We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that "worshiper of God" isn't just about attending services, but about actively doing God's will. This implies that true worship isn't a passive state but an ongoing demonstration of obedience, which is the condition for God's attentive ear.
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees, having failed to discredit Jesus by calling Him a sinner, bring the formerly blind man back for a second interrogation. They try to pressure him into denying Jesus, but he boldly defends the miracle and implies they are willfully ignorant and unwilling to believe. He then asserts a widely accepted principle: God only listens to those who truly worship Him and obey His will, implying Jesus must therefore be from God.
The religious leaders in John 9 accuse Jesus of being a 'sinner.' But what did they really mean by that word, and how does it shape the meaning of this verse?
When the Jewish leaders and the formerly blind man use the word 'sinner' in this passage, they're not talking about everyday human imperfection. They're using it in a more severe sense, pointing to someone who flagrantly disregards God's law, someone like a false prophet or an imposter.
This is crucial because the man's argument hinges on this specific understanding. He's not saying God never listens to anyone who has ever sinned. Instead, he's arguing that if Jesus were the kind of 'sinner' (imposter) they claim, God wouldn't have empowered him to perform such an undeniable miracle. The miracle itself testifies that Jesus is not that kind of sinner.
So, when the man says, 'God does not listen to sinners,' he means 'God does not empower deceivers.'
The verse draws a clear line between 'sinners' and 'worshipers.' What does it truly mean to be someone God listens to?
The passage distinguishes between those God doesn't listen to (notorious sinners, imposters) and those He does listen to: 'a worshipper of God and doeth his will.' This isn't about earning favor through perfect behavior, but about a heart posture and action aligned with God's desires.
Ask a follow-up
When these two elements—a sincere heart of worship and obedient action—are present, the promise is clear: God listens.
Understand the original words
hamartōlos · Greek Noun/Adjective
Refers to people who persistently practice evil and live in rebellion against God's law. In this context, it implies those outside of God's favor or covenant relationship.
theosebēs · Greek Noun
One who shows reverence, honor, and adoration toward God, often through acts of devotion and obedience. It implies a life aligned with God's character and requirements.
thelēma · Greek Noun
Divine purpose or command; acting in accordance with the moral laws and specific instructions revealed by God. Obedience is the practical evidence of knowing and fearing God.
This exchange happens during Jesus' ministry, a time of intense scrutiny and opposition from religious authorities who are trying to discredit him. The man's statement reflects a common understanding among many Jews of the time, that God's favor and power are not given to those who deliberately defy Him.
c. 200 BC - 1st century AD
Hellenistic Period and Roman Rule
Judea is under the influence of Greek culture and eventually under Roman political control, creating a complex social and religious environment for Jews.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee and Judea, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples, which challenges the religious establishment.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
During Jesus' ministry, he encounters and heals a man who had been blind from birth, a significant miracle that draws attention and controversy.
c. AD 30-33
The Trial of Jesus
Following the healing of the man born blind, Jesus faces opposition from religious leaders who question his authority and actions, leading to his crucifixion.
c. AD 33
Resurrection and Ascension
Jesus is resurrected from the dead and later ascends into heaven, empowering his followers through the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 40s - 60s
Early Church Growth and Spread
The apostles and early Christians spread the message of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire, facing persecution but establishing numerous communities.
This verse directly supports the idea that God does not hear those who harbor sin in their hearts, aligning with the speaker's assertion that God listens to the righteous, not to sinners.
Proverbs 15:29This proverb echoes the sentiment that the Lord hears the prayers of the righteous but turns away from the wicked, reinforcing the distinction made in John 9:31.
Isaiah 1:15This passage from Isaiah shows God refusing to listen to His people when their hands are full of blood and they continue in sinful practices, mirroring the core idea that God's favor is not with habitual sinners.
1 John 3:22This New Testament passage states that we receive from God whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him, which directly connects to the second half of John 9:31 about God hearing those who do His will.
barnesJohn 9:31: "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."
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 case…
vincentJohn 9:31: "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."
We knowHere the pronoun is not expressed, and the we is not emphatic, like the pronouns in John 9:24, John 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 1 Timothy 2:10. Compounded with Θεός, God, and σέβομαι, to worsh…
The verse highlights that "worshiper of God" isn't just about attending services, but about actively doing God's will. This implies that true worship isn't a passive state but an ongoing demonstration of obedience, which is the condition for God's attentive ear.
The Pharisees, having failed to discredit Jesus by calling Him a sinner, bring the formerly blind man back for a second interrogation. They try to pressure him into denying Jesus, but he boldly defends the miracle and implies they are willfully ignorant and unwilling to believe. He then asserts a widely accepted principle: God only listens to those who truly worship Him and obey His will, implying Jesus must therefore be from God.
The Pharisees, having failed to discredit Jesus by calling Him a sinner, bring the formerly blind man back for a second interrogation. They try to pressure him into denying Jesus, but he boldly defends the miracle and implies they are willfully ignorant and unwilling to believe. He then asserts a widely accepted principle: God only listens to those who truly worship Him and obey His will, implying Jesus must therefore be from God.
"We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." — The verse highlights that "worshiper of God" isn't just about attending services, but about actively doing God's will. This implies that true worship isn't a passive state but an ongoing demonstratio…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026