Samaria was a district of central Palestine under Roman administration. The Samaritans were the remnant of the northern Jewish kingdom who had intermarried with foreigners (Gentiles) after the chiefs and nobles had been carried into exile in 722 BC. They had once built a separate place of worship on Mount Gerizim and they rejected all of the Old Testament except their own version of the first five books of Moses. Their animosity towards Jews was centuries old (see 2 Kings 17:24-41). In Jesus' day, no Jewish man would speak to a Samaritan on his own initiative, and never to a woman, especially one of dubious morality. Yet Jesus spoke to her and asked her for a drink.
| 1) | Why did John write that Jesus “had to go through Samaria” on his way to Galilee (v4)? (Jewish people always tried their best to avoid contact with the despised Samaritans.) |
| 2) | Why did Jesus' request to the Samaritan woman surprise her (vs7-9)? Why do you think Jesus answered her in this way (v10)? |
| 3) | What does the woman think Jesus means by his offer of “living water” (vs10-15)? What do you think Jesus means by “living water”? |
| 4) | Why does Jesus bring up the woman's history of past marriages and her present immoral relationship (vs16-18)? |
| 5) | Why does the woman raise this controversial issue at this point (vs19-20)? |
| 6) | What does it mean for us to worship God in spirit and in truth (v24)? |
| 7) | In what way is the disciples' misunderstanding of Jesus' words (vs31-33) similar to the woman's misunderstanding about living water? |
| 8) | What is Jesus' food (v34)? What do you think the harvest stands for (vs35-38)? |
| 9) | What did the woman do after meeting Jesus and what were the results (vs39-42)? |
| v6 | “The sixth hour” here refers to noon (the Jewish day is divided into twelve two-hour periods). The woman probably came at noon to avoid meeting other villagers. |
| v7-9 | The Samaritan women was shocked that a Jewish teacher would choose to speak to her and to ask her for a drink (as Jews would never share the same drinking vessels as Samaritans). Instead of answering her question, Jesus shifts the focus of her amazement to a higher level. |
| v13-14 | When we believe in Jesus and the Spirit of God comes into our lives, he takes away our “soul-thirst” and transforms us into people who overflow with life for others. |
| v15-16 | Jesus touches the most sensitive and vulnerable spot in her life. Hidden sin prevents us from seeing the light of Christ. |
| v21-22 | Worship must be based on a true understanding of God, which He has revealed to us in the Bible. Worship must have heart and head, i.e. it must engage both our emotions and mind. |
| v31-38 | Jesus is talking about the nourishment that comes from loving others and telling them the good news. When we do this, God pours more life into our souls. |
| v39-42 | The woman became a witness for Jesus and many believed because of what she said. |
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