An Examination of Justice and Mercy
The question of whether the Almighty God lends an ear to the supplications of one who remains unregenerate—the “sinner”—is not merely an academic query, but a matter of profound spiritual consequence. It demands a precise, scriptural answer that distinguishes between the prayer of confession for salvation and the prayer of a life deliberately lived in rebellion. Scripture makes a clear distinction that honours both God’s infinite mercy and His unyielding holiness.
The Standard of Holy Displeasure
The Word of God is uncompromising: the heart and ways of a wicked person are an abomination unto the Lord, and this naturally affects the reception of their requests. A person who consciously rejects the offered sacrifice of Christ and persists in willful sin stands in opposition to the very nature of God.
The prophet Isaiah declares the divine stance with terrifying clarity:
“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 59:1-2, KJV)
Similarly, the Psalmist confirms this principle of righteous judgment:
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Psalm 66:18, KJV)
The New Testament confirms this stern truth, citing the example of the man born blind who had his sight restored by Jesus:
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” (John 9:31, KJV)
This passage does not suggest that God is unaware of the sinner’s utterance, but that the kind of prayer God formally accepts and answers is restricted to those whose lives are surrendered to His will. The general, self-serving, or casually-offered prayer of the unrepentant individual is thus not a prayer of faith that pleases God, but an utterance that falls upon an ear turned away by righteous indignation.
The Prayer He Will Never Refuse: The Cry for Mercy
Yet, the doctrine of separation is not one of absolute exclusion, but of moral condition. There is one pivotal exception where the ear of God is eternally attentive, and that is the prayer of repentance. When the sinner turns from their sin, not seeking prosperity or comfort in their rebellion, but seeking forgiveness and deliverance from the guilt and power of sin itself, the Lord is ever ready to hear.
This is the great, costly grace revealed through the sacrifice of Christ. The moment the sinner’s heart breaks under the weight of sin and they cry out for the cleansing blood of the Lamb, the barrier of iniquity is removed. The publican who merely cried, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” (Luke 18:13, KJV) was justified, while the self-righteous Pharisee was not.
The promise is universal for this kind of prayer:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13, KJV)
The prayer of a sinner seeking eternal salvation is the very work of the Holy Spirit leading them to the Father. This is not a prayer offered from a position of arrogance, but from a posture of abject spiritual poverty. In this specific and vital case, God not only hears the prayer, but actively orchestrates the circumstances for it to be offered and answered.
The Works of Common Providence
Furthermore, we must distinguish between the formal reception of prayer and God’s common providence. God often grants the petitions of all men—the righteous and the wicked—in matters of earthly provision or common blessing, not because their prayer is accepted as righteous worship, but because of His inherent goodness and long-suffering. He is “kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35, KJV).
However, such temporal blessings are often a form of “goodness… [that] leadeth thee to repentance” (Romans 2:4, KJV), not an endorsement of the wicked man’s relationship with Him. The ultimate truth remains: the prayers that effect spiritual change, gain favor, and unlock the fullness of God’s power are reserved for those who have first been reconciled to God by placing their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
The ear of the Sovereign God is indeed open to all, but the kind of request that receives a favorable and eternal answer is only that which is offered by a heart broken over sin and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. The unrepentant heart receives silence; the repentant heart receives salvation.