John 16:24 - Exposition

Hitherto —up to the present period— ye asked ( £ ἠτήσατε , the common word for petition and request made by the inferior to the superior, the man to his Maker) nothing in my Name . The disciples had not comprehended the fullness of that Name of the well-beloved Son, filling their minds with the revelation of God made in it, and feeling it to be the great inducement anti guarantee of acceptable prayer. Ask (continuously, habitually, for this is no longer in aorist, but in the present tense), and ye shall receive ( ἵνα here not relic, but indicates "contemplated result"), that your joy may be fulfilled [ rendered complete and full ] (comp. John 15:11 ; John 15:22 ); the joy of your love to one another and to me may reach its highest expression. There may be reference to their unanimity in the Holy Spirit, the Pentecostal outburst of perfect love which casts out fear.