οὐκ�. Heareth not wilful, impenitent sinners. Of course it cannot mean ‘God heareth no one who hath sinned,’ which would imply that God never answers the prayers of men. But the man’s dictum, reasonably understood, is the plain teaching of the O.T., whence he no doubt derived it. ‘The Lord is far from the wicked; but He heareth the prayer of the righteous’ (Proverbs 15:29). Comp. Psalms 66:18-19; Job 27:8-9; Isaiah 1:11-15. Note οἴδαμεν, which reproduces their own word (John 9:24; John 9:29), but without the arrogant ἡμεῖς.

θεοσεβής. God-fearing, devout, religious: here only in N.T. The man thinks that miracles are answers to prayer: only good men can gain such answers: and only a very good man could gain such an unprecedented answer as this.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament