MacArthur commentary on Jn 16.27

John MacArthur, "One of the horrendous falsehoods of Roman Catholicism is that God is indifferent and harsh, Jesus is committed to justice, but Mary is compassionate, as are the lesser saints. Thus, to appeal to them is best. That is a lie, since believers have direct access to their Father, who loves them because they are in Jesus Christ (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Jn+4%3A10">1 John 4:10</a>,<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Jn+4%3A19">19</a>), who also loves them perfectly (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+13%3A1">John 13:1</a>). According to Paul it is "in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him... for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eph+3%3A11-12">Eph.3:11-12</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eph+2%3A18">2:18</a>).The writer of Hebrews exhorted his readers,

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Heb+4%3A14-16">Heb. 4:14-16</a>)

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Heb+10%3A19-22">Heb. 10:19-22</a>)

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The tearing of the veil in front of the Holy of Holies (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+27%3A51">Matt. 27:51</a>) symbolized that the way into God's presence stands open through the death of Christ.
The biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Pe+2%3A9">1 Peter 2:9</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+1%3A6">Rev. 1:6</a>) eliminates the need to go through intermediaries—such as Mary, the saints, or human priests—to obtain access to the Father. The great Reformer Martin Luther assaulted the Roman counterfeit when he wrote, "It says in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Pe+2%3A9">1 Peter 2:9</a>, 'Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, and a priestly kingdom.' It follows that all of us who are Christians are also priests" ("The Pagan Servitude of the Church," in John Dillenberger.Mzr-tin Luther: Selections from His Writings [Garden City, N.Y: Anchor, 1961], 345). That Christians have direct priestly access to the Father does not, however, obviate the need for Christ's intercession on their behalf as their Great High Priest (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+53%3A12">Isa. 53:12</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+8%3A34">Rom. 8:34</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Heb+7%3A25">Heb. 7:25</a>; cf. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Jn+2%3A1-2">1 John 2:1-2</a>).
As noted above, the Father's motive for allowing believers access to Him is that He loves them. Loves translates a form of the verb phileō, which is the love of deep, caring affection. It is the love of emotion, which is consistent with agapaō, which is the love of the will. Phileō describes the love of parents for their children and children for their parents (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+10%3A37">Matt. 10:37</a>) and of friends for each other (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+11%3A3">John 11:3</a>,<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+11%3A36">36</a>). God loves (agapaō) sinners (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+3%3A16">John 3:16</a>), but expresses a special, fatherly affection (phileō) for His children—so much so that He sent His Son to die as the sacrifice for their sins (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+5%3A8">Rom. 5:8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Jn+4%3A9-10">1 John 4:9-10</a>). Because of that they can boldly and fearlessly enter His presence in complete confidence, as children for whom He cares deeply (cf. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+8%3A15">Rom. 8:15</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Gal+4%3A6">Gal. 4:6</a>)."

MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary – John 12-21.