“Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei : Omnis qui bibit ex aqua hac, sitiet iterum ; qui autem biberit ex aqua quam ego dabo ei, non sitiet in æternum :”
“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:”
“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.”
“Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again,”
“Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again:”
Shall thirst again. After any water, or any drink, a man naturally thirsts again; but Christ speaks of the spiritual water of grace in this life, and of glory in the next, which will perfectly satisfy the desires of man’s immortal soul for ever.
[5.] Christ answers this cavil, and makes it out that the living water he had to give was far better than that of Jacob's well, v. 13, 14. Though she spoke perversely, Christ did not cast her off, but instructed and encouraged her. He shows her,
1. They discourse concerning the water, v. 7-15.
Verses 4-26 There was great hatred between the Samaritans and the Jews. Christ's road from Judea to Galilee lay through Samaria. We should not go into places of temptation but when we needs must; and then must not dwell in them, but hasten through them. We have here our Lord Jesus under the common fatigue of travellers. Thus we see that he was truly a man. Toil came in with sin; therefore Christ, having made himself a curse for us, submitted to it. Also, he was a poor man, and went all his journeys on foot. Being wearied, he sat thus on the well; he had no couch to rest upon. He sat thus, as people wearied with travelling sit. Surely, we ought readily to submit to be like the Son of God in such things as these. Christ asked a woman for water. She was surprised because he did not show the anger of his own nation against the Samaritans. Moderate men of all sides are men wondered at. Christ took the occasion to teach her Divine things: he converted this woman, by showing her ignorance and sinfulness, and her need of a Saviour. By this living water is meant the Spirit. Under this comparison the blessing of the Messiah had been promised in the Old Testament. The graces of the Spirit, and his comforts, satisfy the thirsting soul, that knows its own nature and necessity. What Jesus spake figuratively, she took literally. Christ shows that the water of Jacob's well yielded a very short satisfaction. Of whatever waters of comfort we drink, we shall thirst again. But whoever partakes of the Spirit of grace, and the comforts of the gospel, shall never want that which will abundantly satisfy his soul. Carnal hearts look no higher than carnal ends. Give it me, saith she, not that I may have everlasting life, which Christ proposed, but that I come not hither to draw. The carnal mind…