John 16:25 (WEB)

Passage

I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.

Nearby Context

John 16:23 “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

John 16:24 Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

John 16:25 I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.

John 16:26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you,

John 16:27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "spoken", "things", "figures", "speech", "time", "coming", and "speak". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "spoken" and "things", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 24's "Until now you have asked nothing in..." into verse 26's "In that day you will ask in...", so "spoken" and "things" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "spoken" and "things" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.