John:4

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* Verse 1-3 - Jesus applied himself more to preaching , which was the more excellent , 1st Corinthians strkjv @1:17 ,. than to baptism . He would put honour upon his disciples , by employing them to baptize . He teaches us that the benefit of sacraments depends not on the hand that administers them . * Verse 4-26 - 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 but when we needs must ; and then must not dwell in them , but hasten through them . We have here our Lord Jesus under the common fatigue of travellers . 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 wearied , he sat thus on the well ; he had no couch to rest upon . He sat thus , as people wearied with travelling sit . Surely , we ought readily to 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 of all sides are men wondered 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 Saviour . 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 spake figuratively , she took literally . Christ shows that the water of Jacob 's well yielded a very short satisfaction . Of whatever waters of comfort we drink , we shall thirst again . But whoever partakes of the Spirit of grace , and the comforts of the gospel , shall never want that which will abundantly satisfy his soul . Carnal hearts look no higher than carnal ends . Give it me , saith she , not that I may have everlasting life , which Christ proposed , but that I come not hither to draw . The carnal mind is very ingenious in shifting off convictions , and keeping them from fastening . 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 still the same , God , as a Father ; but an end shall 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 , in respect of 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 was of the Jews . It came to other nations through them . Christ justly preferred the Jewish worship before the Samaritan , yet here he speaks of the former as soon to be done 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 , till 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 as yet he had 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 Saviour of the world . * Verse 27-42 - The disciples wondered that Christ talked thus with a Samaritan . Yet they knew it was for some good reason , and for some good end . Thus when particular difficulties occur in the word and providence of God , it is good to satisfy ourselves that all is well that Jesus Christ says and does . Two things affected the woman . The extent of his knowledge . Christ knows all the thoughts , words , and actions , of all the children of men . And the power of his word . He told her secret sins with power . She fastened upon that part of Christ 's discourse , many would think she would have been most shy of repeating ; but the knowledge of Christ , into which we are led by conviction of sin , is most likely to be sound and saving . They came to him : those who would know Christ , must meet him where he records his name . Our Master has left us an example , that we may learn to do the will of God as he did ; with diligence , as those that make a business of it ; with delight and pleasure in it . Christ compares his work to harvest-work . The harvest is appointed and looked for before it comes ; so was the gospel . Harvest-time is busy time ; all must be then at work . Harvest-time is a short time , and harvest-work must be done then , or not at all ; so the time of the gospel is a season , which if once past , cannot be recalled . God sometimes uses very weak and unlikely instruments for beginning and carrying on a good work . Our Saviour , by teaching one poor woman , spread knowledge to a whole town . Blessed are those who are not offended at Christ . Those taught of God , are truly desirous to learn more . It adds much to the praise of our love to Christ and his word , if it conquers prejudices . Their faith grew . In the matter of it : they believed him to be the Saviour , not only of the Jews but of the world . In the certainty of it : we know that this is indeed the Christ . And in the ground of it , for we have heard him ourselves . * Verse 43-54 - The father was a nobleman , yet the son was sick . Honours and titles are no security from sickness and death . The greatest men must go themselves to God , must become beggars . The nobleman did not stop from his request till he prevailed . But at first he discovered the weakness of his faith in the power of Christ . It is hard to persuade ourselves that distance of time and place , are no hinderance to the knowledge , mercy , and power of our Lord Jesus . Christ gave an answer of peace . Christ 's saying that the soul lives , makes it alive . The father went his way , which showed the sincerity of his faith . Being satisfied , he did not hurry home that night , but returned as one easy in his own mind . His servants met him with the news of the child 's recovery . Good news will meet those that hope in God 's word . Diligent comparing the works of Jesus with his word , will confirm our faith . And the bringing the cure to the family brought salvation to it . Thus an experience of the power of one word of Christ , may settle the authority of Christ in the soul . The whole family believed likewise . The miracle made Jesus dear to them . The knowledge of Christ still spreads through families , and men find health and salvation to their souls . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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