John 9:4 (WEB)
I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.
Fathers and councils · 23
Tertullian
“In like manner He declares, in the case of the man born blind, “that He must do the works of the Father which had sent Him;” and after He had given the man sight, He said to him, “Dost thou believe in the Son of God?”” — editor's note: John ix. 4.
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Ambrose of Milan
“Now for the sake of what works the Lord was “created” of a virgin, He Himself, whilst healing the blind man, has shown, saying: “In Him must I work the works of Him that sent Me.”” — editor's note: S. John ix. 4. “In him” is, in our Bible, attached to the preceding verse.
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John Chrysostom
“…and indolence, so truly we also, when the day is drawing near, when the night is far spent, or rather the day; for “work” (it is said) “while it is day” ( John ix. 4 ); when it is day we practice all that belongs to the night, sleeping, dreaming, indulging in luxurious fancies; and the eyes of our understanding…” — the author cites it
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Augustine of Hippo
“On the words of the Gospel, John ix. 4 and 31, “We must work the works of him that sent me,” etc. Against the Arians.” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
The Jews having rejected Christ’s words, because of their depth, He went out of the temple, and healed the blind man; that His absence might appease their fury, and the miracle soften their hard hearts, and convince…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
Mystically, our Lord, after being banished from the minds of the Jews, passed over to the Gentiles. (non occ.). The passage or journey here is His descent from heaven to earth, where He saw the blind man, i. e.…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
For the blind man here is the human race. Blindness came upon the first man by reason of sin: and from him we all derive it: i. e. man is blind from his birth.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Rabbi is Master. They call Him Master, because they wished to learn: they put their question to our Lord, as to a Master.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
This question does not seem a proper one. For the Apostles had not been taught the fond notion of the Gentiles, that the soul has sinned in a previous state of existence. It is difficult to account for their putting it.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
They were led to ask this question, by our Lord having said above, on healing the man sick of the palsy, Lo, thou art made whole; sin no more. Thinking from this that the man had been struck with the palsy for his…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Was he then born without original sin, or had he never added to it by actual sin? Both this man and his parents had sinned, but that sin was not the reason why he was born blind. Our Lord gives the reason; viz. That…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He is not to be understood as meaning that others had become blind, in consequence of their parents’ sins: for one man cannot be punished for the sin of another. But had the man therefore suffered unjustly? Rather I…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
One stroke falls on the sinner, for punishment only, not conversion; another for correction; another not for correction of past sins, but prevention of future; another neither for correcting past, nor preventing…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
That the glory of God should be made manifest, He saith of Himself, not of the Father; the Father’s glory was manifest already. I must work the works of Him that sent Me: i. e. I must manifest Myself, and shew that I…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
For when the Son declared that He worked the works of the Father, He proved that His and His Father’s works were the same: which are to heal the sick, to strengthen the weak, and enlighten man.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
By His saying, Who sent Me, He gives all the glory to Him from Whom He is. The Father hath a Son Who is from Him, but hath none from whom He Himself is.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
While it is day, He adds; i. e. while men have the opportunity of believing in Me; while this life lasts; The night cometh, when none can work. Night here means that spoken of in Matthew, Cast him into outer…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But if we work now, now is the day time, now is Christ present; as He says, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. This then is the day. The natural day is completed by the circuit of the sun, and…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
He then confirms His words by deeds: When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. He who had brought greater substances into…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Some think that the clay was not laid upon the eyes, but made into eyes.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Our Lord spat upon the ground, and made clay of the spittle, because He was the Word made flesh. The man did not see immediately as he was anointed; i. e. was, as it were, only made a catechumen. But he was sent to…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Or thus: By His spittle understand the savour of inward contemplation. It runs down from the head into the mouth, and gives us the taste of revelation from the Divine splendour even in this life. The mixture of His…
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Cross-references · 4
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 9:1–7 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 9:1–7 (6) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 9:1–7 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 9:1–7 (5) (Catena Aurea).