Certainly these were new and bold teachings that Jesus gave on prayer, and they were remembered as such by John. They are the basis of his extraordinary confidence. But the Christian is not to suppose that God will grant just anything he might happen to pray for, however foolish or sinful it may be, just because he prays for it. He must pray according to God’s will. In prayer the Christian can be absolutely certain that God hears and answers his requests so that whatever he asks he obtains, but with this qualification: that he prays not according to his own sinful wishes but rather according to what an all-wise, infinite, and holy God desires.
This, interestingly enough, is found in all the verses that speak so firmly about the Christian’s right to be confident in prayer. Earlier, in the third chapter, John has said nearly the same thing as he does in this closing passage: “If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive of him” (3:21-22). But there is a qualification there also, for the verses immediately go on to add, “because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (v. 22). Similarly, in Jesus’ statements about prayer qualifications are also added to the effect that we must pray “in my [that is, Christ’s] name.” Jesus says, “Abide in me.” We are told that Christ’s “words” must “abide” in the believer.
This says a great deal about the nature of prayer, of course. Probably in the average person’s mind prayer is thought of primarily as that means by which God’s will is changed or at least enlarged to include the concerns of the one praying. According to these verses prayer is not so much getting God to pay attention to our requests as it is getting our requests in line with His perfect and desirable will for us. It is learning to think God’s thoughts after Him and to desire His desires.
Having indicated the nature of true prayer and having stated the confidence in prayer which every Christian should possess, John now moves on to the content of prayer in answer to the question: What requests should the believer bring before God? A first response to that question is most always personal, which indicates our own limited understanding of this privilege. We think of our needs for food and clothing, a good job (or a better one), our desire for a husband or a wife, the elimination of a vexing problem, and other things. In other words, we think of ourselves. It is somewhat of a surprise, therefore, to find that, first of all, John thinks not of himself but of others and that, as a result, his first specific example of prayer is intercession.
This, too, says a great deal about prayer. For it tells us that the privilege of prayer should not lead us into a preoccupation with our own affairs, as though prayer were a blank check drawn on the bank of heaven given to us so that heaven’s resources can be spent purely on our own needs or pleasure. Prayer implies responsibility, and part of that responsibility is intercession for others. Do others have needs? Then we should pray for them. The one who truly understands prayer and who prays according to the will of God will pray for others, just as in material ways he will also strive to show love practically (3:17-18).