Church Fathers Commentary John 4:27-30

"And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her? So the woman left her waterpot, and went away into the city, and saith to the people, Come, see a man, who told me all things that [ever] I did: can this be the Christ? They went out of the city, and were coming to him." — John 4:27-30 (ASV)

St. John Chrysostom: The disciples arrived opportunely, just as the teaching was finished. And upon this came His disciples, and marveled that He talked with the woman. They marveled at the extraordinary kindness and humility of Christ in humbling Himself to converse with a poor woman, and a Samaritan.

St. Augustine of Hippo: He who came to seek what was lost, sought the one who was lost. This is what they marveled at; they marveled at His goodness, not suspecting anything improper.

St. John Chrysostom: But despite their amazement, they asked Him no questions. No man said, What seek You? or, Why talk you with her? They were so careful to observe their place as disciples, so great was their awe and reverence for Him. Indeed, on subjects that concerned them, they did not hesitate to ask Him questions, but this was not one of them.

Origen of Alexandria: The woman is almost transformed into an apostle. His words are so powerful that she leaves her waterpot to go to the city and tell the men of her town about them. The woman then left her waterpot; that is, she gave up lowly concerns for the body for the sake of benefiting others. Let us do the same. Let us stop caring for the things of the body and share with others from what we have.

St. Augustine of Hippo: The word “hydria” corresponds to our word “aquarium,” since “hydor” is Greek for water.

St. John Chrysostom: Just as the apostles left their nets when they were called, so she leaves her waterpot to do the work of an evangelist, calling not just one person, but an entire city. She went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Origen of Alexandria: She calls them together to see a man whose words were deeper than those of a mere man. She had had five husbands and was then living with a sixth, who was not her lawful husband. But now she gives him up for a seventh, and in leaving her waterpot, she is converted to chastity.

St. John Chrysostom: She was not held back by shame from spreading the news of what had been said to her. For once the soul is kindled by the divine flame, it pays no attention to glory, shame, or any other earthly thing, but only to the flame that consumes it.

But she did not want them to trust her report alone; she wanted them to come and judge Christ for themselves. Come, see a man, she says. She does not say, “Come and believe,” but, “Come and see,” which was an easier request. For she knew well that if they only tasted from that well, they would feel as she did.

Alcuin of York: However, she only comes to preach about Christ by degrees. First she calls Him a man, not the Christ, for fear that those who heard her might become angry and refuse to come.

St. John Chrysostom: She therefore neither preaches Christ openly nor omits Him entirely, but says, Is not this the Christ? This awakened their attention. Then they went out of the city, and came to Him.

St. Augustine of Hippo: The fact that the woman left her waterpot when she went away must not be overlooked. For the waterpot signifies the love of this world: concupiscence, by which people draw up pleasure from the dark depths of an earthly way of life, of which the well is an image.

It was right, then, for one who believed in Christ to renounce the world and, by leaving her waterpot, to show that she had parted with worldly desires.

Therefore, she cast away concupiscence and hurried to proclaim the truth. Let those who wish to preach the Gospel learn that they must first leave their waterpots at the well.

Origen of Alexandria: The woman, having become a vessel of wholesome instruction, lays aside her former tastes and desires as contemptible.