John 16:23 - Exposition

And in that day —that long and blessed period beginning at the Resurrection with your vision of me, and being ever more and more enhanced in blessedness by your intense conviction that "I am with you" and "see you," though you see me not—in that day ye shall put me no question, as in the old method of confidential intercourse of man with man. That period passes away with this solemn night. Not in this way will the intercourse be carried forward. "That day" started from Easter morning, and it is not yet noon. Perhaps one reason for this statement is that the illumination of the Spirit would render such questioning unnecessary, but a more certain explanation is that they would themselves stand in new relations with the Father through him . Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever £ thing ye shall ask ( αἰτήσητε ) the Father, he will give it you in my Name . The modern editors, by placing the ἐν τῷ ονόματί μου ("in my Name") after δώσει ὑμῖν , or as Tischendorf (8th edit.), in a clause commencing with δώσει , suggest that in this particular clause the Name of Christ is not only the medium by which the disciples approach the Father (which is obvious enough from John 16:24 ), but the manifestation and ministry by which not only is the prayer heard, but the gift or answer bestowed. As sentence after sentence follows, the disciples are led up to the heart of the Father himself.