John Calvin Commentary John 4:25

"The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things." — John 4:25 (ASV)

The Messiah is about to come. Although religion among the Samaritans was corrupted and mixed up with many errors, yet some principles taken from the Law were impressed on their minds, such as that which related to the Messiah. Now it is probable that, when the woman ascertained from Christ’s discourse that a very extraordinary change was about to take place in the Church of God, her mind instantly recurred to the recollection of Christ, under whom she hoped that all things would be fully restored.

When she says that the Messiah is about to come, she seems to speak of the time as near at hand. Indeed, it is sufficiently evident from many arguments that the minds of people everywhere were aroused by the expectation of the Messiah, who would restore conditions that were wretchedly decayed, or rather, utterly ruined.

This, at least, is beyond all controversy: the woman prefers Christ to Moses and to all the Prophets in the role of teaching, for her words convey three things in a few words.

1. That the doctrine of the Law was not absolutely perfect, and that nothing more than first principles was delivered in it. For if there had not been some further progress to be made, she would not have said that the Messiah will tell us all things. There is an implied contrast between him and the Prophets: it is his distinctive role to conduct his disciples to the goal, while the Prophets had only given them the earliest instructions and, as it were, led them into the course.

2. The woman declares that she expects such a Christ as will be the interpreter of his Father, and the teacher and instructor of all the godly.

3. She expresses her belief that we ought not to desire anything better or more perfect than his doctrine, but that, on the contrary, this is the farthest object of wisdom, beyond which it is unlawful to proceed.

I wish that those who now boast of being the pillars of the Christian Church would at least imitate this poor woman, so as to be satisfied with the simple doctrine of Christ, rather than claim a power of oversight—what kind, I know not—for promoting their inventions. For from where was the religion of the Pope and Muhammad gathered but from the wicked additions, through which they imagined that they brought the doctrine of the Gospel to perfection? As if it would have been incomplete without such fooleries. But anyone who is well taught in the school of Christ will seek no other instructors, and indeed, will not accept them.