Does God hear the prayers of a sinner? Many will
quote John 9:31 and say He doesn’t. So does God hear the prayers of the
Christian who commits sin? Are you without sin? I’m sure you will say you are
not. Then, why do you pray if God does not hear the prayers of a sinner? Some
will reply: “O, God hears the prayers of a Christian who sinned but not the
prayers of non-christians.” But, was Cornelius a Christian when God heard his
prayers? (Acts 10:1-5).
In the parable of the prayers of the Pharisee and the
publican, the publican prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke
18:13). Why would Jesus commend this publican’s prayer if God does not hear the
prayer of a sinner? But God hears the prayers of a penitent sinner. The
Psalmist wrote in Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me.” The verse means: if I have cherished sin in my heart
while I continue to pray and sing praises to His name, the Lord will not listen
to my prayers and praises. God will not listen to the prayers and songs of a
hypocrite (Matthew 6:5-6).
The word “hear” means to answer and to grant. Yet, some
prayer requests of the righteous were not granted. Abraham prayed that Ishmael
should be the chosen seed since Sarah had remained barren, but was rejected by
God (Genesis 17:18-19). Even the prayer of the Son of God to the Father to let
this cup pass from Him was rejected (Matthew 26:39). Hence, should we also
conclude that God does not hear the prayers of the righteous?
Let’s study the context of John 9 where this statement “God
heareth not sinners” was uttered.
It was on a Sabbath day that the Lord Jesus healed a
blind man. The Jews were surprised that he could see and asked him how he
received his sight. He said a man named Jesus healed him. Read what their
conclusions about Jesus were on this miraculous healing:
1. The Pharisees said: “Therefore said some of the
Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day”
(John 9:16).
2. Others said: “How can a man that is a sinner
do such miracles?” (John 9:16).
3. The man that was healed: “He is a Prophet”
(John 9:17).
3. Result: “There was a division among them” (John
9:16).
The Pharisees summoned the man’s parents and asked them
if their son was indeed born blind and how he could see now (John 9:18-23). His
parents, fearing the Jews, replied: “He is of age; ask him” (John 9:23).
The Pharisee pressed this point to the man born blind: “Give God the praise:
we know that this man is a sinner” (John 9:24).
Note: The Pharisees could not deny that what had
happened was a miracle, and a miracle is a work of God. Only one who is chosen
by God CAN perform a miracle. The Pharisees denied that Christ came from God.
They called Christ a sinner. Therefore, God could not possibly work a miracle
through Him.
It was at this instance that the man uttered these famous
words: “God heareth not sinners.” He explains his statement: “If this
man were not of God, he could do nothing” (John 9:33). He is saying this:
If Christ is a sinner as the Pharisees thought He is, then how is it that He
could perform this miracle? God would not perform miracles through a sinner.
Therefore, Jesus must be from God.
If we have more persons
who can reason the scriptures as this man, there will not be any false
doctrines going around the globe. Today, some denominations are performing fake
miracles. Their “miracles” are staged and choreographed to deceive the
audience. Time and time again, they have been proven false. We can safely
conclude that they are not from God; and so are their teachings. They are false
teachers out there to deceive.
We can understand the
bible alike if we are rational and know how to reason logically. Our Lord says
we can know the truth (John 8:32). Indeed, God gives us the Bible that we may
know Him: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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