John 4

When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

And he must needs go through Samaria.

Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and 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 unto the city to buy meat.)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said 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: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever 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 be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou 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 ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.

But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

And many more believed because of his own word;

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

What does John 4:23 mean?

Explanation

John 4:23 speaks of a shift in the nature and location of worship.

Jesus is telling the Samaritan woman at the well that a time is coming, and has now come, when the traditional Jewish concept of worship centered in a specific location (like the Temple in Jerusalem) will change.

Instead of being confined to a place or ritual, worship will become a spiritual exercise grounded in truth.

This means that true worshipers will engage with God directly through their spirit, adhering to sincerity and faithfulness, without being bound to any physical location or religious ceremony.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman took place in a period of deep division between Jews and Samaritans.

Jews saw Jerusalem as the only place for true worship, whereas Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim.

This conversation reflects Jesus' challenge to traditional Jewish views, particularly on the nature of worship and the coming of a new covenant that would not be confined by the previous ritualistic and exclusive worship practices.

Theological Insights

Theologically, John 4:23 is seen by many Christian scholars as affirming the universal access to God through Jesus Christ.

It is often cited to illustrate that salvation and worship are not the exclusive domain of any one ethnic or religious group but are open to all who worship "in spirit and truth." In Christian doctrine, this often refers to the Holy Spirit's role in guiding the faithful and Jesus as the embodiment of truth.

Practical Applications

In practice, this verse prompts believers to focus on a personal, deep, and honest relationship with God. It encourages worship that is not merely ceremonial but comes from the heart and conforms to God's revelation in Scripture and through Jesus Christ.

It is a call to inward transformation over outward ritual, suggesting that one's lifestyle and actions every day are as much a part of worship as formal religious observances.

Cross-References

Philippians 3:3: "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
Psalm 145:18: "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "spirit" (πνεῦμα, pneuma) is understood as the non-material part of the person, which can commune with God who is Spirit (John 4:24), and "truth" (ἀλήθεια, alētheia) refers to the reality of God's revelation or the ultimate reality as opposed to what is false.

The emphasis on these terms in the context of worship implies a significant depth and authenticity as opposed to external observance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader ancient world, worship was often tied to specific temples and rituals and characterized by offerings and sacrifices.

The shift proclaimed by Jesus marks a notable departure from other religious practices of the time, which were strongly linked to specific locations like temples, and prescribed rituals, bringing a more personal and transcendent approach to the relationship between the divine and the individual.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not intersect directly with scientific principles, the broader conversation around religion and spirituality has been the subject of interest within the fields of psychology and anthropology.

Studies on the human need for spiritual connection and the psychological effects of worship can provide a multidisciplinary view of how the concept of "worshipping in spirit and truth" may resonate with or benefit individuals at a psychological level.

Commentaries

Commentators like Matthew Henry have noted that this verse signifies the abolishment of the ceremonial law and the Jewish exclusivity in worshiping God.

William Barclay suggests that worship in "spirit and truth" is the kind that is offered with the help of the Holy Spirit and in accordance with the ultimate reality that Jesus has revealed.

Craig S.

Keener, in his "IVP Bible Background Commentary," contextualizes the verse to its historical and cultural background and highlights the inclusive and spiritual nature of worship that Jesus advocates.

John 4

John 4

What does John 4:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 4:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?