So last night my Bible study group was discussing the healing of the blind man in John's gospel. Ch 9
The man's parents were reluctant to say much on the subject. " He is of age , he will speak for himself. "
Vs 22 " His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders , who had already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue "
Vs 34 " ........ and they threw him ( the healed man ) out. "
My NIV study Bible commented that being thrown out of the synagogue would probably mean being socially as well as spiritually ostracized.
Of course l was struck by the similarity to the WT disfellowshipping someone. So it seems that they are following an old Jewish practice, who knew ?
Jan