John 16:23
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In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In that day--of the dispensation of the Spirit (as in Joh 14:20). ye shall ask--inquire of me nothing--by reason of the fulness of the Spirit's teaching (Joh 14:26; Joh 16:13; and compare Jo1 2:27).
Open source ↗An answer to their askings is here promised, for their further comfort. Now there are two ways of asking: asking by way of enquiry, which is the asking of the ignorant; and asking by way of request, which is the asking of the indigent. Christ here speaks of both. I. By way of enquiry, they should not need to ask (Joh 16:23): "In that day you shall ask me nothing;" ouk erōtēsete ouden - you shall ask no questions; "you shall have such a clear knowledge of gospel mysteries, by the opening of your understandings, that you shall not need to enquire" (as Heb 8:11, they shall not teach); "you shall have more knowledge on a sudden than hitherto you have had by diligent attendance." They had asked some ignorant questions (as Joh 9:2), some ambitious questions (as Mat 18:1), some distrustful ones (as Mat 19:27), some impertinent ones, (as Joh 21:21), some curious ones (as Act 1:6); but after the Spirit was poured out, nothing of all this. In the story of the apostles' Acts we seldom find them asking questions, as David, Shall I do this? Or, Shall I go thither? For they were constantly under a divine guidance. In that weighty case of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, Peter went, nothing doubting, Act 10:20. Asking questions supposes us at a loss, or at least at a stand, and the best of us have need to ask questions; but we should aim at such a full assurance of understanding that we may not hesitate, but be constantly led in a plain path both of truth and duty. Now for this he gives a reason (Joh 16:25), which plainly refers to this promise, that they should not need to ask questions: "These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs, in such a way as you have thought not so plain and intelligible as you could have wished, but the time cometh when I shall show you plainly, a…
Open source ↗16:23-24 Ask . . . and you will receive: Two notable effects of the resurrection are the joy of understanding and the joy of successful prayer. The disciples would no longer experience the confusion described in 16:16-18.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.
For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?