11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:11-14 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. How ignorant persons are of spiritual things, till enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God. This poor woman’s question, Whence hast thou that living water? looks much like that of Nicodemus, How can these things be? John 3:9 A natural person cannot perceive the mind of Christ when speaking to him about spiritual things. Spiritual objects must have a spiritual eye to discern and behold them, The natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit. 1Co 2:14
Observe, 2. With what great humility and condescension our holy Lord treats this poor woman, pitying her ignorance, and pardoning her infidelity; he tells her, That the water of that well which she was about to draw, could not give an abiding satisfaction; but the thirst quenched for the present, would certainly return again: but he that should drink of the water which he had to give, that is, be made partakers of the graces of the Spirit, shall find such refreshing satisfaction there from, that all inordinate desires after earthly things will be quenched and extinguished, and will be like a well of water springing up, till he come to eternal glory.
Learn hence, 1. That as the body of man is subject to a natural, so is the soul of man subject to a spiritual, kind of thirst.
2. That no creature comfort, or earthly enjoyment, can quench this thirst which the soul of man is subject unto.
3. That the Spirit of grace (which our Saviour here calls the water of life) is able fully and perfectly to quench the thirst of the soul: and where it is once savingly received, shall never be totally or finally lost. It shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life; that is, the graces of the Spirit shall be in believers as permanent habits, as fixed principles that shall not decay.
Hence St. Peter calls it incorruptible seed, which liveth and abideth for ever, 1Pe 1:23