Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 4:8

"For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food." — John 4:8 (ASV)

(For his disciples were gone away to the city to buy meat.)

It was a great mercy that the disciples were out of the way just then; had they been there, they might have tried to keep this poor woman from speaking to the Savior; and, sometimes, brothers and sisters, it may be well for us to be laid aside. God may do more good without our presence than with it; who can tell?

(For his disciples had gone away to the city to buy meat.)

This was quite a right thing for the disciples to do, for food must be bought for people to eat. No doubt it is better to pray than to eat; but if one never ate, he would not long be able to pray. I have heard these disciples condemned for their worldliness and carnality, but I fail to see anything of the kind; it does seem to me necessary that someone should go into the city to buy food, and although it is not the noblest kind of work, yet, being necessary, it may be the stepping-stone to higher service.