In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is making a profound shift in how disciples will relate to God. Before, they directly questioned Him. Afterward, the indwelling Spirit will bring such deep understanding that they won't need to ask Jesus clarifying questions; instead, they'll directly petition the Father in Jesus' name, a sure path to receiving answers.
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is speaking to his disciples in the upper room, the night before his crucifixion. He's preparing them for his departure, explaining that while they will grieve for a time, their sorrow will turn into immense joy when he returns to them spiritually. He's about to send the Holy Spirit, who will act as their Comforter and guide, ensuring they understand everything and have direct access to God the Father.
Jesus uses two different words for 'ask' in just one verse. What's the difference, and why does it matter for how we pray?
In John 16:23, Jesus makes a fascinating distinction. He says, 'In that day you will ask me nothing.' The Greek word here ('erotao') often means to inquire or question. Think about the disciples' constant questions during Jesus' ministry – 'What do you mean by this?' or 'Where are you going?' They were seeking clarification because they didn't fully understand.
But then Jesus switches to a different word ('aiteo') when he says, 'whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.' This word is about making a request, a petition. After the Holy Spirit comes, the disciples won't be stuck asking basic questions. Instead, they'll be empowered to approach the Father with confidence, making specific requests based on the truth revealed by the Spirit. It’s a shift from confusion to clear petition.
Jesus tells us to ask the Father 'in my name.' What does that really mean? Is it just a Christian sign-off?
Jesus' instruction to pray 'in my name' is incredibly significant. It’s not just a magical phrase to tack onto the end of a prayer. It means approaching the Father with the full backing and authority of Jesus himself.
Think of it like this: When you ask for something in someone else's name, you're essentially saying, 'I'm acting with their permission and on their behalf.' When we pray in Jesus' name, we are coming to the Father:
Ask a follow-up
This is why the Father gives what is asked: it's granted because of who Jesus is and what He has done. The Cambridge commentary notes that the answer is given 'in virtue of His name,' meaning because of His power and merit.
Jesus promises that the Father 'will give it to you.' What kind of giving is this, and what's the ultimate goal?
The promise that the Father 'will give it to you' is astounding! It’s not a hesitant or grudging giving. The scholars note that the Father gives freely, abundantly, and in response to prayers offered through Jesus' authority. This giving isn't just about getting what we want; it has a purpose.
Calvin points out that Jesus links this answered prayer directly to the disciples' joy. He had just used the analogy of a woman in labor whose sorrow is replaced by overwhelming joy at childbirth. Similarly, the sorrow the disciples faced would eventually give way to a deep, lasting joy through answered prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Meyer also highlights that the aim is for their joy 'to be filled up,' meaning to be complete and lacking nothing.
So, the Father’s giving isn’t just transactional; it’s transformational. It’s meant to fill us with a joy that transcends our circumstances, a joy rooted in His abundant generosity through Christ.
Understand the original words
aiteō · Greek Verb
To petition, request, or seek something from God. In the context of the New Testament, it signifies seeking God's will and provision, often implying a relationship of dependence and faith.
en tō onomati mou · Greek Noun
A designation representing the character, authority, nature, and reputation of a person. Praying 'in Jesus' name' means praying according to His authority, through His mediation, and in alignment with His will.
This verse speaks to the profound shift that occurred after Jesus' resurrection and ascension. The disciples, who previously relied on Jesus for direct answers and explanations, would soon receive the Holy Spirit. This divine presence would illuminate their understanding, transforming their need to 'ask questions' of Jesus into a new ability to 'ask the Father' directly in Jesus' name.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus is crucified and laid in a tomb, causing immense sorrow and confusion for his disciples.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Resurrection
Jesus rises from the dead, appearing to his disciples over a period of forty days.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ascension
Jesus ascends into heaven, leaving his disciples to await the promised Holy Spirit.
c. AD 30 - AD 33
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples at Pentecost, empowering them and ushering in a new era of understanding and boldness.
This passage directly echoes John 16:23 by assuring believers that if we ask anything according to God's will, He hears us, reinforcing the confidence in prayer offered in Jesus' name.
Jeremiah 31:34This Old Testament prophecy anticipates a new covenant where God's law will be written on hearts, leading to a deep, innate knowledge of God, which aligns with Jesus' promise that the disciples will no longer need to ask Him questions once the Spirit illuminates them.
Matthew 7:7-8Jesus' earlier teaching on prayer, 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,' provides a foundational promise of answered prayer that John 16:23 expands upon by specifying prayer 'in my name' to the Father.
John 14:13-14These verses directly precede John 16:23, establishing the principle that asking in Jesus' name is how the Father is glorified, setting the stage for the promise that the Father will give whatever is asked in that name.
Romans 8:26This passage speaks of the Holy Spirit helping us in our weakness and interceding for us with groanings too deep for words, which complements Jesus' promise that when the disciples can no longer ask Him directly, the Father will answer their prayers offered in Jesus' name through the Spirit's enabling.
vincentJohn 16:23: "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."
Ye shall ask (ἐρωτήσετε)Or, as Rev., in margin, ask - question. To question is the primary meaning of the verb, from which it runs into the more general sense of request, beseech. So Mark 7:26; Luke 4:38; John 17:15, etc. Here the meaning is, ye shall ask me no question (compare John 16:19, where the same verb is used). Compare Matthew 16:1…
cambridgeJohn 16:23: "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."
23 . in that day ] Not the forty days of His bodily presence between the Resurrection and the Ascension, but the many days of His spiritual presence from Pentecost onwards. Comp. John 16:26 and John 14:20 . ye shall ask me nothing ] The Greek is as ambiguous as the English. It is the same verb ( erôtân ) as is used in John 16:19 , and may mea…
Jesus is making a profound shift in how disciples will relate to God. Before, they directly questioned Him. Afterward, the indwelling Spirit will bring such deep understanding that they won't need to ask Jesus clarifying questions; instead, they'll directly petition the Father in Jesus' name, a sure path to receiving answers.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples in the upper room, the night before his crucifixion. He's preparing them for his departure, explaining that while they will grieve for a time, their sorrow will turn into immense joy when he returns to them spiritually. He's about to send the Holy Spirit, who will act as their Comforter and guide, ensuring they understand everything and have direct access to God the Father.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples in the upper room, the night before his crucifixion. He's preparing them for his departure, explaining that while they will grieve for a time, their sorrow will turn into immense joy when he returns to them spiritually. He's about to send the Holy Spirit, who will act as their Comforter and guide, ensuring they understand everything and have direct access to God the Father.
"In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." — Jesus is making a profound shift in how disciples will relate to God. Before, they directly questioned Him. Afterward, the indwelling Spirit will bring such deep understanding that they won't need…
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Last reviewed October 2026