Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 9:26

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?" What was his reply? Having conquered and cast them down, he no longer speaks to them submissly. As long as the matter needed enquiry and arguments he spake guardedly, while he supplied the proof; but when he had conquered and gained a splendid victory, he then takes courage, and tramples upon them. What saith he? "I have told you once, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again?" Seest thou the bold-speaking of a beggar towards Scribes and Pharisees? …

Homily on the Gospel of John 58 ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

They again resort to questioning, and inquire about the manner of the Divine sign; not doing this out of good feeling or a laudable curiosity, but placing and reckoning the speaking well of Christ by any living being as baser than any villainy and worse than any wickedness, they stir up all these matters afresh; thinking perhaps that the man would no more repeat the same words, but would vary his account of the event, and say something inconsistent with his former answers, so that they might lay hold of the contradiction and denounce …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 6 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

When they again asked him "what did He do to you," placing blame on the Savior for having performed the anointing with clay on the Sabbath, this man understood that they were asking not for the sake of inquiry but for accusation.

Commentary on John ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again?" See how bold one becomes who is filled with light; see how the blind was not afraid of the Jews his parents fear. …

Tractates on John 44 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

1338 They again question the man born blind in order to malign him. First, we have the cunning interrogation of the Pharisees; and secondly, the contemptuous reply of the blind man (v 27). 1339 He says, with respect to the first, They said to him: What did he do to you? The blind man had said that he had received his sight from Christ, which the Pharisees had not asked about. It was their intention to malign Christ, so they now ask rather how he did it. So they did not ask "How is it that you see?" but How did he open your eyes? …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

They therefore said to him: What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? They attempt to draw him back by cunning; therefore they maliciously inquire, so that they might raise some objection against the miracle. Chrysostom: "They scrutinize the manner of the cure, like dogs investigating on every side." But in this cunning they are rebuked by the blind man; therefore he refuses to respond, but reproves them.

Commentary on John, Chapter 9 ↗