In that day ye shall ask me nothing
Meaning, not the whole Gospel dispensation, so often called, in
prophetic language, "that day"; and is, in the New Testament,
opposed to the night of Jewish and Gentile darkness; and, in
comparison of the former dispensation, is a time of great
spiritual light and knowledge: nor the latter part of that day,
when there will be no night of darkness and desertion, of error
and security, of affliction and persecution, with the church;
when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord;
when all the children of God shall be taught of him, and there
will be no need to say, know the Lord, for all shall know him,
from the least to the greatest: nor the day of judgment, which,
by way of emphasis, is so frequently called "that day": nor the
state of ultimate happiness, the everlasting day of glory; when
all imperfections shall be done away, when saints will know, as
they are known, and see Jesus as he is, and need not ask any
questions about him: but the time when Christ, and his apostles,
should meet again, and see each other's faces with joy and
pleasure, is meant; and the time following thereon, especially
the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured down upon them,
and, according to his promise, came to them, taught them all
things, and led them into all truth. This asking is not to be
understood of asking in prayer; for it appears, by what follows,
that they should ask in his name then, and he encourages to it;
but of asking him questions, and that not of any sort; for it is
certain, that, within this time, they did ask many things. Peter
asked what John, the beloved disciple, should do; and they all
asked him, a little before his ascension, whether he would, at
that time, restore again the kingdom to Israel; but it is to be
restrained to such things they had been, or were, desirous of
asking him; such as, whither goest thou? show us the Father? how
is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the
world? and more especially these last questions, they greatly
desired to put to him, what is this, "a little while and ye shall
not see me?" and what is this, "a little while and ye shall see
me?" and what is the meaning of these words, "because I go to the
Father?" ( John 16:17 ) . Now our
Lord intimates, that at this time all these things would be so
clear and evident to them, that they should ask him no questions
about them. But he adds,
verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the
Father
in my name, he will give it you.
Asking here signifies prayer, and a different word is here used
than before. The object of prayer is the Father, though not to
the exclusion of the Son and Spirit, who were both separately, or
in conjunction with the Father, prayed unto after this; see (
Acts 7:59 ) (
22:16 ) (
2
Thessalonians 3:5 ) ( Romans 1:7 ) ( 1
Corinthians 1:2 1
Corinthians 1:3 ) ( Revelation
1:4 Revelation
1:5 ) . The medium of access to the Father is the name of
Christ; he is the Mediator between God and man, the way of access
unto him; whatever is asked, is to be asked on account of his
blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, and then there is no doubt
of success; whatever is asked will be given; his blood within the
vail speaks loud for every blessing; his righteousness, God is
always pleased with; his sacrifice is a sweet smelling savour:
his mediation is powerful; and his name is always prevalent.