John 9:40

"Some of them that followed Him, say unto Him, Are we also blind?" As in another place they said, "We were never servants to any man"; and, "We be not born of fornication" (c. viii. 33, 41); so now they gape on material things alone, and are ashamed of this kind of blindness.

(Hom. lix. 1, 2) 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.

"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. Attending, therefore, to the nature of His coming, in what sense is it that He says, "For judgment I am come into this world"? He explains what He says: "That they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." On Him, therefore, who came to enlighten, it is the duty of him who lies in darkness to fix his eyes, in order that he may see. And such as are not humbly in subjection to Him whom they behold not, in order to be healed to beholding, think that they see by themselves, and from this presumption of their own sight are made blind. "And some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we also blind?" And what said the Lord? "If ye were blind, ye would have no sin." Why? Because ye would come to the physician, and apply for a remedy. But now, since ye say, "We see," your sin remaineth. Why? Because, in saying, "We see," ye seek not the physician, and remain in your blindness. This, as best I was able, I have explained, in speaking now to those who have already been enlightened, and remember what they were, and are not ungrateful to Him who hath enlightened them. For where were they who have been enlightened, but in their sins-in their blindness? But the Enlightener was beside them. Let them hear and believe; let them draw near to Him and be enlightened.

(Tr. xliv. 16, 17) The day then was divided between light and darkness. So it is rightly added, that they which see not, may see; for He relieved men from darkness. But what is that which follows: And that they which see might he made blind. Hear what comes next. Some of the Pharisees were moved by these words: And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard these words, and said unto Him, Are we blind also? What had moved them were the words, And that they which see might be made blind. It follows; Jesus saith unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; i. e. If ye called yourselves blind, and ran to the physician. But now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth: for in that saying, We see, ye seek not a physician, ye shall remain in your blindness. This then which He has just before said, I came, that they that see not might see; i. e. they who confess they cannot see, and seek a physician, in order that they may see: and that they which see not may be made blind; i. e. they which think they can see, and seek not a physician, may remain in their blindness. This act of division He calls judgment, saying, For judgment have I come into this world: not that judgment by which He will judge quick and dead at the end of the world.