1 John 5:14-17 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
V14 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” The Greek word for confidence is (G3954) παῤῥησία parrhēsía, which means (Vine) “the absence of fear in speaking boldly; hence, confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, without any connection necessarily with speech.” Let us pray for our godly requests. If it is God’s will it will happen. God’s will is foremost, because He is the King of all kings and every decision is in wisdom, love, and holiness. He hears us means He answers our prayer. We yield to His will. He never yields to our will. He is kind and gracious and will give us what is best. Sometimes He does grant a request, but it comes with consequences (Psalm 106:13-15, Numbers 11:31-34, and Psalm 78:29-31).
V15 “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” He is pleased to give good things to us who believe. Compare Proverbs 15:29. Our part is to ask (James 4:2-3). After asking, we must believe that He is able to grant our petition, so we trust that in His time, He will answer. The difference between faith and trust is this. If I am going to have surgery needing general anesthesia, then when the anesthesiologist or anesthetist asks you if you believe he/she can do this safely. What will you answer? If yes, then you have faith. When you are given the anesthesia, then you trust him/her. Refusal to go under anesthesia would prove that person does not trust but only believes. After we pray, we wait until He answers. God always answers our prayers. The answer may be yes, yes but wait, or no. We must yield ourselves to His will.
V16 “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” How do we approach and help our brother who sins? If it is not a death penalty sin, then we pray FOR them. We need to point out their error by Scripture primarily and the help of God’s grace. Hopefully they repent. See King David 2 Samuel 12: 7 with 2 Samuel 12:13-14.
V17 “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.” God is the standard of what is right or wrong. His laws are the standard He measures our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. If we are in compliance, then all is well. If not, then we are unrighteous. He has given us believers the Law of Christ. Breaking God’s laws is sin. Some sins are death penalty sins, and some are not.
(Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible) “We ought to pray for others, as well as for ourselves. There are sins that war against spiritual life in the soul, and the life above. We cannot pray that the sins of the impenitent and unbelieving should, while they are such, be forgiven them; or that mercy, which supposes the forgiveness of sins, should be granted to them, while they willfully continue such. But we may pray for their repentance, for their being enriched with faith in Christ, and thereupon for all other saving mercies. We should pray for others, as well as for ourselves, beseeching the Lord to pardon and recover the fallen, as well as to relieve the tempted and afflicted. And let us be truly thankful that no sin, of which any one truly repents, is unto death.”
We learn:
• God answers prayers that are in accordance with His will.
• To pray for our brother or sister who has sinned.
• Let us be careful in our lives, too, to avoid sin as much as possible.