John 9:20–23

In these verses, we have; first, his parents answer; wherein they expressely avow that he was their Sonne, and that he was borne blinde, verse 20. but for the way of his cure, they wave it and remit the narration of it to himselfe, as being of age sufficient to give an account of it, verse 21. 2. We have a reason why they decline to answer this question, which was the fear of excommunication, a decree being past among the Rulers, that who so confesseth Christ should be excommunicate, verse 22, 23.

From verse 20, 21. Learn, 1. Natural affections may go very far in natural duties; and particularly, natural affection doth oblige, and will lead parents not to deny their own children, in their greatest miseries or dangers, or for any fear: for albeit their sonne had been blinde, and is now in danger, and albeit they knew not but the Pharisees might be offended at this, yet they freely answer, we know that this is our sonne, and that he was borne blinde. 2 Natural affection and resolution, how great so ever it be, will not carry men to confesse Christ and his truth, when there is any danger in it; for, how stoutly so ever they own their sonne, yet for what concerned Christ, they shift it, By what means he now seeth we know not, or who hath opened his eyes we know not. Wherein, whatever may be said in their behalfe, from what followeth, that they desire not the glory of the miracle to be obscured, but remit them to the fittest witnesse of it; Yet they sinne hainously, by denying their knowledge, and by their ingratitude, in not avowing Christ who had conferred so notable a benefit upon them, in the person of their sonne. 3. Albeit men may hazard much for their friends in their private quarrels; Yet such as are not stout for Christ, will decline suffering in their own person, though they should hazard their dearest friends; and will let them suffer their alone, and it is well they prove not their greatest enemies; for, they by shifting trouble, do expose their sonne to it, he is of age, aske him, he shall speak for himselfe, as being from under their charge, and able to give an account of his own wayes. And albeit it had not been lawful for them to obtrude themselves on suffering; yet when they are called to give a confession, it was their fault to desert not only the truth, but their son also.

From verse 22, 23. Learn, 1. Excommunication from the societie of the people of God is an ancient and lawful ordinance in the house of God, however is be abused by men; for, it was an Ordinance, even in the Church of the Jewes, to put men out of the Synagogue. See Ezra 10.8. 2. The best and most necessary Ordinances of God may be abused by wicked men, and the authority of his judicatories, and the edge of his censures ill imployed, when Church-Rulers are corrupt; for, so it was here, in their councill they had agreed to employ their authority, and the censures of the Church, to bear down Christ. This should teach men, not to reject everything, which the corruptions of men do abuse. 3. Albeit the child of God may, for some miscarriages, fall under the censure of excommunication; Yet it is an evidence of a corrupt time, when the edge of that censure is turned against the children of the house, merely because of their adhering to Christ: for, so was it here, they had agreed already, that if any man did confesse that he was Christ, he should be put out of the Synagogue. It is said, they had agreed, albeit there was not only a Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea among them, but some others who thought more favourably of Christ, as would appear from, verse 16. and Chap. 12. 42. And that because the corrupt part did agree; or, these who were more honest being absent, others would not stand out against the common determination, however they had argued the cause; Or, fear did make them agree that he should not be acknowledged for the Messiah, however they had accounted him a good man. 4. Excommunication is a censure not a little terrible, when it is inflicted upon just grounds; for, whatever weaknesse was in their fear, (of which afterward) yet it is an evidence that the members of the Jewish Church did generally fear to undergo this censure. 5. Men, through long custome and formality, may be brought to stand in aw of Church censures, who yet give no evidence, that they stand in aw to sinne against God, but rather of the contrary; for, however it be good in it selfe to be affraid of Excommunication; Yet (besides that this was an unjust decree) their shifting to confesse the truth, shews how they durst hazard on sinne, and yet they fear excommunication. It may be, indeed, that some outward inconveniences followed upon this censure, which made them so carefully avoid it, as is true in the case of Rulers, Joh. 12.42, 43. But as that is not the right cause wherefore Church-censures should be dreadful; so though there were no such thing, yet there are many who would not willingly be secluded from the priviledges of Church members, nor from the Ordinances, who yet never long after God in them, nor do lay to heart that they may be judicially bound in heaven, though they be not bound on earth. 6, Albeit just Excommunication be a sad sentence; yea, albeit when it is unjustly inflicted by a true visible Church, it be so grievous, as men should not willingly desire it, and should be affected with it; Yet it is but a slavish and sinful fear, when men are hindered to confesse truth, because men will excommunicate them; for, herein did the mans parents fail, in that for fear of this sentence, they declined their dutie: And as carnal courage is but faint hearted in Christs matters, however it may be invincible in other difficulties, So slavish fear of this and the like inconveniences, is base, and will prove an enemy to suffering, unlesse it be well ballanced with saith, Psal. 56.3. 7. They had decreed only, that if any man did confesse that he was Christ, he should be put out of the Synagogue, and yet this makes them affraid so much as to confesse that Christ had cured their sonne. The reason may be conceived, that the Rulers were so malicious, that a favourable word spoken of Christ, was as much as if they had confessed him to be the Messiah: As indeed, In persecutors account, it is sufficient to render men as bad as may be, if they be any thing more charitable, or not so malicious as themselves. Yet seeing they do not inflict this censure on these among themselves who pleaded for him, at least as not a sinner, verse 16. Nor do they excommunicate the man for all his free confession, till (as they conceive) he carry himselfe unreverently toward them. Therefore it may be conceived rather that their fear was so slavish, as they durst not so much as confesse that truth, which they might confesse without hazard; And so it teacheth, That slavish fear is a very brutish passion, and will not only be moved at real hazards, but will multiply many imagined dangers. And when men are possessed and led by it, they will not only do all that persecutors by their decrees require, but it will drive them even from duties which they might follow without hazard.