If You Were Blind . . .

In my reading this morning, I was struck and puzzled by John 9:41.

Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

This is the last verse in a chapter which records the story of a blind man being healed and the Phariseees investigating the healing. So, what does this text mean?

What makes them blind and what makes them see? I am going to spend some time studing this. Initially I am leaning to Romans 5:20-21 in answer to my question.

The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.