John 4:42 And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves… I. THE PERSONS FROM WHOM IT CAME. Samaritans out of the covenant, with imperfect notions of God and the Spirit of His worship, yet they were so captivated by Christ's teachings that they felt He could be no other than the world's Saviour. II. THE JUST NOTIONS THEY EXPRESSED OF THE OFFICE OF CHRIST. 1. That He was to effect the salvation of the world, not of their race merely. 2. That He was to save by teaching the true religion. "I know," said the woman, "He will tell all things" — i.e., concerning the worship of God, the topic of discussion. 3. Thus they must have placed the salvation itself in such a deliverance as these means were fitted to accomplish, viz., in deliverance from ignorance, hypocrisy, and superstition. 4. They were aware that the time was actually come for this Deliverer's appearance: Jesus said, "The hour cometh and now is." The woman responded, "I know that the Messiah (lit.) is now coming. Learn then — (1) How little benefit the external means of grace may prove to those whose minds, like those of the Jews, are occupied with adverse prejudices, so as to be negligent of their own improvement. (2) What a proficiency may be made, by God's blessing, on the diligent use of scanty talents. The Samaritans had no light but what came obliquely from the Jews, but they so far improved under their imperfect discipline as to attain views of the promised redemption which the Jews missed in spite of Moses and the Prophets. III. THE WARMTH AND ENERGY OF THEIR CONVICTION. We know." Conclusion — 1. Let every one take encouragement and learn the necessary assiduity in self-improvement. 2. Let no sinner despair of salvation. (Bp. Horsley.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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