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Let's begin to 'draw the strings together'...
Christ describes the essence of true worship during his conversation with the woman at the well (John 4:17). After the Saviour declares the woman's immorality, she perceives that he is a prophet. Therefore, she propounds to him the prominent religious controversy which existed between the Jews and the Samaritans.
Specifically, the dispute was over where to worship. Now, it is true that God had prescribed Jerusalem as the place for public ordinances although that would soon change. But the dispute had degenerated into a focus strictly upon the outward forms of religion. Thus, Christ was confronted with a loaded question the kind frequently spawned by religious controversy.
Jesus responds by placing the dispute within a larger context: the nature of true worship. He notes that there is more to the matter than simply settling a dispute over the proper place for worship. He also points to the approaching changes which would render obsolete the whole debate about the locale for worship.
Outwardly, as to the place for public ordinances, the Jews were right. God had prescribed a pattern of worship which was focused upon Jerusalem. The divine pattern was designed as a witness for all mankind, regarding the right way of salvation. "Salvation is of the Jews," for "unto them were committed the oracles of God" (John 4:22; Romans 3:22).
In this sense, the Jews worshipped what they knew: that is, they adhered to the knowledge of the law as it pertained to the place for divine ordinances. (Herein we are again directed to the importance of revealed religion, as given in the law.) The Samaritans had abandoned the law, and forged their own mongrel religion. (See 2 Kings 17.)
In another manner,Jesus reiterates the importance of God's appointment in religion. "The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father" (John 4:21). A great change was about to occur, respecting the outward ordinances of worship.
At whose direction? Not by man's appointment, but by the appointment of God. He alone is the lawgiver. None may tamper with the pattern which he has established; yet it is the Lord's prerogative to make alterations in conformity with his purposes.
Jesus next summarizes the essence of true worship, which includes the inseparable union of both piety and knowledge. True worshippers shall worship God "in spirit and in the truth" (John 4:23-24). The worship of these true worshippers is characterized in this manner, as an outworking of God's saving grace.
God's sovereignty in salvation extends not only to the manner in which elect are saved, but also to the purposes for which they are redeemed. One essential design in the salvation of the elect is that they shall worship in spirit and truth: "for the Father seeketh such to worship him" (John 4:23).
The language is repeated in imperative form. It is language similar to other imperatives in the teaching of Christ, such as the statement recorded in the previous chapter of John's gospel: "Ye must be born again." The true worshippers "shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 3:7; John 4:23-24).
True worship must be "in spirit." It involves the inner man, demanding sincerity and love. Worship includes more than the mere outward forms of devotion. Many times God has pronounced a curse against persons wedded to empty forms of religion.
The unbelieving Jews had hearts far from the Lord, even though they were in the right place for external ordinances. Our worship must flow from hearts of sincerity and love toward God our Saviour (Cf. Matthew 15:8-9; Isaiah 29:13).
Likewise, genuine worship must be "in truth." That is, our worship must be in conformity to God's written revelation. There is, indeed, an outward measure for our worship. In the present day, it is common to hear comments that the "heart" is all that matters: a mistaken concept that sincerity of motive and fervent emotion are the substance of genuine worship.
But Christ does not confine the essence of worship to worship in spirit; he adds the measure of truth. Acceptable worship is more than the gushy effervescence of a fervent heart. Without truth, such fervor is an offense before God; it is zeal, "but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2).
Christ's statements imply a solemn warning. By his reference to "true worshippers" (John 4:23), we may perceive a distinction which sets them apart from other worshippers. In other words, there is a class of worshippers who are false in their worship. Therefore, we must examine our own worship, that we may discern to which class we belong.
The New Era Following the Death of Christ
As Christ indicated to the woman at the well, a great change was occurring; it would render the dispute between Samaritans and Jews obsolete. When Christ died upon the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two "from the top to the bottom" (Matthew 27:51). This event signified the fulfillment of the Levitical ordinances of the Old Testament. Formerly, "the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God."
Now "Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrewa 9:6; 9:24; cf. 8:2). The earthly tabernacle (the temple) had always been a mere "example and shadow of heavenly things." Now that the substance is manifest in Christ, the types and shadows give way to reality (Hebrews 8:5; cf. 10:1; Colossians 2:17).
Through his priestly offering on the cross, Jesus "by himself purged our sins" and "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Having been declared "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec," Christ rendered the Levitical priesthood obsolete (Hebrews 1:3; 5:6; 7:12).
With "the priesthood being changed," and the temple ceremonies having fulfilled their purpose, Jerusalem is no longer the fixed locale for the preeminent expressions of public wor ship. With the Old Testament ceremonies gone, what remains?
Christ describes the essence of true worship during his conversation with the woman at the well (John 4:17). After the Saviour declares the woman's immorality, she perceives that he is a prophet. Therefore, she propounds to him the prominent religious controversy which existed between the Jews and the Samaritans.
Specifically, the dispute was over where to worship. Now, it is true that God had prescribed Jerusalem as the place for public ordinances although that would soon change. But the dispute had degenerated into a focus strictly upon the outward forms of religion. Thus, Christ was confronted with a loaded question the kind frequently spawned by religious controversy.
Jesus responds by placing the dispute within a larger context: the nature of true worship. He notes that there is more to the matter than simply settling a dispute over the proper place for worship. He also points to the approaching changes which would render obsolete the whole debate about the locale for worship.
Outwardly, as to the place for public ordinances, the Jews were right. God had prescribed a pattern of worship which was focused upon Jerusalem. The divine pattern was designed as a witness for all mankind, regarding the right way of salvation. "Salvation is of the Jews," for "unto them were committed the oracles of God" (John 4:22; Romans 3:22).
In this sense, the Jews worshipped what they knew: that is, they adhered to the knowledge of the law as it pertained to the place for divine ordinances. (Herein we are again directed to the importance of revealed religion, as given in the law.) The Samaritans had abandoned the law, and forged their own mongrel religion. (See 2 Kings 17.)
In another manner,Jesus reiterates the importance of God's appointment in religion. "The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father" (John 4:21). A great change was about to occur, respecting the outward ordinances of worship.
At whose direction? Not by man's appointment, but by the appointment of God. He alone is the lawgiver. None may tamper with the pattern which he has established; yet it is the Lord's prerogative to make alterations in conformity with his purposes.
Jesus next summarizes the essence of true worship, which includes the inseparable union of both piety and knowledge. True worshippers shall worship God "in spirit and in the truth" (John 4:23-24). The worship of these true worshippers is characterized in this manner, as an outworking of God's saving grace.
God's sovereignty in salvation extends not only to the manner in which elect are saved, but also to the purposes for which they are redeemed. One essential design in the salvation of the elect is that they shall worship in spirit and truth: "for the Father seeketh such to worship him" (John 4:23).
The language is repeated in imperative form. It is language similar to other imperatives in the teaching of Christ, such as the statement recorded in the previous chapter of John's gospel: "Ye must be born again." The true worshippers "shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 3:7; John 4:23-24).
True worship must be "in spirit." It involves the inner man, demanding sincerity and love. Worship includes more than the mere outward forms of devotion. Many times God has pronounced a curse against persons wedded to empty forms of religion.
The unbelieving Jews had hearts far from the Lord, even though they were in the right place for external ordinances. Our worship must flow from hearts of sincerity and love toward God our Saviour (Cf. Matthew 15:8-9; Isaiah 29:13).
Likewise, genuine worship must be "in truth." That is, our worship must be in conformity to God's written revelation. There is, indeed, an outward measure for our worship. In the present day, it is common to hear comments that the "heart" is all that matters: a mistaken concept that sincerity of motive and fervent emotion are the substance of genuine worship.
But Christ does not confine the essence of worship to worship in spirit; he adds the measure of truth. Acceptable worship is more than the gushy effervescence of a fervent heart. Without truth, such fervor is an offense before God; it is zeal, "but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2).
Christ's statements imply a solemn warning. By his reference to "true worshippers" (John 4:23), we may perceive a distinction which sets them apart from other worshippers. In other words, there is a class of worshippers who are false in their worship. Therefore, we must examine our own worship, that we may discern to which class we belong.
The New Era Following the Death of Christ
As Christ indicated to the woman at the well, a great change was occurring; it would render the dispute between Samaritans and Jews obsolete. When Christ died upon the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two "from the top to the bottom" (Matthew 27:51). This event signified the fulfillment of the Levitical ordinances of the Old Testament. Formerly, "the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God."
Now "Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrewa 9:6; 9:24; cf. 8:2). The earthly tabernacle (the temple) had always been a mere "example and shadow of heavenly things." Now that the substance is manifest in Christ, the types and shadows give way to reality (Hebrews 8:5; cf. 10:1; Colossians 2:17).
Through his priestly offering on the cross, Jesus "by himself purged our sins" and "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Having been declared "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec," Christ rendered the Levitical priesthood obsolete (Hebrews 1:3; 5:6; 7:12).
With "the priesthood being changed," and the temple ceremonies having fulfilled their purpose, Jerusalem is no longer the fixed locale for the preeminent expressions of public wor ship. With the Old Testament ceremonies gone, what remains?
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