But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers,.... The worshippers of the true God, and who worship in a right manner, whether Jews or Samaritans, or of whatsoever nation:shall worship the Father; the one true God, the Father of spirits, and of all flesh living:in spirit; in opposition to all carnal conceptions of him, as if he was a corporeal being, or circumscribed in some certain place, dwelling in temples made with hands, or was to be worshipped with men's hands; and in distinction from the carnal worship of the Jews, which lay greatly in the observation of carnal ordinances: and this shows they should not worship with their bodies only, for bodily exercise profiteth little; but with their souls or spirits, with their whole hearts engaged therein; and by, and under the influence and assistance of the Spirit of God, without whom men cannot perform worship, neither prayer, praise, preaching, or hearing, aright:and in truth; in opposition to hypocrisy, with true hearts, in the singleness, sincerity, and integrity of their souls; and in distinction from Jewish ceremonies, which were only shadows, and had not the truth and substance of things in them; and according to the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation; and in Christ, who is the truth, the true tabernacle, in, and through whom accent is had to God, prayer is made to him, and every part of religious worship with acceptance: so Enoch is said, ajvwqb xlp, "to worship in truth", before the Lord, in the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, in Ge 5:24.
Bible Commentary
John 4:23
John 4:23
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
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John 4 — OverviewJohn 4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIt was, more than any thing else, the glory of the land of Israel, that
it was Emmanuel's land (Isa. viii. 8), not only the place of his birth,
but the scene of his preaching and miracles. This land in our…John 4 — OverviewJohn 4 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeJohn 4:1, Christ talks with a woman of Samaria, and reveals himself unto her; John 4:27, His disciples marvel; John 4:31, He declares to them his zeal for God’s glory; John 4:39, Many Samaritans believe on him; John…John 4 — OverviewJohn 4 · Little Bible — for children and parentsTravelling through Samaria, Jesus stops at Jacob's well and speaks with a Samaritan woman who comes alone at midday. He offers her 'living water', reveals He knows her whole life, and declares Himself the Messiah. She…John 4:4-26John 4:4-26 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe have here an account of the good Christ did in Samaria, when he
passed through that country in his way to Galilee. The Samaritans, both
in blood and religion, were mongrel Jews, the posterity of those…John 4:23John 4:23 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgethe hour: John 5:25, John 12:23
true: Isaiah 1:10-15, Isaiah 26:8-9, Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 48:1-2, Isaiah 58:2, Isaiah 58:8-14, Isaiah 66:1-2; Jeremiah 7:7-12; Matthew 15:7-9; Luke 18:11-13
in spirit: Romans 1:9,…John 4:23John 4:23 · Little Bible — for children and parentsThis is one of the most revolutionary statements about worship in Scripture. God does not want location-worship or ritual-worship; He seeks heart-worship — in spirit (genuine, Spirit-led) and in truth (according to who…
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