John, 9
8. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?"
8. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?"
Chapter 9 of the Gospel of John narrates the healing of a blind man of birth by Jesus and how it triggers a great conflict with the Pharisees, who question the authority of Jesus. In addition, the chapter also addresses the issue of sin and spiritual blindness. Below are five verses related to these themes:
Psalm 146:8 - "The Lord gives a view to the blind; the Lord raises the slaughtered; the Lord loves the righteous." This verse shows that God is able to heal blindness and that he cares about those who are oppressed and needy.
Isaiah 42:7 - "To open the eyes of the blind, to take the captives out of prison, and the jail those who lay in darkness." In this verse, Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah will heal the blind and free the captives.
Matthew 23:24 - "Blind guides, who coordinates the mosquito and swallow the camel!" Jesus uses this phrase to criticize the Pharisees who worried about the little things, but ignored the great problems of his day, such as the oppression of the poor.
John 3:19 - "And the condemnation is this: light came into the world, and men loved darkness more than light, because their works were evil." This verse shows that the reason why people remain in their spiritual blindness is because they prefer sin and reject the truth.
John 12:40-"They blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, that they do not see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor convert, and I heal them." This verse is a quote from Isaiah 6:10 and shows how spiritual blindness can be a divine judgment on those who reject God's message.
“Comunguemos com santo temor e com grande amor.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina