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Selected Verse: John 9:31 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 9:31 |
King James |
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| they cast him out--judicially, no doubt, as well in fact. The allusion to his being "born in sins" seems a tacit admission of his being blind from birth--the very thing they had been so unwilling to own. But rage and enmity to truth are seldom consistent in their outbreaks. The friends of this excommunicated youth, crowding around him with their sympathy, would probably express surprise that One who could work such a cure should be unable to protect his patient from the persecution it had raised against him, or should possess the power without using it. Nor would it be strange if such thoughts should arise in the youth's own mind. But if they did, it is certain, from what follows, that they made no lodgment there, conscious as he was that "whereas he was blind, now he saw," and satisfied that if his Benefactor "were not of God, He could do nothing" (Joh 9:33). There was a word for him too, which, if whispered in his ear from the oracles of God, would seem expressly designed to describe his case, and prepare him for the coming interview with his gracious Friend. "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word. Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; BUT HE SHALL APPEAR TO YOUR JOY, and they shall be ashamed" (Isa 66:5). But how was He engaged to whom such noble testimony had been given, and for whom such persecution had been borne? Uttering, perhaps, in secret, "with strong crying and tears," the words of the prophetic psalm, "Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake; let none that seek Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel; because for Thy sake I have borne reproach . . . and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon me" (Psa 69:6-7, Psa 69:9). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Now we know - That is, it is an admitted or conceded point. No one calls it into question.
God heareth not - When a miracle was performed it was customary to invoke the aid of God. Jesus often did this himself, and it was by his power only that prophets and apostles could perform miracles. The word "heareth" in this place is to be understood as referring to such cases. God will not hear - that is, answer.
Sinners - Impostors. False prophets and pretenders to divine revelation. See Joh 9:24. The meaning of this verse is, therefore, "It is well understood that God will not give miraculous aid to impostors and false prophets." We may remark here:
1. That the passage has no reference to the prayers which sinners make for salvation.
2. If it had it would not be of course true. It was the mere opinion of this man, in accordance with the common sentiment of the Jews, and there is no evidence that he was inspired.
3. The only prayers which God will not hear are those which are offered in mockery, or when the man loves his sins and is unwilling to give them up. Such prayers God will not hear, Psa 66:18; "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me;" Isa 1:14-15; Job 27:9; Jer 11:11; Eze 8:18; Mic 3:4; Zac 7:13,
A worshipper - A sincere worshipper; one who fears, loves, and adores him.
Doeth his will - Obeys his commandments. This is infallibly true. The Scripture abounds with promises to such that God will hear their prayer. See Psa 34:15; Mat 7:7-8. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
sinner
Sin
(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:23). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
We know
Here the pronoun is not expressed, and the we is not emphatic, like the pronouns in Joh 9:24, Joh 9:29, but expresses the common information of all concerning a familiar fact.
A worshipper of God (θεοσεβὴς)
Only here in the New Testament. The kindred word, θεοσέβεια, godliness, occurs only at Ti1 2:10. Compounded with Θεός, God, and σέβομαι, to worship, the same verb which appears in εὐσεβής, devout (Act 10:2, Act 10:7; Act 22:12), and εὐσέβεια, godliness (Act 3:12; Ti1 2:2, etc.). See on Pe2 1:3. These two latter words, while they may mean reverence toward God, may also mean the due fulfillment of human relations; while θεοσεβὴς, worshipper of God, is limited to piety towards God. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| We - Even we of the populace, know that God heareth not sinners - Not impenitent sinners, so as to answer their prayers in this manner. The honest courage of this man in adhering to the truth, though he knew the consequence, Joh 9:22, gives him claim to the title of a confessor. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| God heareth not sinners - I believe the word ἁμαρτωλων signifies heathens, or persons not proselyted to the Jewish religion; and therefore it is put in opposition to θεοσεβης, a worshipper of the true God. See the note on Luk 7:37. But in what sense may it be said, following our common version, that God heareth not sinners? When they regard iniquity in their heart - when they wish to be saved, and yet abide in their sins - when they will not separate themselves from the workers and works of iniquity. In all these cases, God heareth not sinners. |
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,