and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
22 And whatsoever we ask These two things are connected, confidence and prayer. As before he shewed that an evil conscience is inconsistent with confidence, so now he declares that none can really pray to God but those who with a pure heart, fear and rightly worship him. The latter follows from the former.
The apostle, having intimated that there may be, even among us, such a privilege as an assurance or sound persuasion of heart towards God, proceeds here, I. To establish the court of conscience, and to assert the authority of it: For, if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things, Jo1 3:20.
Commenting on 1 John 3:20-22
Verse 22. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him. If we are truly his children, and ask in a proper manner. . Comp. . The declaration here made must be understood with these limitations: (1.) that we ask in a proper manner, ; and, (2,) that the thing asked shall be such as will be consistent for God to give; that is, such as...