Does God Hear the Prayer of Sinners?

Sinners Forgiven by the Blood of Christ

Under the new covenant of Christ that began upon the death of Christ, those that are "in Christ" have their sins forgiven through the blood of Christ (see Lesson 1).  As we just saw, the Holy Spirit is given as a helper to those who are in Christ...and the Spirit along with Jesus intercedes in their prayers.  Even though Jesus' disciples may never fully understand how to pray as they should, Jesus and the Spirit speak to God on their behalf:

And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words... Romans 8:26 (NAS)

...Christ Jesus...also intercedes for us. Romans 8:34

Certainly, it is critically important to our prayer life that we are first made righteous by the blood of Jesus:

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16b (NAS)

But what about people who have not yet had their sins forgiven?  Does God hear their prayers?

Others:  Rebellious or Repenting?

Following are some examples of God's dealings with the Israelites (God's chosen people...also called the Jews) prior to the new covenant of Christ:

Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul. ¹⁷ I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. ¹⁸ If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear; ¹⁹ But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. ²⁰ Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His lovingkindness from me. Psalm 66:16-20 (NAS)

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. ² But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. ³ For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken falsehood, your tongue mutters wickedness. Isaiah 59:1-3 (NAS)

And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim. ¹⁶ "As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you. Jeremiah 7:15-16 (NAS)

"And they made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. ¹³ "And it came about that just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts; Zechariah 7:12-13 (NAS)

"So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. ¹⁶ "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, ¹⁷ Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow. ¹⁸ "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. ¹⁹ "If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; ²⁰ "But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 1:15-20 (NAS)

Question:

If you were one of the Israelites being spoken to in the scriptures above...in what instances would God choose not to hear your prayers? (give the best answer)

1. If I regard or cherish wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.

2. If my hands are defiled with blood and iniquity and my lips have spoken falsehood and wickedness, these iniquities will make a separation between me and God...these sins of mine will hide His face from me so that He will not hear.

3. If the wickedness that I do is such that God casts me out of His sight, do not pray for me...for God will not hear you.

4. If God calls me and I do not listen...when I call, God will not listen.

5. If I do not turn and wash myself...make myself clean...remove the evil of my deeds from God's sight.  If I do not cease to do evil.

6. All of the above.