We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone fears God and does his will, he listens to him.
9:31 And we know that God does not hear sinners; — The argument was that if Jesus had been a sinner (imposter, deceiver, Sabbath violator), he could not have performed this miracle, but God did hear Christ (compare 11:41, 42); He did this miracle. Therefore, Jesus was not a sinner. In this way, he effectively refuted what the Jews said about Jesus (9:16, 24). Nicodemus recognized this truth; “No one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him” (3:2). Many biblical texts affirm that God does not hear sinners: 1Sa 8:18 “You will cry… but the Lord will not answer you”; Job 35:12“There they will cry, and he will not hear”; Salt 18:41, “They cried out and there was no one to save them; even Jehovah, but he did not hear them”; Ps 66:18“If I had looked at iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me”; Pro 1:28, “Then they will call me, and I will not answer; they will look for me in the morning, and they will not find me”; pro 15:29, “The Lord is far from the wicked; But he hears the prayer of the righteous”; Pro 28:9“He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer also is abominable”; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 59:2; Jer 11:11; Jer 14:12; Eze 8:18 etc. If Jesus had been like these people, God would not have heard him. — But if anyone fears God, and he does his will, him (this one, NASB) listen. — Remember that in this context the expression “hears this one” has to do with the works of God, that is, the miracles performed by Christ. God hears him, that is, works through him. (Ps 34:15-16; Ps 66:18; pro 15:29). God hears those who obey him. The Bible does not teach that sinners pray, but that they obey (Tue 16:16; Ac 2:38). Saul of Tarsus was already praying, but Ananias said to him, “Why do you stop? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name ”(Ac 22:16). Cornelius was already praying (Acts 10:2), but he was ordered to send “men to Joppa, and summon Simon, surnamed Peter; he will speak words to you by which you and your whole household will be saved” (Acts 11:13-14).
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
and we know that God does not hear sinners. Job 27:8, Job 27:9; Job 35:12; Job 42:8; Salt 18:41; Ps 34:15; Ps 66:18-20; Pro 1:28, pro 1:29; pro 15:29; Pro 21:13; Pro 28:9; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 58:9; Jer 11:11; Jer 14:12; Eze 8:18; Mic 3:4; Zech 7:13.
but if anyone fears God. Ps 34:15; pro 15:29.
and does his will. Joh 4:34; Joh 7:17; Joh 15:16; Ps 40:8; Ps 143:10; Hebrews 10:7; 1Jn 3:21, 1Jn 3:22.
listen to this one. Joh 11:41, Joh 11:42; Gen 18:23-33; Gen 19:29; Gen 20:7; 1Ki 17:20-22; 1Ki 18:36-38; 2Ch 32:20, 2Ch 32:21; Ps 99:6; Ps 106:23; Jer 15:1; Jas 5:15-18.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
9:31 And we know that God does not hear sinners; — The argument was that if Jesus had been a sinner (imposter, deceiver, Sabbath violator), he could not have performed this miracle, but God did hear Christ (compare 11:41, 42); He did this miracle. Therefore, Jesus was not a sinner. In this way, he effectively refuted what the Jews said about Jesus (9:16, 24). Nicodemus recognized this truth; “No one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him” (3:2).
Many biblical texts affirm that God does not hear sinners: 1Sa 8:18 “You will cry… but the Lord will not answer you”; Job 35:12, “There they will cry, and he will not hear”; Ps 18:41, “They cried out and there was no one to save them; even Jehovah, but he did not hear them”; Ps 66:18, “If I had looked at iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me”; Pro 1:28, “Then they will call me, and he will not answer; they will look for me in the morning, and they will not find me”; Pro 15:29, “The Lord is far from the wicked; But he hears the prayer of the righteous”; Pro 28: 9, “He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer also is abominable”; Isaiah 1:15; Isaiah 59:2; Jer 11:11; Jer 14:12; Eze 8:18 etc If Jesus had been like these people, God would not have heard him.
— but if anyone fears God and does his will, he (this one, NASB) listens. — Remember that in this context the expression “hears this one” has to do with the works of God, that is, the miracles performed by Christ. God hears him, that is, works through him. (Ps 34:15-16; Ps 66:18; Pro 15:29).
God hears those who obey him. The Bible does not teach that sinners pray, but that they obey (Mar 16:16; Acts 2:38). Saul of Tarsus was already praying, but Ananias said to him, “Why do you stop? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). Cornelius was already praying (Acts 10:2), but he was ordered to send “men to Joppa, and summon Simon, surnamed Peter; he will speak words to you by which you and your whole household will be saved” (Acts 11:13-14).
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
The cured man continues his argument in this verse by taking the same prayer of the Jews in v. Joh 9:29. We know that God does not hear sinners, “We know that God does not answer the prayers of sinners.” But God does listen to all people, but the idea that is expressed by the verb “listen” is that God “does not answer sinners according to what they ask.” But if anyone fears God and does his will, listen to him, “But he does pay attention to everyone who respects him and does his will.” “Pay attention” gathers the meaning of “he listens to this”. “God-fearing” has the sense of “pious”, “devout”, “religious”, “one who praises him”. The text only speaks of a kind of person “pious and who does what he wants.” The translation must avoid the idea that here we are talking about two kinds of people, the fearful and those who do the will of God: “but he does listen to those who adore and obey him” (TLA), “he only listens those who adore him and do his will” (DHH).
Source: Commentary for Exegesis and Translation
Isaiah 1:15; Ps 34:15; Ps 66:18; Ps 109:7; Job 28:8-9; Job 35:13; pro 15:29.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
CROSS-REFERENCES
b 544 Ps 66:18; Pro 28:9; Isaiah 1:15; Eze 8:18; Mic 3:4; Zech 7:13
c 545 Ps 34:15; Pro 15:29; Ac 10:35