John 9:16 – “Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others asked, ‘How can a sinner perform such signs?’ So they were divided.”

Extended Explanation

This verse captures the intense debate among the Pharisees after Jesus healed the man born blind. Instead of rejoicing over the miracle, some of them are more concerned about whether Jesus followed their religious rules.

One group insists that Jesus “is not from God” because He does not “keep the Sabbath”—meaning He did not obey their extra rules about what was allowed on that day. Their argument is simple: if Jesus truly came from God, He wouldn’t break the Sabbath.

But others in the group raise an important question: “How can a sinner perform such signs?” They see the miracle for what it is—evidence of God’s power. They are struggling to understand how someone who supposedly disobeys their rules could do something that only God can do.

This disagreement causes a division among them. Some are determined to reject Jesus, while others are starting to question their assumptions. This shows that not everyone was completely blinded by their traditions—some were at least open to considering the truth.

Historical Context

The Sabbath was a day of rest established by God (Exodus 20:8-11). But over time, Jewish religious leaders had added extra rules to define exactly what “rest” meant. By Jesus’ time, these traditions had become so rigid that they often missed the heart of the Sabbath, which was to honor God and bring renewal.

The Pharisees had a legalistic view of the Sabbath. They had created 39 categories of work that were forbidden, including:

• Healing (unless it was life-threatening).
• Kneading (which they believed Jesus did when He mixed saliva with dirt to make mud).
• Carrying a burden (which they accused Jesus of allowing when He told the man to go wash).

Jesus challenged this way of thinking. He had healed on the Sabbath before, making it clear that mercy and compassion are more important than man-made rules (Mark 3:1-6). The Pharisees saw this as rebellion, but Jesus was revealing the true purpose of the Sabbath: to bring life and restoration.

Theological Implications

This verse reveals several important spiritual truths:

1. People can be blinded by their own religious traditions. The Pharisees were so focused on rules that they missed God’s power at work right in front of them.
2. Miracles force people to make a decision about Jesus. Some of the Pharisees saw the truth and questioned their assumptions, while others refused to believe. The same thing happens today—when confronted with Jesus, people must either accept or reject Him.
3. Religious division does not always mean truth is unclear. The fact that the Pharisees were divided does not mean that Jesus was confusing—rather, it shows that some were unwilling to accept the truth.

This verse reminds us that rules and traditions should never take priority over seeing and responding to God’s power.

Literary Analysis

John’s Gospel often uses conflict and division to highlight the growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. This verse shows the clash between legalism and faith—between those who reject Jesus because He doesn’t fit their system and those who begin to recognize that something greater is happening.

The phrase “they were divided” is significant. This same kind of division is seen throughout Jesus’ ministry:

• John 7:43 – “Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.”
• John 10:19-21 – “The Jews who heard these words were again divided.”

Jesus’ presence and actions force a choice. People cannot remain neutral when confronted with the truth.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Isaiah 29:13 – “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” The Pharisees valued religious rules over truly knowing God.
• Matthew 12:10-12 – Jesus heals on the Sabbath and exposes the Pharisees’ hypocrisy.
• Mark 2:27-28 – “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Jesus teaches that the Sabbath is meant to bring life, not legalism.
• John 3:2 – Nicodemus (a Pharisee) tells Jesus, “No one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him,” showing that some religious leaders were beginning to recognize the truth.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse is a warning against legalism. It reminds us that following religious rules is not the same as knowing God. The Pharisees thought they were honoring God, but in reality, they were rejecting Him.

It also shows that Jesus forces people to take a side. Some people will recognize His power and question their assumptions. Others will resist, no matter how clear the evidence is. This is still true today—when confronted with Jesus, people must decide whether to believe in Him or reject Him.

Finally, this verse challenges us to ask: Are we open to seeing God work, even if it doesn’t fit our expectations? Some of the Pharisees were at least willing to consider the truth, while others completely dismissed it. The difference was the condition of their hearts.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is seen in how He continues to reveal Himself, even to those who resist Him. Jesus knew the Pharisees would reject Him, yet He still performed miracles, giving them every opportunity to believe.

It also shows God’s love for truth-seekers. Some of the Pharisees were beginning to question what they had always believed. This reminds us that God is patient with those who genuinely seek the truth, even if they don’t understand everything at first.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

This verse highlights the authority of Jesus over religious systems. He did not fit into the Pharisees’ expectations of the Messiah, but that didn’t change the fact that He was the Son of God.

It also connects to Jesus’ mission to expose spiritual blindness. The Pharisees were so focused on following their traditions that they became blind to the truth. Later in this chapter, Jesus will directly address this, saying, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” (John 9:39)

This verse ultimately points to the reality that Jesus divides people—not because He wants to, but because some hearts are open and others are hardened.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why did some Pharisees refuse to believe, even after seeing the miracle?
2. How can religious traditions sometimes prevent people from truly seeing God at work?
3. Have you ever experienced a time when God worked in an unexpected way? How did you respond?
4. Why does Jesus’ presence always force people to make a decision?
5. What are some areas in your life where you might need to be more open to God’s work, even if it challenges your expectations?