only with the light in his eyes rather than in his mind. And so they believed that he was warning and threatening them with physical blindness when he said may become blind. Therefore, the Evangelist says, some of the Pharisees near him heard this, the above words. …
Bonaventure
Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, that is, they were present; and they said: Are we also blind? They were indignant at the word of the Lord, because they believed it had been said on their account, since they considered themselves wise: and from this very fact the Lord shows the divine judgment, that they have been justly blinded.
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