Esther, Chapter 4, verses 1, 3-5, 12-14
1 The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews, 4 Esther, understanding it, sendeth to Mordecai, who showeth the cause, and adviseth her to undertake the suit, 10 She, excusing herself, is threatened by MordecaiJohn, Chapter 4, verses 19-34
1 Christ talketh with a woman of Samaria, and revealeth himself unto her, 27 His disciples marvel, 31 He declareth to them his zeal to God's glory4
4:19 Sir, I perceive - So soon was her heart touched.
4:20 The instant she perceived this, she proposes what she thought the most important of all questions. This mountain - Pointing to Mount Gerizim. Sanballat, by the permission of Alexander the Great, had built a temple upon Mount Gerizim, for Manasseh, who for marrying Sanballat's daughter had been expelled from the priesthood and from Jerusalem, Neh 13:28. This was the place where the Samaritans used to worship in opposition to Jerusalem.And it was so near Sychar, that a man's voice might be heard from the one to the other. Our fathers worshipped - This plainly refers to Abraham and Jacob (from whom the Samaritans pretended to deduce their genealogy) who erected altars in this place: Gen 12:6-7, and Gen 33:18, Gen 33:20. And possibly to the wholecongregation, who were directed when they came into the land of Canaan to put the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, Deu 11:29.Ye Jews say, In Jerusalem is the place - Namely, the temple.
4:21 Believe me - Our Lord uses this expression in this manner but once; and that to a Samaritan. To his own people, the Jews, his usual language is, I say unto you. The hour cometh when ye - Both Samaritans and Jews, shall worship neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem - As preferable to any other place. True worship shall be no longer confined to any one place or nation.
4:22 Ye worship ye know not what - Ye Samaritans are ignorant, not only of the place, but of the very object of worship. Indeed, they feared the Lord after a fashion; but at the same time served their own gods, Ki2 17:33.Salvation is from the Jews - So spake all the prophets, that the Saviour should arise out of the Jewish nation: and that from thence the knowledge of him should spread to all nations under heaven.
4:23 The true worshippers shall worship the Father - Not here or there only, but at all times and in all places.
4:24 God is a Spirit - Not only remote from the body, and all the properties of it, but likewise full of all spiritual perfections, power, wisdom, love, holiness. And our worship should be suitable to his nature. We should worship him with the truly spiritual worship of faith, love, and holiness, animating all our tempers, thoughts, words, and actions.
4:25 The woman saith - With joy for what she had already learned, and desire of fuller instruction.
4:26 Jesus saith - Hasting to satisfy her desire before his disciples came. l am He - Our Lord did not speak this so plainly to the Jews who were so full of the Messiah's temporal kingdom.If he had, many would doubtless have taken up arms in his favour, and others have accused him to the Roman governor. Yet he did in effect declare the thing, though he denied the particular title.For in a multitude of places he represented himself, both as the Son of man, and as the Son of God: both which expressions were generally understood by the Jews as peculiarly applicable to the Messiah.
4:27 His disciples marvelled that he talked with a woman - Which the Jewish rabbis reckoned scandalous for a man of distinction to do.They marvelled likewise at his talking with a woman of that nation, which was so peculiarly hateful to the Jews. Yet none said - To the woman, What seekest thou? - Or to Christ, Why talkest thou with her?
4:28 The woman left her water pot - Forgetting smaller things.
4:29 A man who told me all things that ever I did - Our Lord had told her but a few things. But his words awakened her conscience, which soon told her all the rest. Is not this the Christ? - She does not doubt of it herself, but incites them to make the inquiry.
4:31 In the meantime - Before the people came.
4:34 My meat - That which satisfies the strongest appetite of my soul.
4 The Jews fast and mourn, Est 4:1-3.
Esther is informed of the design, Est 4:4-9.
Mordecai presses her to intercede with the king, Est 4:10-14.
She desires all the Jews to keep a solemn fast, Est 4:15-17.
4:1 Cry - To express his deep sense of the mischief coming upon his people. It was bravely done, thus publickly to espouse a just cause though it seemed to be a desperate one.