Samaritan Woman Page 1 Location in Scripture: John 4:1-42 History: King Omri named the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel Samaria (1 Kings 16:24). The name eventually referred to the entire district and sometimes to the entire northern kingdom, which had been taken captive by Assyria in 722 BC It left a sizable Jewish population in the northing Samaritan region and transported many non-jews into Samaria. These groups intermingled to form a mixed race through intermarriage. Eventually tension developed between the Jews who returned from captivity and the Samaritans. The Samaritans withdrew from the worship of Yahweh at Jerusalem Samaritans regarded only the Pentateuch as authoritative. As a result, Jews repudiated Samaritans and considered them heretical. Intense ethical and cultural tensions raged so that both avoided contact as much as possible. (MacArthur 1583) To Jews, the Samaritans represented the downfall of their nation and also represented forbidden intermarriages between Jews and Gentiles. (Quest 1527) The Jews hated the Samaritans and considered them to be no longer pure Jews. (Radmacher 1766) A Jew would become ceremonially unclean if he used a drinking vessel handled by a Samaritan, since the Jews held that all Samaritans were unclean. (Barker 1598) Jews did not share eating or drinking vessels with Samaritans. (Hayford 1448) The Samaritans had set up an alternate center for worship on Mount Gerizim to parallel the temple at Jerusalem. (Life 1822) The Road to Samaria: Several roads led from Judea to Galilee: one near the seacoast; another through the region of Perea; and one through the heart of Samaria. (MacArthur 1583) Jesus did not follow the usual way for Jews to travel between Galilee and Judea, which was to avoid Samaritan territory by crossing to the east bank of the Jordan. (Patterson 1758) The Culture in Her Time: Women generally came in groups to collect water, either earlier or later in the day to avoid the sun s heat. If the Samaritan woman came alone at 12pm, this may indicate that her public shame caused her to be isolated from other women. (MacArthur 1583) For a Jewish man to speak to a woman in public, let alone to ask from her, a Samaritan, a drink, was a definite breach of rigid social custom as well as a marked departure from the social animosity that existed between the two groups. Further, a rabbi and religious leader did not hold conversations with women of ill-repute. (MacArthur 1583) [The well] offered women interaction as well as water. This woman s coming alone in the heat of the day suggests that she was an outcast. (Quest 1527) Divorce in the Jewish-Samaritan culture could only be initiated by the husband, who had to state publicly that his wife was unclean, unlovable, or incapable of fulfilling her wifely duties. Divorce therefore shamed a woman. Five men had publicly shamed her and now she was most likely living with her current partner simply to avoid begging and starvation. (Quest 1528)
Samaritan Woman Page 2 Rabbis taught that women could not learn the Law and that a long conversation with a woman would lead a man astray. (Quest 1528) The Jews held that a woman might be divorced twice or at the most three times. If the Samaritans had the same standard, the woman s life had been exceedingly immoral. Apparently she had not married her present partner. (Barker 1598) Jesus met and spoke to the woman at Jacob s well, breaking three major social rules: (1) in public no Middle Eastern man ever spoke to a woman, not even his wife, mother, or sister; (2) no Jew ever spoke to a Samaritan the Jews and Samaritans hated and avoided each other; and (3) no self-respecting man, especially a teacher, would ever speak to a woman of such despicable reputation as a well-known social outcast. (Patterson 1758) Quotes: The story of the Samaritan woman reinforces John s main theme that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. (MacArthur 1583) Also important is the fact that this chapter demonstrates Jesus love and understanding of people. His love for mankind involved no boundaries, for He lovingly and compassionately reached out to a woman who was a social outcast. (MacArthur 1583) Jesus had an appointment with divine destiny in meeting the Samaritan woman. (MacArthur 1583) Jesus used this woman s need for physical water to sustain life in this arid region in order to serve as an object lesson for her need for spiritual transformation. (MacArthur 1584) Jesus had such an impact on the woman that she was eager to share the news among the townspeople whom she had previously avoided because of her reputation. (MacArthur 1585) Jesus mentioned the woman s husband in order to expose her sin. (Radmacher 1766) Jesus conversation with the Samaritan woman reveals His commitment to His heavenly Father s purpose and His own inner desire to bring this person to eternal life. Jesus consuming passion was to save the lost. (Stamps 1606) This woman (1) was a Samaritan, a member of the hated mixed race, (2) was known to be living in sin, and (3) was in a public place. No respectable Jewish man would talk to a woman under such circumstances. But Jesus did. (Life 1823) Jesus allowed the woman time to ask questions and put pieces together for herself. (Life 1823) Christ had led her to see both herself and Him more clearly She had been gradually, wisely led to that point where she truly did believe. (Richards 179) When Jesus revealed that He knew her deepest secrets, she quickly tried to distract Him with a theological questions. (Richards 180) Nothing the woman said would keep Jesus at bay. He kept pressing beneath the surface, inviting her to a deeper understanding. (Spangler 318) Cleansed and transformed, she focused on Christ rather than on herself. The Samaritan woman become a vibrant and successful witness for Jesus Christ. (Richards 180) A transformed
Samaritan Woman Page 3 woman became a great evangelistic influence. (Hayford 1450) She is a model of how true revelation may translate into a powerful witness. (Hayford 1450) Jesus gave her the unconditional acceptance and love that we all ache for. What the woman may have sought in promiscuous sex she found through faith in Jesus. (Richards 180) He saw her thirst for more than water and her hunger for more than food. (Syswerda 1646) Jesus sense of constraint and choice to travel through Samaria demonstrates great intentionality in reaching out with reconciling love. (Hayford 1449) Jesus initiative forgives, restores, and empowers a woman, who persuades men to heed a Jewish Messiah. (Hayford 1450) Notes on the Scripture: The term used [in verse 6] for well denotes a running spring, while in verses 11-12 John used another term for well meaning dug out well, indicating that the well was both dug out and fed by an underground spring. (MacArthur 1583) John gave five genuine but subtle proofs that Jesus was truly Messiah and Son of God: (1) His immediate control of everything (verse 27); (2) His impact on the woman (verses 28-30); (3) His intimacy with the Father (verses 31-34); (4) His insight into men s souls (verses 35-38); and (5) His impression on the Samaritans (verses 39-42). (MacArthur 1585) His immediate control Had the disciples arrived earlier, they would have destroyed the conversation, and if they had arrived later they would not have heard His declaration of messiahship. (MacArthur 1585) [In relation to verses 37-38] Jesus would sow by giving His life on the cross so others could reap a harvest of souls We are able to sow the gospel, knowing it will produce a harvest whether we see it or not. (Quest 1528) The title Savior of the world is used only here and in 1 John 4:14. (Radmacher 1767) [This is] the only occasion before His trail on which Jesus specifically said that He was the Messiah. (Barker 1598) It is significant that Jesus first tells a woman that He is the Christ. In Jewish culture at the time, women were not highly respected and were often ignored. (Syswerda 1750) Lessons: Jesus salvation extends to the world. (Barker 1599) All around us people are ready to hear God s Word; we must find ways to speak to them about their spiritual need and about Jesus, who can meet that need. (Stamps 1606) To partake of living water one must drink. This act of drinking is not a momentary, single act but rather a progressive or repeated drinking regular communion with the source of the living water, Jesus Christ Himself. (Stamps 1606) We must be prepared to share the gospel at any time and in any place. (Life 1823) The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible, can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls. (Life 1823)
Samaritan Woman Page 4 Christ did not come to take away challenges but to change us on the inside and to empower us to deal with problems from God s perspective. (Life 1823) When you ask people to let Jesus change their lives, give them time to weigh the matter. (Life 1823) Christ changes us. As people see these changes, they become curious. Use these opportunities to introduce them to Christ. (Life 1824) There is no joy or satisfaction to be found in the practice of sin. (Richards 180) Jesus is waiting for us too. He wants to talk to us in our everyday activities. He ll listen to all our questions and opinions. Then, when we stop our chatter, He ll reveal our deepest need and meet it. (Syswerda 1646) Jesus calls us to enter intentionally and sensitively into the experiences of others even if they are different from us. (Hayford 1449) Affirm the worth of all people. (Hayford 1450) Questions (all answers found in John 4): 1. Where was Jesus? (3:22a) a. What was He doing? (3:22b) b. Who is helping Him? (2) c. How? (2) d. How does God use this with the Pharisees? (1) 2. Where does Jesus decide to go? (3) 3. What does verse 4 say about Samaria? 4. Where does He stop? (5) a. For what 2 reasons? (6a-b) b. What time is it? (6c) c. Who is with Him? (8) 5. Who comes? Why? (7a)
Samaritan Woman Page 5 6. What does He ask of her? (7b) 7. What is her response? (9a) 8. Why? (9b) 9. What 3 things does Jesus offer her as a response in verse 10? 10. What 2 obstacles does she bring up to His living water? (11a) 11. What is she wondering in verse a. 11b b. 12a 12. What 3 things does Jesus say is significant about His water? (14) 13. For what 2 reasons is the Samaritan woman interested? (15) 14. What is Jesus response? (16) 15. What is her answer? (17a) 16. Why is it a significant answer? (18) 17. What does she realize about Jesus? (19) 18. What does she change the conversation to in verse 20? 19. What does Jesus say about worship in verse a. 21 b. 22a c. 23a d. 23b, 24
Samaritan Woman Page 6 20. What is her 2-part response? (25) 21. What is Jesus response? (26) 22. What happens at this point? (27a) a. What is their reaction? b. What do they say? 23. What 3 things does the Samaritan woman do in verses 28-29? 24. What do her townsmen do? (30) 25. Why? (39b, 29) 26. What is the result in verse a. 39a b. 40 c. 41 27. In what 2 ways is everyone effected by Jesus? (42) Going Deeper: A. What does verse 4 tell you about Jesus? His mission? (Refer to verse 34.) B. Why did Jesus choose to rest by the well? C. Why was it so unusual for Jesus to talk to the Samaritan woman? (Refer back to the beginning notes and quotes.)
Samaritan Woman Page 7 D. Why did Jesus open the conversation by asking for a drink of water? E. Why is it significant that Jesus came alone into Sychar? F. What does Jesus reveal in verse 10? Why does He do this? G. What does the Samaritan woman think Jesus was offering her in verse 10? H. How does John 7:38 say one obtains living water? Why is this significant, according to verse 39? I. What does it mean as a believer to never thirst? J. What do verses 15 and 18 tell you about the Samaritan woman? K. Why does she try to change the subject to worship in verse 20? (How did Jesus make her feel?) L. Why does the Samaritan woman response to worship as she does in verse 25?
Samaritan Woman Page 8 M. Why does Jesus not introduce Himself until verse 26? N. What is significant about her actions in verse 28? What does this reveal about her? O. How does her conversation with Jesus affect her? (What does verse 29 reveal?) P. How does the Samaritan woman affect the people around her? Q. What does Jesus attention to and conversation with the Samaritan woman reveal about Him and His relationship with women? R. Why do the disciples not question Jesus in verse 27? Getting Personal: 1. When was a time when you isolated yourself? Why? 2. What are you currently thirsty for? 3. Have you let your testimony affect someone else? What happened?
Samaritan Woman Page 9 4. How do you normally converse with God? 5. What does worship mean to you? 6. Who or what is the husband (sin, shame) in your life? How is it affecting you? 7. How do you react and respond to people different from you? 8. How has Christ been your Savior? Bibliography Barker, Kenneth, General Editor. NIV Study Bible. Michigan: Zondervan, 1995. Hayford, Jack, editor. New Spirit Filled Life Bible. New King James Version. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2002. Life Application Study Bible. New American Standard Version. Zondervan, 2000. MacArthur, John, editor. MacArthur Study Bible. New King James Version. Thomas Nelson Bibles, 1997. Patterson, Dorothy Kelley, editor. "The Woman's Study Bible. New King James Version." Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995. Quest Study Bible, New International Version. Michigan: Zondervan, 2003. Radmacher, Earl, editor. The Nelson Study Bible. New King James Version. Thomas Nelson Bibles, 1997. Richards, Sue and Larry. Every Woman in the Bible. Nashville, 1995. Page 95. Spangler, Ann and Jean Syswerda. Women of the Bible. Zondervan, 1999. Stamps, Donald, General Editor. Life in the Spirit Bible. King James Version. Michigan: Zondervan, 2003. Syswerda, Jean, General Editor. Women of Faith Study Bible. New International Version. Michigan: Zondervan, 2001.