Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostomwill in proving that what had taken place was real, 1545 since the parents best of all knew their ownchild. When they could not terrify the man himself, but beheld him with all boldness proclaim hisBenefactor, they thought to wound the miracle by means of his parents. Observe the malice of theirquestioning. For what saith it? Having placed them in the midst so as to throw them into distress,1546they apply the questioning with great severity and anger,Ver. 19 . “Is this your son?” (and they said not, “who once was blind,” but) “of whom ye saythat he was born blind?”As if they were acting deceitfully, and plotting on behalf of 1547 Christ. O ye accursed, utterlyaccursed! What father would choose to invent such falsehoods against his child? For they almostsay, “Whom ye have made out blind, and not only so, but have spread abroad the report everywhere.”“How then doth he now see?”[2.] O folly! “Yours,” saith one, “is the trick 1548 and the contrivance.” For by these two thingsdo they attempt to lead the parents to a denial; by using the words, “Whom ye say,” and, “Howthen doth he now see?” Now when there were three questions asked, whether he was their son,whether he had been blind, and how he received his sight, the parents only acknowledged two ofthem, but do not add the third. And this came to pass for the sake of the truth, in order that noneother save the man that was healed, who was also worthy 1549 of credit, should acknowledge thismatter. And how would the parents have favored (Christ), when even of what they knew somepart they spake not through fear of the Jews? What say they?Ver. 20, 21 . “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means henow seeth we know not, or who hath opened his eyes we know not; he is of age, he shall speak forhimself.”By making him to be worthy of credit, they begged off themselves; “He is not a child, say they,nor incapable, 1550 but able to testify for himself.”Ver. 22 . “These words spake they, 1551 because they feared the Jews.”Observe how the Evangelist again brings forward their opinion and thoughts. This I say, becauseof that speech which they before uttered, when they said, “He maketh Himself equal to God.” ( c.v. 18 .) For had that also been the opinion of the Jews but not the judgment of Christ, he wouldhave added and said, that “it was a Jewish opinion.” 1552 When therefore the parents referred themto him that had been healed, they called him again the second time, and did not say openly andshamelessly, “Deny that Christ healed thee,” but would fain effect this under a pretense of piety.Ver. 24 . “Give,” 1553 saith one, “the glory to God.”1545al. “ establishing what had been done. ”1546ἀ γωνίαν1547τὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ συγκροτούντων , al. κατὰ τοῦ Χ1548σκαιώρημα1549al. “ a witness worthy. ”1550ἀ τελὴς1551“ his parents, ” N.T.1552Another reading has this sense: “ For although that was the opinion of the Jews, yet he hath also added the judgmentof Christ; and hath said that the sentence of the Jews was to put out of the synagogue those who confessed Him to be theChrist. ”1553N.T. ver. 22–24 . “ For the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be putout of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age, ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, andsaid unto him. ”313