THE SAMARITAN WOMAN 1-42. Christ in Samaria. The ministry in Samaria is recorded because it is the author's design to exhibit Christ as the Saviour, not only of Israel, but of the world (John 4:42). The Samaritans were mainly an alien race, descended from the colonists planted in the land by the As... [ Continue Reading ]
The Pharisees had been hostile to John's ministry; they were likely to be more so to the more successful ministry of Jesus. Our Lord, therefore, left Judæa, the chief centre of Pharisaism, to avoid a rupture. 2. Our Lord did not baptise, because it was His work to baptise with the Holy Ghost (John 1... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST NEEDS GO THROUGH] Jesus had just heard that Herod Antipas had cast John into prison (Matthew 4:12). To escape this fate, He avoided Peræa, the seat of Herod's power, and passed through Samaria.... [ Continue Reading ]
SYCHAR] now 'Askar, near Shechem. Jacob's well still retains its name. THE PARCEL OF GROUND, etc.] This is a Samaritan tradition, not expressly authorised by the OT., but based on a comparison of Genesis 33:19 with Genesis 48:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS] i.e. wearied as He was. For Christ's subjection to human infirmity, see also John 11:35; John 11:38; John 19:28. THE SIXTH HOUR] i.e. either noon or 6 p.m. The number of events which happened subsequently seems to require the earlier hour, but see on John 1:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
The later rabbis declared that to partake of Samaritan bread was like eating swine's flesh, but in our Lord's time Samaritan food was accounted clean.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS, etc.] Some ancient authorities omit this statement, which must be taken to refer only to intimate dealings. Our Lord had broken down the barrier by asking a favour. He wished to encourage her to ask a favour of Him, and so to give Him an opportunity of leading her to the t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GIFT OF GOD] i.e. all the blessings offered to us in Christ, especially the gift of eternal life (see John 4:13). LIVING WATER] As Christ does not identify Himself with the 'water,' as He does with the 'bread' in John 6, the 'water' must be 'the grace and truth' of which He is full (John 1:14),... [ Continue Reading ]
The woman takes 'living water' literally, as meaning the running water of a spring or stream as distinguished from the stagnant water of a cistern or well (Genesis 26:19; Leviticus 14:5, etc.).... [ Continue Reading ]
In spite of their mainly heathen origin, the Samaritans claimed Israelitish descent.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NEVER THIRST] 'Every spiritual desire and aspiration of the soul shall be completely satisfied, and for ever, for the life which I give is eternal.'... [ Continue Reading ]
These mocking words show that the woman was still unimpressed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Finding her impervious to gentleness, our Lord uses stronger measures. He reveals Himself to her as a prophet, and with a prophet's authority reveals and rebukes her sin: cp. 2 Samuel 12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Although this woman had apparently been divorced by five husbands for unfaithfulness, and was now living in sin, our Lord did not deal with her harshly. For other examples of His considerate treatment of fallen women, see John 8:1 and Luke 7:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
The woman is ashamed, and seeks to change the conversation. Our Lord kindly permits it, knowing that the words He has spoken will bear fruit. She asks Him, since He is a prophet, to pronounce upon the main point in dispute between the Jews and the Samaritans. The Samaritans argued from Deuteronomy 2... [ Continue Reading ]
'We Jews understand the nature of the God we worship: you Samaritans do not. We have the Psalmists and Prophets to teach us the meaning of spiritual religion: you reject all but the ceremonial LAW OF MOSES. Moreover, you show your ignorance of God by setting up an unauthorised worship in a place whi... [ Continue Reading ]
IN SPIRIT] i.e. with true inward reverence, as distinguished from mere outward observance. IN TRUTH] i.e. with true holiness of life. 'Truth,' in St. John, is not only correct belief, but also practical piety: see on John 3:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD _is_ A SPIRIT] or, rather, 'God is spirit' (RM). 'Spirit' is the name, in the NT., of the highest and most god-like faculties of the soul. Our Lord means, therefore, that God is the supreme understanding, knowledge, reason, will, love, holiness, etc., and hence must be worshipped with the corres... [ Continue Reading ]
MESSIAS COMETH] An excuse for delay. There is no need (says the woman) to trouble about a more spiritual worship until that distant day when the Messiah comes.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Samaritan idea of the Messiah was religious, not political, and hence Jesus could here proclaim Himself as the Messiah without causing a political ferment: contrast His action among the Jews (John 6:15; John 10:24, etc.). Our Lord's teaching about worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), tho... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE WOMAN] RV 'with a woman.' In His high estimate of womanhood Jesus rose far above the ideas of His time, and taught lessons which are only now being learned (see on Matthew 1:18). The contemporary rabbis refused to teach religion to women, and would not even speak to a woman in a public plac... [ Continue Reading ]
MY MEAT, etc.] Jesus meant that in the joy of seeking to save a sinful soul His fatigue and hunger had vanished, and He no longer needed the food which the disciples had brought.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR MONTHS] Harvest began in April, so the date would be December, a.d.... [ Continue Reading ]
OTHER MEN] In spite of the plural this means Christ Himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD] They accepted Him as the world's Saviour, because they had experienced His saving power in their own case. It is an instance of the argument from Christian experience: see John 1:29; John 3:16; John 6:33; John 12:47; 1 John 4:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGINNING OF THE MINISTRY PROPER IN GALILEE, December, 27 a.d. HEALING OF THE NOBLEMAN'S SON. 44. Our Lord's OWN COUNTRY here is probably Judæa, where He was born, and which the ancient prophecies indicated as His true home. Others suppose that it is Galilee, and that He deliberately went there to... [ Continue Reading ]
NOBLEMAN] The word means 'one of the king's officials.' The 'king' is Herod Antipas, who was, strictly speaking, only a tetrarch, but was called king by courtesy.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT YE SEE SIGNS] Not too much must be made of this rebuke. Our Lord was trying his faith, as in the case of the Canaanitish woman (Mark 7:27). It answered the test, and was rewarded by the healing of his son. For 'signs and wonders,' see on Matthew 12:38.... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate, 'This again as a second sign did Jesus, after He had come out of Judæa into Galilee.' It thus clearly preceded all the Galilean miracles recorded by the synoptists. The evangelist probably records this miracle to show that the effects of faith may extend beyond the person who exercises i... [ Continue Reading ]