God heareth not sinners i.e. 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.

a worshipper of God Or, God-fearing, religious. The word occurs nowhere else in N.T. The man supposes that miracles must be answers to prayer. Only good men can gain such answers to prayer. Only a very good man could gain such an unprecedented answer as this.

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