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John 16:24
ESV Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
NIV Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
NASB Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
CSB Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
NLT You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
KJV Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

What does John 16:24 mean?

This is part of a conversation Jesus has on the night of His arrest (John 13:1–5; 18:1–3). Prior to this moment, He has given His followers instructions on how to pray, including the well-known formula often referred to as "The Lord's Prayer" (Matthew 6:9–13). Until this night, in this conversation (John 14:13–14; 15:16), Jesus has not mentioned the idea of praying in His name, specifically.

This statement, from Jesus, officially endorses the idea of praying in His name: evoking His authority and His will in making requests known to God. That doesn't suggest God automatically grants every demand attached to the phrase "in the name of Jesus." Jesus makes this promise to those who pray "in" His name, not merely those who "use" His name. To pray "in" the name of Christ means doing so in harmony with His will and His nature. Not everything we want is what God wants for us. A major component of faith is recognizing that He sees and knows more than we do and has our eternally-best interests at heart (Matthew 7:9–11).

Christ encourages His followers to seek God, by making requests and desires known to God. This echoes His teaching from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:7–8). Within that same context, those who sincerely seek the will of God will experience the intense joy of faith (John 16:22; Acts 13:52).
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