The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ's words applied to them, inquired, "Are we blind also?" Jesus answered, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin." If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. "But now ye say, We see." You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, "Your sin remaineth."

Den tilkendegivelse af guddomsmagt, som havde givet den blinde både legemlig og åndelig synsevne, havde efterladt farisæerne i et endnu dybere mørke. Nogle af tilhørerne, som følte, at Kristi ord var rettede mod dem, spurgte: Er vi måske også blinde? Jesus svarede: Hvis I var blinde, havde I ingen synd. Hvis Gud havde gjort det umuligt for jer at se sandheden, så ville jeres uvidenhed ikke medføre nogen skyld. Men nu siger I: Vi ser I mener, at I selv er i stand til at se, og forkaster det middel, hvorved I alene kan komme til at se. Kristus kom med ubegrænset hjælp til alle dem, der erkendte deres trang. Men farisæerne ville ikke vedkende sig deres nød. De nægtede at komme til Kristus, og fra nu af blev de overladt til deres blindhed, en blindhed, som de selv var skyld i. Jesus sagde: Derfor bliver jeres synd.