No Longer in Ignorance

John 9:32-41 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and does thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Does thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If you were blind, you should have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remain. 

The blind man that was healed by Jesus, was cast out contrary to the agreement of the Jews (John 9:22) -for crossing religious leaders by taking a stand for what was right. His crime was being an honest man, true to his convictions. There were three grades of ex-communication: The niddin, pronounced for 30 days during which offenders were prohibited from public worship, were not allowed to shave, and were required to wear garments of mourning; the cherem, pronounced on those who continued in rebellion. The offender was formally cursed, was excluded from all interaction with other people, and was prohibited from entering the temple or a synagogue; the shammatha, pronounced on those who persisted in rebellion. They were cut off from all connection with the Jewish people and were consigned to utter perdition.

‘For judgment I am come’ referring to the effect of His coming. Rejection of Him will bring judgment. John 12:47 refers to the object of His coming. He came to save, but if men will not have salvation they will finally be judged (John 3:16-20).

‘That they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind’ the idea here is that the people became this way, little by little until they were past normal, vigorous obedience to truth and righteousness.

The Jews claimed to see and therefore refused to admit or repent from their sins. Jesus explained to them that if they were really ignorant they would have no sin, but they were no longer in ignorance. They rejected Christ through enmity so their sin remained.