19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:19-24 KJV)
The True Kind of Worship
Jesus was still in a conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well near the town of Sychar. The conversation has shifted from one topic to another. At this point, the topic of conversation is the place of worship (John 4:19-24).
She brings up a question about worship: “Sir, I perceive you are a prophet.” She doesn’t deny what he told her, nor does she get angry like many do when confronted. She respectfully calls him “Sir” and acknowledges him as a prophet—someone connected with Heaven. The power of Christ’s word to search the heart and convict of hidden sin proves its divine authority (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). Rather than withdrawing, as many do from those who correct them, she desires to continue the conversation.
Her question concerns the proper place of public worship. Some think she raised it to change the subject, but it seems sincere. She wanted to worship God rightly and, meeting a prophet, asked for guidance. We should take every opportunity to learn about God. When in the company of someone knowledgeable, we should have a good question ready. Both Jews and Samaritans agreed God is to be worshipped and that worship is important; they only disagreed on where.
She states her side: “Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain,” near their city, and this well. The Samaritan temple had been built there by Sanballat. She argues that the place is holy—it was Mount Gerizim, where blessings were pronounced, and possibly where Abraham and Jacob built altars (Genesis 12:6-7; Ge 33:18-20). She also appeals to tradition: “Our ancestors worshipped here.” But the Samaritans had once renounced their temple and offered it to Antiochus to avoid Jewish persecution (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 12, Chapter 7).
She contrasts that with the Jews: “You say Jerusalem is the place where we must worship.” The Samaritans followed only the Pentateuch, which mentioned God choosing a place but didn’t name it. Seeing the temple at Jerusalem stripped of past glory, they felt free to establish their own.
Christ responds (John 4:21): “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” He minimizes the issue of location. We should remember that the things we argue over often pass away. The object of worship—God as Father—remains, but the debate over the place of worship will become irrelevant. The coming change in the Jewish system and the rise of the gospel would make worship location a non-issue. God is to be worshipped everywhere (1 Timothy 2:8; Malachi 1:11). Reason should guide us in choosing decent and convenient places, but our religion gives no advantage to one location over another in God’s sight.
Christ shifts the focus to what truly matters in worship. While minimizing the place, he emphasizes the manner.
First, regarding the current dispute, he sides with the Jews (John 4:22): “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” The Samaritans were wrong—not just for worshipping on Mount Gerizim, but because they were ignorant of what they worshipped. Though they claimed to worship the God of Israel (Ezra 4:2; 2 Kings 17:32-33), they treated him like a local deity. Ignorance ruins true worship.
In contrast, the Jews had the Scriptures, were taught about God, and had a basis for worship. Though Christ later criticized their corruptions (Matthew 15:9), he affirmed their worship. He even includes himself among them: “We worship.” Though the Son of God, he submitted to worship. He adds, “Salvation is of the Jews.” That is, the Messiah would come through them (Romans 9:5), and the message of salvation would be delivered by them (Acts 13:26; Romans 3:2; 9:4).
Second, Christ describes the worship God now seeks (John 4:23-24): “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” The focus is not on where, but on how. The best way to end disputes about minor religious matters is to focus more on major ones. Though he had just preferred the Jewish worship, he now reveals its imperfection. It was ceremonial (Hebrews 9:1,10) and often external. We may be better than others, yet still not be as we should.
The change is twofold: in the nature of worship and the disposition of the worshipper. Under the gospel, worship becomes more spiritual—less about physical rituals, more about the heart. It’s true worship, as opposed to the symbolic worship of the Old Covenant (Hebrews 9:3,24; Galatians 3:3).
God requires that worship be in spirit (Philippians 3:3)—energized by his Spirit, sincere, focused, and full of love. We are to worship with our renewed nature (Hebrews 12:28; Romans 1:9). And in truth—genuinely, without hypocrisy, aiming to please God, not people (Psalm 51:6; Hebrews 10:22).
Why must God be worshipped this way?
Because under the gospel, only such are true worshippers. The gospel introduces a spiritual kind of worship, and if we don’t worship spiritually, we aren’t living according to gospel light.
Because the Father seeks such worshippers. This shows they’re rare (Jeremiah 30:21), that God insists on such worship, that he accepts it gladly (Psalm 132:13-14; Song of Solomon 2:14), and that he is always calling people into this kind of worship.
Because God is Spirit (John 1:18). He’s an infinite, eternal, invisible, incorruptible being. If he weren’t spirit, he couldn’t be perfect, infinite, or the Father of spirits. Therefore, his worship must be spiritual. If we don’t worship in spirit, we don’t glorify him or receive the blessing worship is meant to bring (Matthew 15:8-9).