Comment: The man born blind whom Christ healed, gave as part of his reply to his persecutors, the words in the text for today. He was truly appreciative of the goodness of God on him and there is no doubting his courage in standing up to the religious leaders of the Jews. Truly, sin is a very great obstacle to prayer. When one is wicked or loves what is evil, his prayer will never be answered by God. The same thing applies when a people or nation are given to evil inclinations. God declared through Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear…” (Isaiah 59:1-4)

If the prayers of a wicked man are answered, it is not God Almighty that answered it, but, Satan the devil, for God does not help the wicked. (Job 8:20) Even the prayer of the wicked or one who refuses to hear God’s law is an abomination to Him. (Proverbs 28: 9; Compare Proverbs 15: 8) When we run away from sin, God will answer our prayers, so that we may boldly say like King David did: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1.