John 16:25

16:23-27 Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples did not fully understand, but after his resurrection he intended plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and the way to him, through his intercession. And the frequency with which our Lord enforces offering up petitions in his name, shows that the great end of the mediation of Christ is to impress us with a deep sense of our sinfulness, and of the merit and power of his death, whereby we have access to God. And let us ever remember, that to address the Father in the name of Christ, or to address the Son as God dwelling in human nature, and reconciling the world to himself, are the same, as the Father and Son are one.

John 16:25-28 . These things — Though very weighty and important; have I spoken unto you in proverbs — In the obscurity of parables, which have appeared dark and mysterious to you; but the time cometh, &c. — You may comfort yourselves with this thought, that the time is at hand when I shall speak unto you no more in proverbs — No more in that obscure manner; but I shall show you plainly of the Father — Shall, by the teaching of my Spirit, declare to you, in plain terms, the whole counsel of God relating to the erection of his church and the salvation of men. At that day ye shall ask in my name, &c. — I repeat it to you again, that after my ascension you shall offer up all your addresses unto the Father, through my mediation; I say not that I will pray the Father for you — I do not mean that I will solicit the Father in your behalf, as if he were unwilling to bestow on you the blessings you stand in need of; for the Father himself loveth you — In a peculiar manner; and therefore will be always ready to grant your requests, and to watch over you with paternal affection and care; because ye have loved me — With sincerity and fervency; and have believed that I came out from God — As the Messenger of his grace to men; and have accordingly relied on me with such steadfastness, that you have ventured your all upon that belief.

And you have therein acted a very prudent and happy part; for indeed I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world — For purposes of infinite importance to the glory of God and the happiness of the human race; again — Having finished the work I came to do, I leave the world and go to the Father — From whom I came, with whom I shall continually abide, and into whose presence I will shortly conduct you, putting you in possession of a more glorious kingdom than you ever expected, or could expect on earth.

John 16:25 . Another great change would characterize the economy into which they were passing. Instead of dark figurative utterances which only dimly revealed things spiritual, direct and intelligible disclosures regarding the Father would be made to the disciples: ταῦτα ἐν παροιμίαις … ὑμῖν . παροιμία . See John 10:6 ; “dark sayings” or “riddles” expresses what is here meant. It is opposed to παρρησίᾳ , open, plain, easily intelligible, meant to be understood. He does not refer to particular utterances, such as John 15:1 , John 16:21 , etc. but to the reserved character of the whole evening’s conversation, and of all His previous teaching. “The promise is that the reserve imposed by a yet unfinished history, by a manifestation in the flesh, by the incapacity of the hearers, and by their gradual education, will then be succeeded by clear, full, unrestricted information, fitted to create in those who receive it that ‘full assurance of understanding’ which contributes so largely to the ‘full assurance of faith’.” Bernard. περὶ τοῦ πατρός , the Father is the central theme of Christ’s teaching, both while on earth and above.

Proverbs (παροιμίαις) See on parables, Matthew 13:3. He had spoken under figures, as the vine, and the woman in travail. Shall shew (ἀναγγελῶ) Rev., tell. See on John 16:13. The best texts read ἀπαγγελῶ, the original force of which is to bring tidings from (ἀπό) something or someone. Plainly (παῤῥησίᾳ) See on John 7:13.

{7} These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. (7) The Holy Spirit, who was poured upon the apostles after the ascension of Christ, instructed both them in all the central mysteries and secrets of our salvation, and also the Church by them, and he will also instruct the Church until the end of the world.

That by proverbs is meant any dark sayings, is plain from the opposition in the text of that term plainly. Christ had spoken, though not all things, yet many things to them in dark phrases, and under many figurative expressions; but (saith he) the time cometh, when I shall show you plainly of the Father: that time is either Christ’s second coming, or after the pouring out of the Spirit, which latter is most probably what our Saviour doth here intend, because of those great measures of knowledge which at and after that time were given out. He had before given to his disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, far beyond others, Matthew 13:11 ; but yet it appears by John 14:1-6 , and many other texts, that they had a very confused and imperfect knowledge of the Trinity, and Christ’s oneness with the Father, and their mutual personal relation one to another.

John 16:25 . Ἐν παροιμίαις , in more covert words, in somewhat dark sayings ) In antithesis to παῤῥησίᾳ , openly, plainly , without a veil: πάροιμος , is one who is somewhere about the way ( οἴμη ), but not in the way , whence παροιμία (ch. John 10:6 ) is a mode of speaking whereby is meant not the literal thing, which the words express to the ear, but yet something not unlike it (from which notion also the term παραβολὴ , משל , is formed). Such was that expression, μικρὸν , a little while; John 16:16 , whereupon the disciples said, What is this? John 16:18 .— περὶ , concerning) The same particle occurs in the following verse. I shall show you concerning the Father, and in John 16:26 , I will pray (request) the Father concerning (for) you, are sweetly correlative.

25–33 . Summary and conclusion of these discourses 25 . These things ] As in John 16:1 there is some uncertainty as to how much is included. Some refer ‘these things’ to John 16:19-24 ; others to John 15:1 to John 16:24 . Perhaps even the latter is too narrow a limit. The words can apply to all Christ’s teaching, of which there was much which the multitudes were not allowed ( Matthew 13:11 ) and the Apostles were not able ( John 2:22 ) to understand at the time. in proverbs ] Better, in allegories (see on John 10:6 ). but the time cometh ] Better, there cometh an hour ( John 4:21 ; John 4:23 , John 5:25 , John 16:2 ; John 16:32 ). Omit ‘but’ with the best authorities. shew ] Or, declare , as in John 16:13-15 . The best MSS. give a different compound of the same verb as is used in John 16:13-15 , but the difference cannot well be marked in English. plainly ] Frankly, without reserve (see on John 7:4 and comp. John 7:13 ; John 7:26 , John 10:24 , John 11:14 ; John 11:54 , John 18:20 ).

(25) These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs. —Better, as in the margin, . . . in parables. So in the second clause of the verse and in John 16:29 . (Comp. Note on John 10:6 .) “These things” refers specially to what He had just said from John 16:16 onwards. There is a sense in which it is necessarily true of all Christ’s teaching, and of all teaching in words. They are but parables until the truth which they contain has been thought out by the man that hears them. For the disciples much of Christ’s teaching remained in a parabolic form, until the Spirit brought all things which He had said to the mind, and quickened their minds so that they could grasp its meaning. (Comp. e.g., John 2:20-22 .) But the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs.—For “proverbs,” read parables, as in last verse. For the time referred to, comp. John 16:16; John 16:23. In that time He will be present with them in the Advocate, and will no longer need parables or words, but will, to the depth of their spirit, communicate to them in all fulness and plainness the eternal truth of the Father (John 16:13 et seq.).

In proverbs - In a manner that appears obscure, enigmatical, and difficult to be understood. It is worthy of remark, that though his declarations in these chapters about his death and resurrection appear to us to be plain, yet to the apostles, filled with Jewish prejudices, and unwilling to believe that he was about to die, they would appear exceedingly obscure and perplexed. The plainest declarations to them on the subject would appear to be involved in mystery. The time cometh - This refers, doubtless, to the time after his ascension to heaven, when he would send the Holy Spirit to teach them the great truths of religion. It does not appear that he himself, after his resurrection, gave them any more clear or full instruction than he had done before. I shall show you plainly - As Jesus said that he would send the Holy Spirit John 16:7, and as he came to carry forward the work of Christ, so it may be said that the teachings of the Holy Spirit were the teachings of Christ himself. Of the Father - Concerning the will and plan of the Father; particularly his plan in the establishment and spread of the Christian religion, and in organizing the church. See Acts 10.