John 4:20-24 (WEL) “Our forefathers worshiped on this mountain, yet you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people should worship.” 21 Jesus says to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming, when not even in this mountain or in Jerusalem will people worship the Father. 22 “You don’t know what you are worshiping. We know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 “But the time is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is looking for such as this to worship him. 24 “God is spirit, and for those who worship him, it is necessary to worship in spirit and truth.”
V20 “Our forefathers worshiped on this mountain, yet you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people should worship.”
These forefathers are the Samaritan forefathers, and worshipping at Mt. Gerizim was their choice, not Jerusalem.
Mt. Gerizim:
- The place where the Israelites spoke out the blessings and curses.
- Mt. Gerizim is where those who spoke the blessings of obeying God’s laws.
- Mt. Ebal is where those who spoke the curses for disobedience.
- A Samaritan temple was built there during the reign of Alexander the Great.
- That temple was destroyed by John Hyrcanus in the times of the Maccabees.
- The Samaritans still worshipped there without a temple.
- Jesus met with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well at the base of Mt. Gerizim.
V21 Jesus says to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming, when not even in this mountain or in Jerusalem will people worship the Father.
Jesus teaches her that people will not worship at any mountain instead worshipping in spirit and truth, which is worship directed to heaven, when God reigns.
V22 “You don’t know what you are worshiping. We know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews.
Jesus explains the truth that Samaritans don’t even know whom they are worshipping. The Jews do worship at the correct place, though that will change. Jesus predicted that the Jewish Temple would be destroyed, which was fulfilled in 70AD.
God chose Israel for the message bearers of salvation, but they substituted their version of worship (Matthew 15:7-9) instead of true worship as instructed by the Law and Prophets.
This is especially true in that Jesus is an Israelite and specifically a Jew (Matthew 1:3-16).
V23 “But the time is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is looking for such as this to worship him.
Christians pray to God in heaven, not at a physical location on earth. Compare Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 11:16, Hebrews 12:22, and Hebrews 13:14.
Guzik notes:
“i. Dods said of this promise, “One of the greatest announcements ever made by our Lord; and made to one sinful woman.”
ii. “The prophetic ye shall worship, though embracing in its wider sense all mankind, may be taken primarily as foretelling the success of the Gospel in Samaria, Act 8:1-26.” (Alford).”
God the Father is pleased with spiritual worship in true heart devotion in praise and thanksgiving.
Jesus condemned the Jews for worshipping only in form, not in heart (Matthew 15:8).
V24 “God is spirit, and for those who worship him, it is necessary to worship in spirit and truth.”
God is not a man, is not created, is not an angel. He is made of God stuff type of spirit. Only one being ever, anywhere, is God and consisting of God stuff type of spirit, not angel or anything else. That is why we do not bow to or venerate idols, images, or relics.
Worshipping with the body is physical and can be faked. Worshipping in the spirit, human spirit, is worship only to God Himself.
We learn:
- Proper and acceptable worship to God.
- Evangelistic methods.
Questions:
- How is your worship?
- Is it true from heart or only outward?