Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 4:11-12

"The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" — John 4:11-12 (ASV)

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

She took the Saviour's figure literally; and there are still many who cannot see the spiritual meaning of God's Word, and run their heads against the hard stern letter which kills, instead of seeking and finding the inner living spirit which gives life. These are the people who build their hopes of salvation upon outward ordinances, and who impute saving power to "sacraments." May God grant that they know better!

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

That last word, "cattle," lets us see how the water of Jacob's well could never be compared to the living water that Jesus gives. If animals can partake of it, it is not that high and spiritual thing which immortal souls need, which Jesus came to give. Unwittingly, the woman had answered her own question, Art thou greater than our father Jacob?