Kyle Campbell

The blind man whom Jesus healed gives us the answer in John 9:31. He made the statement that only those who do the will of God will be heard. In vv. 3 and 38, the Scriptures record that the man wasn’t in sin. He worshiped the Lord immediately after finding that it was Jesus who healed him. The blind man’s statement proves that Jesus was without sin (if He wasn’t, God wouldn’t have answered His prayer) and that God hears only those who do His will.

James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” but is silent about the prayer of the wicked. Both the Old and New Testaments tell us about the prayer of the wicked. Proverbs 28:9 says, “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.” Also, in Isaiah 59:1-2, the prophet says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” God says plainly that He won’t hear a sinner’s prayer. Additionally, these weren’t “alien” sinners (or Gentiles). They were the Jews (God’s own people). But why would God not hear His own people? Consider Isaiah 59:3-4: “For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.” The reason God wouldn’t hear these people was because of their rebellion. They were murderers, liars, schemers, and generally evil people.

In the New Testament, Peter wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). This verse is reinforced as truth by Cornelius who was “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2). God heard his prayer and sent Peter to preach to him.

Information from the Bible signifies that God won’t hear the rebel (whether Christian or non-Christian). However, God will hear all those who obey Him (1 John 3:22), as well as those who are honestly seeking Him (Acts 10:1-4, 31). Therefore, keep your life righteous — and keep those prayers going up to God.