If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you.
my.
John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
ye shall.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
and My words remain in you
The phrase highlights the necessity of internalizing Jesus' teachings. His words are not merely to be heard but to be lived out and cherished. This echoes the Jewish tradition of meditating on God's law day and night (Psalm 1:2). The words of Jesus are life-giving and transformative, as seen in John 6:63, where Jesus states that His words are spirit and life. The indwelling of His words implies a deep understanding and obedience to His teachings, which is essential for effective prayer and spiritual growth.
ask whatever you wish
This promise of answered prayer is contingent upon the prior conditions of abiding in Christ and His words abiding in the believer. It reflects the alignment of the believer's will with God's will, as seen in 1 John 5:14-15, where confidence in prayer is linked to asking according to God's will. The cultural context of the time emphasized the importance of a disciple's alignment with their teacher's teachings and mission, which is mirrored in the relationship between Jesus and His followers.
and it will be done for you
This assurance of answered prayer underscores the power and faithfulness of God. It is not a blanket promise for any request but is tied to the believer's relationship with Christ and alignment with His purposes. The historical context of Jesus' ministry shows that His miracles and teachings were always in accordance with God's will and plan. This promise is a continuation of the theme of divine provision and faithfulness found throughout Scripture, such as in Matthew 7:7-11, where Jesus encourages His followers to ask, seek, and knock with the assurance of receiving from a loving Father.
Jesus opens with a condition, not a suggestion. To “remain” (abide) means to stay closely, continuously connected to Him. Scripture paints this connection as:
• Ongoing fellowship (John 15:4–5: “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you… apart from Me you can do nothing.”)
• A settled, lifelong posture (1 John 2:24; Colossians 2:6-7).
When believers live in moment-by-moment dependence on Christ, His life flows through them like sap through a vine, producing real fruit.
The second condition anchors the first. Christ’s words—everything He teaches—must lodge in mind, heart, and will. That happens through:
• Regular intake (Colossians 3:16; Joshua 1:8).
• Meditation and obedience (Psalm 1:2–3; Luke 11:28).
• Allowing Scripture to shape thinking, desires, and choices until His voice becomes the controlling influence.
With the two conditions met, prayer moves into astonishing territory. Because the believer’s desires have been shaped by Christ and His Word, “whatever you wish” now aligns with God’s will. Compare:
• Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you.”
• 1 John 5:14 “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
This is not a blank check for selfish requests; it is an invitation to partner with the Lord in accomplishing His purposes.
God pledges to act. His power backs the promise:
• John 14:13-14 “I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
• Mark 11:24 “Believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
• Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”
When prayers spring from a life rooted in Christ and saturated with His Word, the Father delights to answer, demonstrating His glory and advancing His kingdom.
John 15:7 establishes a two-fold condition—remaining in Christ and letting His words remain in us—before unveiling an incredible promise of answered prayer. Abiding fellowship plus Scripture-shaped desires equals prayers God is eager to fulfill. Live close to Jesus, let His Word dwell richly, then pray with bold confidence; heaven stands ready to respond.
(7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you . . .--He is now passing from the figure, which recurs again only in John 15:8; John 15:16. We should have expected here, "and I abide in you" (John 15:4); but His abiding in them necessarily accompanies their abiding in Him. The abiding of His words in them is the means by which, and the proof that they do abide in Him. (Comp. John 14:15; John 14:23-24.)Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.--The reading is not certain, but the first verb should probably be imperative, "Ask what ye will . . ." The promise in all its width is the same as that in John 14:13-14 (see Note there), and it is attended by the same condition, for they who abide in Christ, and in whom Christ's words abide, cannot pray otherwise than in His name. . . .
Verse 7. - In this verse he returns once more on the principle of union with himself, and of what will come out of it. The disciples may be sorely distressed at this possible doom, for whatever may be the lot of those who do not obey the gospel and are ignorant of the Law of God, the curse here uttered fails heavily upon those who have been once enlightened, etc., and have apostatized (Hebrews 6:4-6). The anxiety of the apostles ]s grievous, and they desire deliverance from this doom. And our Lord next unfolds the principle of prayer which laid such hold on the mind of the Apostle John: If ye abide in me (and then, instead of adding, "And I abide in you," he says); and my words abide in you; i.e. if my teaching so abide with you as to control your thoughts and ideas, remain in you as your guide and inspiration, then ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done to you. A timid interpretation of this promise limits the "whatsoever" to deeds of service in the kingdom of God, and fears, with Augustine, to trust the sanctified will of the believer. But in such harmony with Christ as these words supply, all the conditions of acceptable prayer are present. The believer in Christ, full of his words, evermore consciously realizing union with Christ, charged with the thoughts, burning with the purposes, filled with words of Jesus, will have no will that is not in harmony with the Divine will. Then faith is possible in the fulfillment of his own desire, and prayer becomes a prophecy and pledge of the answer. The apostle, after many years of pondering and of putting these principles into practice, confirms the truth of them (1 John 5:14-16). This is the true philosophy of prayer. The psalmist had gone a long way in the same direction (Psalm 37:4, "Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee thy heart's desire").