Matthew Henry Commentary John 4:4-26

"And he must needs pass through Samaria. So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph: and Jacob`s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said unto unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 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? Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come all the way hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. 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. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he]." — John 4:4-26 (ASV)

There was great hatred between the Samaritans and the Jews. Christ's road from Judea to Galilee lay through Samaria. We should not go into places of temptation except when we absolutely must; and then we must not dwell in them, but hasten through them. Here we have our Lord Jesus experiencing the common fatigue of travelers. Thus we see that He was truly a man.

Toil came in with sin; therefore Christ, having made Himself a curse for us, submitted to it. Also, He was a poor man and went all His journeys on foot. Being weary, He sat down on the well; He had no couch to rest upon. He sat down in this way, as people weary from traveling sit. Surely, we should readily submit to be like the Son of God in such things as these.

Christ asked a woman for water. She was surprised because He did not show the anger of His own nation against the Samaritans. Moderate men on all sides are marveled at. Christ took the occasion to teach her Divine things: He converted this woman by showing her ignorance and sinfulness, and her need of a Savior. By this living water is meant the Spirit.

Under this comparison, the blessing of the Messiah had been promised in the Old Testament. The graces of the Spirit, and His comforts, satisfy the thirsting soul that knows its own nature and necessity. What Jesus spoke figuratively, she took literally. Christ shows that the water of Jacob's well yielded a very short satisfaction. Whatever waters of comfort we drink, we shall thirst again.

But whoever partakes of the Spirit of grace, and the comforts of the gospel, will never lack what will abundantly satisfy his soul. Carnal hearts look no higher than carnal ends. "Give it to me," she said, "not that I may have everlasting life, which Christ proposed, but that I do not come here to draw." The carnal mind is very ingenious in deflecting convictions and keeping them from taking hold.

But how closely our Lord Jesus brings home the conviction to her conscience! He severely reproved her present state of life. The woman acknowledged Christ to be a prophet. The power of His word in searching the heart and convincing the conscience of secret things is a proof of Divine authority. It should cool our contests to think that the things we are striving about are passing away.

The object of worship will continue to be the same, God, as a Father; but an end will be put to all differences about the place of worship. Reason teaches us to consult decency and convenience in the places of our worship; but religion gives no preference to one place above another regarding holiness and approval with God. The Jews were certainly in the right. Those who by the Scriptures have obtained some knowledge of God know whom they worship.

The word of salvation came from the Jews. It came to other nations through them. Christ justly preferred the Jewish worship over the Samaritan, yet here He speaks of the former as soon to pass away. God was about to be revealed as the Father of all believers in every nation. The spirit or the soul of man, as influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God and have communion with Him.

Spiritual affections, as shown in fervent prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, form the worship of an upright heart, in which God delights and is glorified. The woman was disposed to leave the matter undecided until the coming of the Messiah. But Christ told her, I that speak to thee, am He. She was an alien and a hostile Samaritan; merely speaking to her was thought to disgrace our Lord Jesus.

Yet to this woman did our Lord reveal Himself more fully than He had yet done to any of His disciples. No past sins can bar our acceptance with Him, if we humble ourselves before Him, believing in Him as the Christ, the Savior of the world.