John 4:23

the hour cometh As before, there cometh an hour. What follows, and it is now here, could not be added in John 4:21. The local worship on Gerizim and Zion must still continue for a while; but there are already a few who are rising above these externals to the spirit of true worship, in which the opposition between Jew and Samaritan disappears.

the true worshippers The same word for -true" as in John 1:9 (see note there); -true" as opposed to what is -spurious" and -unreal." Worship to be genuine, real, and perfect must be offered in spirit and truth.

in spirit This is opposed to all that is carnal, material, and of the earth earthy; -this mountain," the Temple, limitations of time and place. Not that such limitations are wrong; but they are not of the essence of religion, and become wrong when they are mistaken for the essence of religion.

in truth (Omit -in") i.e. in harmony with the Nature and Will of God. In the sphere of intellect, this means recognition of His Presence and Omniscience; in the sphere of action, conformity with His absolute Holiness. -Worship in spirit and truth," therefore, implies prostration of the inmost soul before the Divine Perfection, submission of every thought and feeling to the Divine Will.

for the Father seeketh, &c. Better, for such the Father also seeketh for His worshippers. -Such" is very emphatic; -this is the character which He also desires in His worshippers." The -also" must not be lost. That worship should be -in spirit and truth" is required by the fitness of things: moreover God Himself desires to have it so, and works for this end. Note how three times in succession Christ speaks of God as the Father(John 4:21; John 4:23): perhaps it was quite a new aspect of Him to the woman.