God Doesn’t Hear the Prayers of Sinners

by Zeke Flores

We don't know much about what the newly-seeing man in John 9 believed about many things, but he was right about this: God doesn't hear the prayers of sinners (John 9:31).

Both Old and New Covenants abound with the idea that God refuses the prayer of those who obstinately sin (see Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalms 68:18; Proverbs 15:29; 28:9; I Peter 3:12).

It’s not that God can't hear those prayers, but He doesn’t attend to them. After all, why should He? Stubborn people who resist Him yet appeal to Him when life is tough have no intention of turning to Him in obedience. But His loving, providential attention is for those who have made it their aim to do His will.

That sounds harsh, but I hope it serves to remind those who love Him, obey Him, and follow Him when it’s difficult that prayer is a special privilege that is heard by God and attended to by Him in His time and according to His will. But for Him to “hear” you, you’ve got to be standing firmly on “praying grounds.”

"We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him" (John 9:31).