Day 1 - Sunday - The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2022-2023 - Logos

 March 19

Lesson 3 (KJV)

Jesus Talks with a Samaritan

Devotional Reading: Isaiah 44:1–8

Background Scripture: John 4:1–42

John 4:7–15, 28–30, 39–41

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone to the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank thereof himself, his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

29 Come, see a man, which told me everything I ever did: is not this the Christ?

30 Then they went out of the city and came unto him.

39 And many of that city's Samaritans believed in him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

40 So when the Samaritans came unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

41 And many more believed because of his own word.

Key Text

Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.—John 4:39

Jesus Calls Us

Unit 1: Called From the Margins of Society

Lessons 1–4

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Identify the barriers Jesus ignored when talking with the Samaritan woman.

2. Explain the significance of Jesus’ discussion with the woman in light of the prevailing cultural, political, and religious taboos He ignored.

3. Identify elements of Jesus’ approach to evangelism that he or she will use.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. The “Wrong” Neighborhood

B. Lesson Context

I. The Stranger (John 4:7–15)

A. Physical Need (vv. 7–9)

B. Spiritual Bounty (vv. 10–15)

Much More

II. The Promised One (John 4:28–30, 39–41)

A. Question of Identity (vv. 28–30)

“Come and See”

B. Revelation of Identity (vv. 39–41)

Conclusion

A. Every Neighborhood

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

How to Say It

Askar	Haz-kar.
Ebal	Ee-bull.
Gerizim	Gair-ih-zeem or Guh-rye-zim.
Hyrcanus	Hehr-cayn-uhs.
Manasseh	Muh-nass-uh.
Pentateuch	Pen-ta-teuk.
Samaria	Suh-mare-ee-uh.
Sychar	Sigh-kar.
syncretistic	sihng-creh-tis-tihk.

What Do You Think? What hurdles does your congregation face when reaching out to a community that might mistrust your motives? Digging Deeper How can your congregation prepare to overcome these obstacles?

What Do You Think? Are any of your prayers “small” compared to what Jesus offers you? Digging Deeper How do you balance “small” requests for “daily bread” with the “big” petition for God’s “kingdom [to] come” (Matthew 6:10–11)?

What Do You Think? How willing are you to be interrupted by the opportunity to talk about Jesus? Digging Deeper How can you become more open to Spirit-led opportunities to share Christ?

B. Revelation of Identity (vv. 39–41)

39. And many of that city's Samaritans believed in him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

In Jesus’ ministry, people living on the margins sometimes significantly influenced their communities (examples: Matthew 9:9–13; Luke 19:1–10). This ostracized woman turned evangelist reached out to her community, which resulted in many of the Samaritans of that city believing that Jesus was the Christ (see commentary on John 4:29, above). Significantly, her testimony was that Jesus told me everything I did—a significant claim when looking for a prophetic Christ.

40–41. So when the Samaritans came unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word.

Staying with the Samaritans was a significant break in Jewish custom (see commentary on John 4:9b, above). As a result of Jesus’ time and preaching the gospel in Sychar (see article on 4:28a, above), many more believed. As the Samaritans encountered Jesus, they confessed that Jesus is “the Saviour of the world” (4:42, not in our printed text).

One cannot help but ponder how large the faith community grew in Sychar. In Acts 8:4–25, the gospel spread in the land of Samaria through the work of Philip, the evangelist, and the groundwork for that success was undoubtedly prepared by events in today’s text.

What Do You Think? How did others’ testimony influence your early love for Jesus? Digging Deeper How do you continue to seek intimacy with Jesus?

Conclusion

A. Every Neighborhood

Jesus’ earthly ministry did not include limits based on typical human barriers. His encounter with the Samaritan woman is a prime example. In Jesus’ presence, many of the boundaries that we have put up or that others have put up around us disappear (Romans 3:22; 10:12; Galatians 3:28–29; Ephesians 2:11–22; contrast 5:11; 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 3:1–5; Titus 3:10). As we find our identity in Jesus, we can become the conduit of mercy and grace to those we encounter. The gift we find in Jesus is nothing; it moves us from old to new, death to life, lost to found, enslaved to free; it means we are saved! The living water Jesus gives us is available now and will continue to well up in us until we reach the age to come. A stagnant thin

What Do You Think? What encouragement can you find in today’s passage? Digging Deeper What challenges do you find in the passage?

B. Prayer

Father, forgive us for allowing barriers to prevent us from inviting others to see You. Help us see those around us the way You see them; help us demonstrate Your love and holiness to them. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Take every opportunity to offer Jesus living water.

Involvement Learning

Enhance your lesson with KJV Bible Student (from your curriculum supplier) and the reproducible activity page (at www.standardlesson.com or in the back of the KJV Standard Lesson Commentary Deluxe Edition).

 Harper, Walt, et al. “Jesus Talks with a Samaritan.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2022–2023. Ed. Jane Ann Kenney, Ronald L. Nickelson, and Taylor Z. Stamps. Vol. 70. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2023. 255–256. Print. The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary.