Charles Ellicott Commentary John 14:22

"Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him, Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" — John 14:22 (ASV)

Judas says to him, not Iscariot.—That he was "not Iscariot" is mentioned to distinguish him beyond all possibility of confusion from the one who had gone out into the darkness and was no longer one of their number (John 13:30). He is commonly identified with "Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus" (compare to the note on Matthew 10:3) and was a brother or son of James (Luke 6:15).

How is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?—The word "manifest" has brought to the mind of Judas, just as the word "see" had to the mind of Philip (John 14:7), thoughts of a visible manifestation like that to Moses (Exodus 33:13; Exodus 33:18), and such as they expected would accompany the advent of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1). But it was contrary to every thought about the Messiah that this manifestation should be to only a few. His reign was to be the judgment of the Gentiles and the establishment of the Theocracy.

The words translated "How is it that...?" literally mean, What has happened that...? The words of our Lord, speaking of His manifestation, take Judas by surprise. He wonders whether anything has occurred to cause what he considers a departure from the Messianic manifestation.