Ver. 1. Baptized more disciples] Baptizing was used by the Jews before John or Christ took it up, from which custom, though brought in without commandment, our Saviour authorizeth a seal of entering into his rest; using the Jews’ weakness as an allurement thither.
Ver. 2. Jesus himself baptized not] A sweet comfort, that Christ is said not to baptize those whom the disciples baptized. The sacraments administered by ministers are no less effectual than if we had received the same from Christ’s own hands.
Ver. 3. He left Judea] God must be trusted, not tempted.
Ver. 4. He must needs go] Happy for them that they lay in our Saviour’s way, to be looked upon; his feet drop fatness. Luther had rather be with Christ in hell than in heaven without him, Malim praesente Christo esse in inferno, quam absente eo in coelo. Luther in Gen. 30.
Ver. 5. Jacob gave to his son Joseph] Having first won it with “his sword and his bow,” Genesis 48:22; that is, with his prayer and supplication (saith the Chaldee paraphrast); which, as Saul’s sword and Jonathan’s bow, never return empty, 2 Samuel 1:22.
Ver. 6. Jesus therefore, being wearied] And in that he himself had suffered, he was the more able and apt to help this poor Samaritess. So the apostle bids us pity those in adversity, as being ourselves in the body, i.e. in the body of flesh and frailty, subject to like misery. He that hath had the toothache, will pity those that have it. Non ignara mali, &c. Do not ignore evil. We are orphans all (said Queen Elizabeth, in her speech to the children of Christ’s Hospital), let me enjoy your prayers, and ye shall be sure of mine assistance. μετριοπαθειν’ Proportionate ad miseriam condolere, Hebrews 5:2 13:3.
Ver. 7. A woman of Samaria] A poor cupbearer, such as Festus calls Canalicolas, quod circa canalem fori consisterent, lazy people because they were much about the conduits of the forum. (Becman. de Originib.)
Ver. 8. To buy meat] For our Saviour lived not upon alms; but although he became poor to make us rich, 2 Corinthians 8:9, yet had he a bag, and that so big as that it required a bearer, John 12:6, his friends and followers supplying him with money for his necessary uses and for relief of the poor.
Ver. 9. Askest drink of me?] The Samaritans knew that they were slighted by the Jews, and took it ill, Gens haec (saith Giraldus Cambrensis, of the Irish) sicut et natio quaevis barbara, quanquam honorem neseiant, honorari tamen supra medam affectant. No man would be slighted, how mean soever. For the Jews have no dealings, &c.] Josephus writeth, that at Samaria was a sanctuary opened by Sanballat for all renegade Jews, &c. The Jews therefore hated the presence, the fire, the fashion, the books of a Samaritan. Neither was there any hatred lost on the Samaritan’s part; for if he had but touched a Jew, he would have thrown himself into the next water, clothes and all; both of them equally sick of a noli me tangere. Do not touch me. (Epiphanius.)
Ver. 10. The gift of God] That is, Christ hi mself, called by St Paul the benefit, ευεργεσια, 1 Timothy 6:2. Let him not be to us as Jether’s sword to him, which he drew not, used not; but as Goliath’s sword to David, none to that. None but Christ, none but Christ, said that martyr.
Ver. 11. Sir, thou hast no bucket] See how witty we are naturally, with our armed dilemmas, to reject grace offered, and with both hands as it were, to thrust away from us eternal life, απωθεισθε, Acts 13:46.
Ver. 12. Our father Jacob] Josephus tells us that these Samaritans, while the Jews prospered, would needs be their dear cousins; but when they were in adversity (as under Antiochus) they would utterly disown and disavow them. They wrote to Antiochus, because he tormented the Jews, to excuse themselves as none such; and they styled Antiochus, the mighty God. Oh, baseness!
Ver. 13. Shall thirst again] So shall all they, quibus avaritiae aut ambitionis salsugo bibulam animare possidet. He that seeks to satisfy his lusts goes about an endless business. Give, give, is the horse’s leech language. The worldling hath enough to sink him, not to satisfy him.
Ver. 14. Shall never thirst] His lips water not after homely provision, that hath lately tasted of delicate sustenance. “ Clitorio quicunque sitim de fonte levarit, Vina fugit, gaudetque meris abstemius undis.” (Ovid, Metam. xv.)
Ver. 15. Sir, give me this water] We would all have immortality, but here on earth. Some think she jeers our Saviour here; who therefore in the next words arouseth her conscience.
Ver. 16. Go, call thy husband] It was a great favour in Christ to receive that sinful woman that washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, and not to kick her out of his presence, as the Pharisees expected. How much greater is this, to fetch in an idolatrous harlotry that fled from him, to entertain her that had rejected him? &c. Well might St Paul say, that the “grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant,” or doth abound to flowing over, as the sea easily o verfloweth mole hills, υπερεπλεονασε, 1 Timothy 1:14.