John 4:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

NIV: Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.'

NASB: Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and yet you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one must worship.'

CSB: Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem."

NLT: So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?'

KJV: Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

NKJV: Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

Verses 19 and 20 make it clear that this Samaritan woman is no fool. She was perceptive enough to sense a deeper meaning behind Jesus' first statement (John 4:11). She was willing to press the issue after that (John 4:15). And, she was insightful enough not to lie, but to give a less-than-complete response when Jesus asked about her husband (John 4:17). When Jesus reveals that He knows exactly what she has done, she's clever enough to try a distraction. The path she chooses shows she's not only quick-minded, but clever.

This is a common problem in evangelism, and debate. Rather than deal with the point at hand, those looking to duck the issue may try to divert conversation onto something else. This is referred to as a "rabbit hole," or sometimes as a "red herring." It's a path, or a statement, which serves no immediate purpose other than drawing attention away from the current topic.

In this case, the attempted distraction involves a classic argument between the Jews and Samaritans. Samaritans were not allowed to come to the temple in Jerusalem. Their religion taught that true worship could occur only on nearby Mount Gerizim. In a sense, this was something like a "young earth" vs "old earth" or "Calvinism" vs "Arminianism" debate. While the question itself might have been worthwhile, it's not pertinent to what Jesus and the woman are discussing at that moment.

Jesus' response will draw on His prior statement about the woman's sin, as well as parrying her attempted distraction. Instead of letting her avoid the issue, Jesus will show how she needs to confront it: God knows, and He wants people like her anyway.

John 4:5–26 describes one of the most famous moments in Jesus' earthly ministry. Here, He converses with a Samaritan woman. This particular woman is not only an ''unclean'' Samaritan, but an outcast among her own people. She attempts to avoid Jesus' teachings, giving flippant and sarcastic answers. Despite that, and despite knowing all about her sin, Jesus encourages her with the love of God. This breaks through her hard heart; as a result, many others are brought to meet Christ. The disciples are also taught a valuable lesson about the purpose of their mission.

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. Jesus both confronts her about her sin, and comforts her with the truth of the gospel. In particular, He explains that even though He knows her sins, He still seeks after her, and those like her. The woman returns to town, eventually bringing many people to meet Jesus. The disciples, meanwhile, have to be reminded of the purpose of their mission. Jesus also heals the son of a government official in a way that demonstrates the importance of trusting faith, rather than reliance on spectacle.

John chapter 4 continues the use of contrast. Jesus goes from conversing with an educated, powerful, prestigious man to talking to an outcast, unlearned, self-conscious woman. The combination of this passage, along with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, makes an important spiritual point. The gospel is for all people, in all places, and all times. Christ can reach each person exactly where he or she needs to be reached.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.