John 4:18
Verse
Context
Sermons
Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Thou hast had five husbands - It is not clear that this woman was a prostitute: she might have been legally married to those five, and might have been divorced through some misbehavior of her own, not amounting to adultery; for the adulteress was to be put to death, both by the Jewish and Samaritan law, not divorced: or she might have been cast off through some caprice of her husband; for, in the time of our Lord, divorces were very common among the Jews, so that a man put away his wife for any fault. See the note on Mat 5:31. Some are so very fond of exaggerating that nothing can pass through their hands without an increase: hence Heracleon says she had six husbands, and Jerome modestly gives her twenty-two! Viginti duos habuisti maritos, et ille a quo sepelieris non est tuus. "Thou hast had twenty-two husbands and he by whom thou shalt be buried is not thine." Epist. xi. He whom thou now hast is not thy husband - Νυν ὁν εχεις, ουκ εϚι σου ανηρ. Bishop Pearce would translate this clause in the following manner: There is no husband whom thou now hast - or, less literally, Thou hast no husband now: probably the meaning is, Thou art contracted to another, but not yet brought home: therefore he is not yet thy husband. See Rosenmuller. Bishop Pearce contends that our Lord did not speak these words to her by way of reproof: 1. Because it is not likely that a woman so far advanced in years as to have had five husbands should have now been found living in adultery with a sixth person. 2. Because it is not likely that our Lord would not, in some part of his discourse, have reproved her for her fornication, especially if guilty of it under such gross circumstances. 3. Nor is it likely that a woman of so bad a life should have had so much influence with the people of her city that they should, on her testimony, Joh 4:39-42, believe Jesus to be the Messiah. 4. Nor is it at all likely that when a discovery of her guilt was made to her, by one whom she acknowledged to be a prophet, Joh 4:19, the first thing which came into her thoughts should be the important question in religion, about the place appointed by God for his worship, so warmly contested between the Jews and Samaritans. 5. Nor is it at all probable that a person of such a bad life, without any mentioned sign of repentance, should have been the first (perhaps the only private person) to whom Jesus is recorded as declaring himself to be the Christ, as he does to her, Joh 4:26.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For thou hast had five husbands,.... Which she either had had lawfully, and had buried one after another; and which was no crime, and might be: the Sadducees propose a case to Christ, in which a woman is said to have had seven husbands successively, in a lawful manner, Mat 22:25. Or rather, she had had so many, and had been divorced from everyone of them, for adultery; for no other cause it should seem did the Samaritans divorce; seeing that they only received the law of Moses, and rejected, at least, many of the traditions of the elders; and since they are particularly said (y). "not to be expert in the law of marriages and divorces:'' and the rather this may seem to be the case, as Dr. Lightfoot observes; since these husbands are mentioned, as well as he with whom she lived in an adulterous manner; and which suggests, that she had not lived honestly with them: and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband; that is, not thy lawful husband, as the Persic version reads, and Nonnus paraphrases; being not married to him at all, though they cohabited as man and wife, when there was no such relation between them: in that saidst thou truly; or that which is truth: thus Christ the omniscient God, who knew her full well, and the whole of her past infamous conversation, and her present lewd and wicked way of living, exposes all unto her. (y) T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol 76. 1.
John 4:18
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
17“I have no husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said to her, “You are correct to say that you have no husband.18In fact, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. You have spoken truthfully.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Following the Footsteps of Christ) the Unique Teacher
By Willie Mullan1.5K58:48Footsteps Of ChristMAT 6:33MRK 4:39MRK 11:12MRK 11:23JHN 4:18JHN 11:43In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the uniqueness of Jesus as a teacher. He mentions that Jesus had the ability to captivate and move his audience. The preacher then discusses one specific object that Jesus used during his ministry, which is the fig tree mentioned in Mark's Gospel chapter 11. He suggests that Jesus had been out on the Mount all night and was returning in the morning when he encountered the fig tree. The preacher emphasizes the importance of not being swayed by clever criticism and blasphemies, as the devil may be behind them.
Acts 11
By Bill Gallatin8481:18:38ExpositionalMAT 28:19JHN 4:18ACT 11:1In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal experience of how God has spoken to him through His word and guided him in his Christian journey. He then focuses on the story of Peter in the Bible, where Peter has a vision of a vessel descending from heaven with various animals. God tells Peter to slay and eat, but Peter objects, saying that he has never eaten anything unclean. The speaker emphasizes the importance of praying for others to have their hearts softened and their eyes opened to the truth of God's word and His love and grace. He also mentions a Bible school at a college where students are passionate about sharing the gospel and doing outreach in the city.
The Appearing of Resurrection and the Giving of Power
By Newman Sze8201:22:11MAT 28:1MAT 28:19MRK 16:15LUK 24:44JHN 20:19JHN 21:25In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the 40 days that Jesus spent on earth after His resurrection. He explains that during this time, Jesus trained His disciples to shift their focus from external things to internal revelation, from the flesh to the Holy Spirit, and from the law to life. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about a turbulent airplane ride to illustrate the need for Christians to rise above fear and rely on the Holy Spirit. He concludes by urging the audience to prioritize their personal encounter with the Lord and the experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
John 1:41-42
By St. John Chrysostom0PSA 133:1MAT 12:24MAT 16:17MRK 3:17LUK 9:58JHN 1:42JHN 4:18JHN 15:11CO 3:23HEB 10:25John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of companionship and unity among believers, highlighting the benefits of dwelling together in love and mutual support as opposed to isolation. He delves into the significance of Andrew's immediate sharing of the good news about Jesus with his brother Simon, showcasing the eagerness and zeal in spreading the message of Christ. Chrysostom also discusses the gradual revelation of Jesus' divinity through prophecies and the power of naming individuals in the Bible, such as Simon being called Cephas. Furthermore, he reflects on the honor and responsibility of being called Christians, urging believers to live up to the dignity of the title by imitating Christ in their actions and attitudes towards wealth and possessions.
Precious Purity - Engagement
By Erlo Stegen0Spiritual FidelityPurity in RelationshipsPSA 51:10PRO 19:14MAT 6:24JHN 4:182CO 11:2GAL 6:7HEB 12:14JAS 4:41JN 1:6REV 1:14Erlo Stegen emphasizes the importance of purity and holiness in engagements, urging young people to seek God's guidance in choosing a spouse rather than succumbing to worldly standards of beauty and indulgence. He warns against the consequences of unfaithfulness and the inevitability of sin being revealed, using the example of a young man who married a beautiful woman only to discover her infidelity. Stegen stresses that true faith requires a complete separation from sin and a sincere commitment to Jesus, as unrepentant hearts will face dire consequences. He calls for self-examination and repentance, reminding listeners that God despises wickedness and that one cannot claim to know Christ while living in sin. The sermon serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of spiritual fidelity and the need for a pure heart before the Lord.
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Thou hast had five husbands - It is not clear that this woman was a prostitute: she might have been legally married to those five, and might have been divorced through some misbehavior of her own, not amounting to adultery; for the adulteress was to be put to death, both by the Jewish and Samaritan law, not divorced: or she might have been cast off through some caprice of her husband; for, in the time of our Lord, divorces were very common among the Jews, so that a man put away his wife for any fault. See the note on Mat 5:31. Some are so very fond of exaggerating that nothing can pass through their hands without an increase: hence Heracleon says she had six husbands, and Jerome modestly gives her twenty-two! Viginti duos habuisti maritos, et ille a quo sepelieris non est tuus. "Thou hast had twenty-two husbands and he by whom thou shalt be buried is not thine." Epist. xi. He whom thou now hast is not thy husband - Νυν ὁν εχεις, ουκ εϚι σου ανηρ. Bishop Pearce would translate this clause in the following manner: There is no husband whom thou now hast - or, less literally, Thou hast no husband now: probably the meaning is, Thou art contracted to another, but not yet brought home: therefore he is not yet thy husband. See Rosenmuller. Bishop Pearce contends that our Lord did not speak these words to her by way of reproof: 1. Because it is not likely that a woman so far advanced in years as to have had five husbands should have now been found living in adultery with a sixth person. 2. Because it is not likely that our Lord would not, in some part of his discourse, have reproved her for her fornication, especially if guilty of it under such gross circumstances. 3. Nor is it likely that a woman of so bad a life should have had so much influence with the people of her city that they should, on her testimony, Joh 4:39-42, believe Jesus to be the Messiah. 4. Nor is it at all likely that when a discovery of her guilt was made to her, by one whom she acknowledged to be a prophet, Joh 4:19, the first thing which came into her thoughts should be the important question in religion, about the place appointed by God for his worship, so warmly contested between the Jews and Samaritans. 5. Nor is it at all probable that a person of such a bad life, without any mentioned sign of repentance, should have been the first (perhaps the only private person) to whom Jesus is recorded as declaring himself to be the Christ, as he does to her, Joh 4:26.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For thou hast had five husbands,.... Which she either had had lawfully, and had buried one after another; and which was no crime, and might be: the Sadducees propose a case to Christ, in which a woman is said to have had seven husbands successively, in a lawful manner, Mat 22:25. Or rather, she had had so many, and had been divorced from everyone of them, for adultery; for no other cause it should seem did the Samaritans divorce; seeing that they only received the law of Moses, and rejected, at least, many of the traditions of the elders; and since they are particularly said (y). "not to be expert in the law of marriages and divorces:'' and the rather this may seem to be the case, as Dr. Lightfoot observes; since these husbands are mentioned, as well as he with whom she lived in an adulterous manner; and which suggests, that she had not lived honestly with them: and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband; that is, not thy lawful husband, as the Persic version reads, and Nonnus paraphrases; being not married to him at all, though they cohabited as man and wife, when there was no such relation between them: in that saidst thou truly; or that which is truth: thus Christ the omniscient God, who knew her full well, and the whole of her past infamous conversation, and her present lewd and wicked way of living, exposes all unto her. (y) T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol 76. 1.