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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:22

Verse 22 He now explains more largely what he had briefly glanced at about the abolition of the Law; but he divides the substance of his discourse into two parts. In the former, he charges with superstition and error the form of worshipping God which had been used by the Samaritans, but testifies that the true and lawful form was observed by the Jews. And he assigns the cause of the difference, that from the word of God the Jews obtained certainty as to his worship, while the Samaritans... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 4:23

Verse 23 23.But the hour cometh. Now follows the latter clause, about repealing the worship, or ceremonies, (81) prescribed by the Law. When he says that the hour cometh, or will come, he shows that the order laid down by Moses will not be perpetual. When he says that the hour is now come, he puts an end to the ceremonies, and declares that the time of reformation, of which the Apostle speaks, (Hebrews 9:10,) has thus been fulfilled. Yet he approves of the Temple, the Priesthood, and all the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:1-42

7. The ministry and revelation of the Lord to those beyond the strict compass of the theocracy. This passage describes an incident of consummate interest, and records a specimen of our Lord's intercourse with individuals, and the reaction of that instruction upon the disciples. The event is a solitary chink through which the light of historical fact falls upon an otherwise darkened and unknown period of the Saviour's life. When we skirt a forest we see at intervals, where by some... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:7-26

(2) The revelations and misunderstandings comprised in the interview with the Samaritaness. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:21

Jesus saith unto her, Woman , £ believe me —a unique expression of Jesus, answering to the ἀμὴν ἀμὴν , of many other passages, where the acknowledgment of his Divine commission had been virtually ceded; this expression is peculiarly suitable to the occasion— that an hour is coming. He does not add, as in John 4:23 , "and now is." The Divine order which links the events of God's providence together, has not made it possible as yet in its fulness, as it will do when the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:21

Worship and holy places. The superstition of the Samaritan woman gave occasion to the utterances by Christ of his sublime revelation regarding the spirituality of worship. There was competition between the Samaritans, who performed their devotions upon the summit of Gerizim, and the Jews, to whom Jerusalem was the holy city and the temple the house of God. Jesus put aside this controversy and rivalry, and passed from it to the enunciation of specially Christian truth. I. THERE IS A... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:21-24

(d) The spiritual nature of God and his worship. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:21-24

The spirit of the true worship. Our Lord acts a prophet's part in answer to her inquiries. 1. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE NEW WORSHIP . "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father." 1 . All localized worship was soon to end. 2 . The fatherhood of God emancipates worship from every limitation of time and space. Men will worship God as a Father. The title is characteristic of this Gospel. II.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:22

Ye worship that which (not "him whom") ye know not . "That which" points to the essence and inner character of the object of their worship. They gave him a name, but they were comparatively ignorant of, and confessedly hostile as a people to, the revelation that the Father had made. They fell back on a past of rigid orthodoxy but of limited range. They rejected every portion of the Old Testament with the exception of the Pentateuch, i.e. the entire historical treatment of the primeval... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 4:23

But the hour cometh, and now is —already the day has dawned, the new conception is breaking like "awful rose of dawn" upon the minds of some— when the veritable £ worshippers —those who answer to the idea of worshippers, those who actually draw near to the Father in living fellowship and affectionate appreciation of his eternal Name— shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. An old misreading of this text, accepted by some Fathers, and based upon the idea expressed in John... read more

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