John 4:23 BSB — MannaFest

John 4:23

But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.

KJV

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.

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Commentary

2 voices

Ambrose of Milan

On Isaac and the Soul 4.26 (397)

In the mystical doctrine, we understand that this well is also referred to there, because there the Samaritan woman, that is, the guardian (the guardian, however, of heavenly precepts), drew divine mysteries from that well, knowing that God is spirit, and is not worshipped in a place but in spirit; and because he is the Messiah, Christ. And therefore, he who is still expected by the Jews has already come. Having heard these things, that woman who appears to be of the Church, recognized the sacraments of the law, and believed.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

The true worshippers shall worship the Father - Not here or there only, but at all times and in all places.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

But the hour cometh, and now is - The old dispensation is about to pass away, and the new one to commence. “Already” there is so much light that God may be worshipped acceptably in any place. The true worshippers - All who truly and sincerely worship God. They who do it with the heart, and not merely in form.

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 695: “The Axe at the Root—A Testimony Against Puseyite Idolatry” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1866)

THE WOMAN’S CONSCIENCE had been aroused by Christ’s declaration of her sin. He was touching upon matters of the most vital importance, and her depraved heart naturally shrunk from the lancet, From the truth which was becoming inconveniently personal she flew to that natural resort of the carnal mind, namely, to religions discourse upon points of outward observance. Instead of confessing her sin, and asking how it may be forgiven, she must needs say, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

26 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	But	G235 →
ἔρχεται	erchetai	is coming	G2064 →
ὥρα	hōra	an hour	G5610 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
νῦν	nun	now	G3568 →
ἐστιν,	estin	is,	G1510 →
ὅτε	hote	when	G3753 →
οἱ	hoi	the	G3588 →
ἀληθινοὶ	alēthinoi	true	G228 →
προσκυνηταὶ	proskunētai	worshipers	G4353 →
προσκυνήσουσιν	proskunēsousin	will worship	G4352 →
τῷ	tō	the	G3588 →
πατρὶ	patri	Father	G3962 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
πνεύματι	pneumati	spirit	G4151 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ἀληθείᾳ·	alētheia	truth;	G225 →
καὶ	kai	also	G2532 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὁ	ho	the	G3588 →
πατὴρ	patēr	Father	G3962 →
τοιούτους	toioutous	such	G5108 →
ζητεῖ	zētei	seeks	G2212 →
τοὺς	tous	who	G3588 →
προσκυνοῦντας	proskunountas	worship	G4352 →
αὐτόν.	auton	Him.	G846 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
leads to
- Matthew 10:20
  For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
- Ephesians 6:18
  Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Galatians 4:6
  And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- John 14:16
  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—
- Jude 1:20–21
  But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Through
Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
leads to
- Romans 8:15–17
  For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
- Romans 5:5
  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
Through
Philippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
leads to
- Colossians 2:11
  In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.

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About John

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain

John: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →

Continue: John 4 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About John

Where the connections lead

The record, by era

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About John