If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
If any man see - on any particular occasion х ide (G2396), aorist].
His brother - a fellow-Christian.
Sin - in the act, and continuing in the sin: present.
Not unto death - provided it is not unto death.
He shall give. The asker shall be the means, by intercessory prayer, of God giving life to the sinning brother. Kindly reproof ought to accompany intercessions. Life was being forfeited by the sinning brother, when the believer's intercession obtained its restoration.
For them ... Resuming the proviso, 'shall give life,' I say, to - i:e., obtain life 'for (in the case of) them that sin not unto death.'
I do not say that he shall pray for it. х Erooteesee (G2065), "pray," means a REQUEST as of one on an equality, or at least on terms of familiarity, with him from whom the favour is sought.] 'The Christian intercessor shall not assume the authority which would be implied in making request for a sinner who has sinned the sin unto death (1 Samuel 15:35; 1 Samuel 16:1; Mark 3:29), that it might be forgiven him' (Trench, 'Synonyms of the New Testament'). Compare Deuteronomy 3:26. х Aiteoo (G154), 'ask,' implies the humble petition of an inferior: our Lord never uses it, but always uses erootaoo (G2065), 'request.'] Martha, from ignorance, once uses "ask" in His case (John 11:22). 'Asking,' for a brother sinner not unto death, is a humble petition in consonance with God's will. To 'request' for a sin unto death (intercede authoritatively for it, as though we were more merciful than God) savours of presumption; prescribing to God in what lies out of the bounds of brotherly yearning (because one sinning unto death is thereby demonstrated not to be truly a brother, 1 John 2:19), how He shall inflict and withhold His righteous judgments. Jesus Himself intercedes, not for the world which hardens itself in unbelief, but for those given to Him out of the world (John 17:9).