John 4

I Christ maketh and baptized more Disciple in Judes the John, 3 departeth through thence Samaria into Galilee, and by the way being weary he resteth by a fountain, 7 desireth drink of a woman of Samaria, with whom he taketh of the true living water, 16 declareth that he had knowledge of her fore – past life, from whence she concludes that he is a Prophet, 20 and is instructed by him concerning the true worship, 26 and that he is the Messiah who was to come, which she relateth to the inhabitants of her City, who come foerth to him, 31 He declareth to his Disciples, what is his principal food, and that now the right time of the spiritual harvest is at hand. 39 Many of the Samaritans believe in him through the womans, and especially through his own word, 43 cometh again to Cana in Galilee, where he healeth the Son of Kings servant.

1. When therefore the Lord [Namely Jesus] understood that the Pharisees had heard, that Jesus made and baptized more Disciples, then John: [and for this cause feared, that they should more loose their respect with the people by him, then they had done by John, and that therefore they still more and more stirred up to envy and hatred against him, John 11:48.]

2. (Although Jesus himself baptized not, but his Disciples.)

3. He left Judea, [Namely to avoid their snares and violence, seeing his hour was not yet come, John 7:30.] and went away again towards Galilee. [from whence he had formely departed to Jerusalem, Jon 2.12.]

4. And e must go thorow Samaria [For as much as the readiest way to travel from Judea into Galilee, lay through the Land of Samaria, Luke 9:52. and chapter 17.11.]

5. He came therefore into a City of Samaria, called Sychar, nigh to the piece of land, which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. [Namely by Testiment, Gen.48.22. ,in which piece of Land also Joseph bones were buried, John 24.32.]

6. And Jacobs well was there; [That was a fountain in that same piece of Land, or a well which Jacob caused to be digged, like as his fore – father] Jesus therefore being wearied with the journey, sate down thus by the well, it was about the sixt hour. [that is, about noon, when Sun is hottest, see John 11:9.]

7. There come a woman of Samaria [That is, being of the Land of Samaria, and coming out of Sychar, which City lay in the land of Samaria, ver. 5. otherwise also called Sichem, Gen.33.19] to draw water. Jesus said unto her give me to drink.

8. (For his Disciples were gone away into the City, that they might buy food.)

9. Then said the Samaritan woman unto him, how dost thou who art a Jew desire drink of me, which am a Samaritan woman. For the Jews hold no communion with the Samaritans [That cause hereof see in the author. on Luke 9. v. 53.]

10. Jesus answered and said unto her, if thou knewest the gift of God. [That is, me, who am by God given unto men for a saviour, Rom.8.31.] and who is that saith unto thee give me to drink, thou wouldest have desireth of him, and he should have given thee living water; [that is, quickening, whereby, a similitude, is understood the gift of the holy Ghost, by which we are regenerated and quickened unto eternal life, In such wise that howsoever we indeed sometimes thirst after comfort, in grievous falls and temptation, yet notwithstanding by this grace of the holy Ghost, we are again so revived and strengthned, that we never fall into despair nor perish. See Isa.12.3. John 6:35. and chap.7.38,39.]

11. The woman said unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep, whence hast thou then the living – water ?

12. Art thou greater then our father Jacob, [The Samaritans boasted that they were descended from Jacob by Joseph, although they were almost all descended of the Heaten, which were brought thither out of Assyria, see 2 Kings 17. and Joseph. Antiq. lib. 9.] who gave us the well? And he himself drank thereof, and his children [Gr. sonnes] and his cattel.

13. Jesus answered and said unto her, every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again.

14. But whoso shall have drunk of the water that i shall give him, he shall never thirst; but the water that i shall give shall give him, i shall become in him a fountain of water, springing into eternal life.

15. The women said unto him, Sir, give me that water, that i thirst not, and (that ) i (need) not come hither to draw.

16. Jesus said unto her, go thy way, call thy husband, and come hither:

17. The woman answered and said, i have no husband; [that is, no married husband] Jesus said unto her, thou hast well said, i have no husband.

18. For thou hast five husband, and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband , that said'st with truth

19. The woman said unto him, Sir, i see that thou art a Prophet.

20. Our father worshiped on this mountain, [Namely, the mountain Garizim, where Manasse the brother of the Jews married the daughter of a Samaritan Governor Sanballath, (See Nehem.6.) and being therefore cast out, be took himself to the Samaritans, and by his father in Laws doing, built a new Temple on that mountain, and made a schisme, and was there made high – Priest: whereby afterwards great strite arose between the Jews and Samaritans, about the place where men ought to worship . See a Maccab.6.v.2. Joseph. Antiq. lib. 11. cap.8.] and yee say that at Jerusalem the place is; where men ought to worship, [by worshiping here is understood the whole public and external worship of God]

21. Jesus said unto her, woman believe me, that the hour cometh when on this mountain nor at Jerusalem ye shall worship the Father. [That is, shall not be bound to worship on those places more then in other, 1 Tim.2.8.]

22. Yee worship what yet know not, [That is, whereof ye are assured, that God will be served there, seeing yee have no command for it, like as we Jews have to perform the worship of God in the Temple at Jerusalem: as neither that God will be served in such manner as yee serve him] we worship what we know; for salvation [that is, the saviour and the saving – doctrine, Esa. 2 .3. Romans 9:5.] is of the Jews.

23. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and truth; [That is, not being bound to a certain place or outward ceremonies as in the old Testament] for the father also seeketh such that (so) worship him?

24. Gos is a spirit [That is, a spiritual invisible being, and will therefore be served with a service which is agreeable to his nature, i.e. which is internal and spiritual, proceeding from an upright and faithful heart, Rom.12.1,2.] and they that worship him, must worship (him) in spirit and truth.

25. The woman said unto him, i know that the Messiah [see of this word John 1:42.] cometh [that is, shall come shortly] (who is called Christ) when he shall be come, be will declare unto us all things. [that is, which are necessary to Gods worship to salvation.]

26. Jesus said unto her, i am he [Namely the Messiah of whom thou saist that he shall come] that speaketh with thee.

27. And thereupon came his Disciples, and marveled that he spake with a woman: Notwithstanding no man said, what asked thou, or why speaketh thou with her:

28. The woman then left her water – vessel, and went away into the City, [Namely Sychar, v.5.] and said to the men, [Gr. folks, namely, of that City]

29. Come see a man who told me all that i have done: [Namely, even secret and hidden things] Is not this the Christ?

30. They therefore [Namely the inhabitants of Sychar] went out of the City and came unto him.

31. And in the mean while the Disciples intreated him, saying, Rabbi, eat. [Namely of this food which we have brought for dinner.]

32. But he said unto them, i have meant to eat, that yee know not. [This is expounded v.34.]

33. Therefore said the Disciples one to another, hath any one brought him to eat?

34. Jesus said unto them, my meat is, that i do the will of him that sent me, and fulfill [Or finish] his work. [namely that the father had laid upon me, to preach the gospel, when come unto me, as the Samaritans will straightway do.]

35. Say ye not, there are yet four Moneths, and (then) cometh the harvest? [Namely the corporal harvest which began in Indea from the passover onward. see Levit.23. v. 10.15. Deuteronomy 16:9.] behold, i say unto you, lift up your eyes, and view the Lands, for they are already white to be harvested. [Gr. to the harvest. This must be understood of a spiritual harvest, which the Samaritans were here, who came in multitudes over the fields to hear Christ, and for this cause were as it were ripe for the spiritual harvest, i.e. to be brought into the Church.]

36. And he that reapeth receiveth reward, and gathereth fruit into eternal life, that they may rejoyce together, both he that soweth and he that reapeth.

37. For herein is this proverb [Gr. word or speech] true it is, one that soweth, and another that reapeth,

38. I have sent you forth [Namely you Apostles] to reap that which yee Laboured not (for) others have laboured [namely you Apostles] to have laboured [namely the former Prophet and John the baptist; which Christ here before compareth to sowers, as the Apostles to reapers] and yee are entered into their labour.

39. And many of the Samaritans of that City believed in him, for the word of the woman which testified, he told me all that i have done.

40. Therefore when the Samaritans were come unto him, they intreated him to abide with them, and he abode there two days.

41. And many more believed for his (own) words sake. [that is, because they themselves had now heard him, and felt the power of his word.]

42. And said unto the woman, We believe no more for thy saying sake, for we have heard (him) our selves, and knew that this is truly the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

43. And after the two days he went thence, and went towards Galilee. [Namely not unto Nazareth, but unto Cana, as appears from v.46.]

44. For Jesus himself testified, that a Prophet hath no honour in his own Country. [Here is a reason given why he went into Cana, and other Cities of Galilee, and not Nazareth See Mat.13.54,57.]

45. When therefore he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him [That is, embrace his doctrine] being seen all the things, which he had done at Jerusalem at the feast, [namely of the Passover] for they also were gone to the feast.

46. Therefore Jesus came again unto Cana in Galilee, where he had the water wine. And there was a certain Kingly Courter [Gr. Kingly: Namely officer or Lord, in the Service of the Court of King Herod, which some wise Johanna together with other women, manifestred to the Lord Christ of their goods, Luke 8:3. which the 53. verse seems also to confirm] whose son as sick at Capernaum.

47. He being heard the Jesus came out of Judea into Galilee, were unto him and besought him, that he would come down and heal his son, for he lay a dying, [Gr. he would die]

48. Then Jesus said unto him, except that ye see signs and wonders, yee will not believe?

49. The kingly Courtier said unto him, Lord come down ere my child dye.

50. Jesus saith unto him go thy way , thy son liveth, [That is, is become whole again, and freed from dying for this time] and the man believed the word that Jesus said unto him, and went his way:

51. And he now went down, his servant came to meet him, and told (him) saying, thy child liveth.

52. Then asked he of them the hour in which it grew better with him, and they said unto him, yesterday at the seventh hour [That is, about an hour after noon] that feaver left him.

53. Then the Father knew that it (was) at the same hour, in which Jesus said unto him, thy son liveth: And he believed himself and his whole house.

54. This second sign did Jesus again, when he was come out of Galilee.