The Greek word here rendered " words," is not the same as that rendered "sayings," in verse 19. Webster says it is a stronger expression, and means "the whole transaction," as well as the things said. The word " blind " here in the Greek is plural, and would be more accurately translated, " of blind persons."
22. — [And it was o,t Jerusalem.'] Many think that an interval of time comes in between this verse and the preceding one. I doubt it. From chap. vii. 2, where we are told it was the feast of tabernacles, the narrative runs on at first sight continuously ; yet if we look at John ix. 35, there must have been one break of time. — If there was any interval before the verse we are now considering, I think it must have been very short. The follow- ing verses show that the discourse about " the sheep " must have been fresh in the minds of the Jews, as our Lord refers to it as a thing they could remember: He would hardly have done so if the interval had been very long. At any rate, I can see no proof that our Lord left Jerusalem between the discourse about the " sheep " and the verse before us.
[ The feast of the dedication.'] This Jewish festival is one which is nowhere else mentioned in the Bible. It is, however, a matter ofhistory, according to most commentators, that it was first appointed by Judas Maccabeus to commemorate the purging of the temple, and the rebuilding of the altar, after the Syrians were driven out. Its appointment is recorded in the Apocry- pha in 1 Maccabees iv. 52 — 59. The Apocryphal books are, no doubt, uninspired. But there is no reason to question the accuracy of their historical statements. The passage before us is often referred to, as proving that our Lord recognized, and tacitly sanctioned, a man-made and man-appointed festival. " The Church has power to decree rites and ceremonies," aud so long as it ordains nothing against God's Word, its appoint- ments deserve respect. At any rate our Lord did not denounce the feast of dedication, or refuse to be present at it.
Chrysostom and others think that the feast of dedication was appointed to commemorate the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian captivity, in Ezra's time. (Ezra vi. 16.)
Some think that it was to commemorate the dedication of Solo- mon's temple. (2 Chron. vii. 9.) There is, however, no war- rant for this view.
Pearce remarks, that John alone, of all the evangelists, records our Lord's attendance at four of the great feasts of the Jews : viz., passover, (John ii. 13,) pentecost,(v. 1,) tabernacles, (vii. 2,) and dedication here.
[It was winter.] This shows that three months had passed since the miracle of healing the blind man, which was worked at the feast of tabernacles. That was about Michaelmas, by our reckoning. The season of winter is here mentioned to ex- plain why our Lord walked under cover, " iu a porch."