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Our text word was spoken by a man brought up according to the laws of Moses and taught to whom God listens, and to whom He does not; for he said, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth.”

The meaning of the word ‘sinner’ in this context must be clearly understood. All men are sinners. According to the original meaning of the word this means that all men are intellectually or physically no longer able to reach the goal that God had created them for.

The text, however, says that God sometimes does and sometimes does not listen to man’s prayers. If the literal meaning of the word ‘sinner’ was meant, God would never listen to any man, because all men are sinners.

God wants all men to be happy and to attain the goal He has set for them. This goal is that man should always love God and all that has been created; with heart and soul being healthy and happy. According to the Old Covenant, God is love, and He wants to help us and listen to us, even though we are sinners.

Many of our prayers cannot be answered because our hearts are not pure enough; they are full of obstacles, the greatest of which are the grudges we hold against our neighbours. We incline to think those who openly do wrong are worse than those who do it secretly, without our knowledge. Unforgiveness cannot be seen either; it is hidden in the depth of one’s heart.

Jesus teaches that God’s love, peace, and joy are incompatible with an unforgiving heart. Bearing grudges openly increases the hurt.

Our eyes have been opened. We are allowed, like the blind man, to see Jesus Christ. We must therefore do as He wills. When we find that difficult, we shall have sympathy with others. Let us not waste time, but do what Jesus, the great doctor of the soul has advised us to do.