"Salvation is of the Jews"
What did Jesus mean by this?
In John 4:22 , Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, and He says,
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
This verse needs to be understood within its broader context, both in terms of the historical relationship between Jews and Samaritans, and in terms of the unfolding plan of salvation in the Bible.
Context of Samaritans and Jews: The Samaritans were a mixed population, descendants of Israelites who remained in the land after the Assyrian conquest (8th century BC) and intermarried with other peoples. They had a version of worship that was based on the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), but their practices differed from those of the Jews, including the location of their worship (Mount Gerizim versus the Temple in Jerusalem). This caused a long-standing tension between Jews and Samaritans, and Jesus is addressing this when He says, Ye worship ye know not what, meaning that the Samaritans had an incomplete understanding of God and His plan.
Salvation is of the Jews:
By this, Jesus is referring to the fact that God’s plan of salvation was revealed through the Jewish people. This is significant in several ways:
Covenants and Promises: God made covenants with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), and the nation of Israel was chosen as the people through whom God would reveal Himself to the world. The Jews were the custodians of the Scriptures, the Law, and the prophecies concerning the Messiah.
The Messiah: Jesus Himself, as the Messiah, was born as a Jew, fulfilling the promises made to the patriarchs and the prophecies concerning the salvation of humanity ( Genesis 12:3, Isaiah 53 ). Salvation would come through the Jews, not because they were inherently superior, but because of God’s choice to use them as the vehicle for His redemptive plan. Universal Salvation: While salvation came 'through the Jews,' it was not limited to the Jews. Jesus’ ministry, including His conversation with the Samaritan woman, shows that salvation would extend to all people, regardless of ethnicity. In the very next verses, Jesus says that the time is coming when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, not confined to a specific place ( John 4:23-24 ). This marks the universal scope of salvation in Jesus, available to Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike.
When Jesus said salvation is of the Jews , He was highlighting that God's plan for the redemption of humanity was revealed through the Jewish people, culminating in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Himself. However, the scope of this salvation would not remain with the Jews but would be extended to all nations.
In the next verse, John 4:23 , Jesus says,
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
This shifts the focus from ethnicity or location (such as being Jewish or Samaritan, or worshiping in Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim) to the nature of worship itself.
By emphasizing "true worshippers" who worship "in spirit and in truth," Jesus broadens the concept of worship to something that transcends external factors like race, nationality, or religious tradition. It highlights a deeper, spiritual connection with God, one based on sincerity and truth, rather than just outward forms or rituals.
This directly connects to what He said in verse 22 about salvation coming through the Jews but now being made available to all. The new covenant Jesus was ushering in was about personal faith and genuine worship, breaking down the old barriers and opening the way for anyone, Jew or Gentile, to come to God through Him.
This message underlines the universal access to salvation that Jesus was bringing and reinforces the idea that God is not just seeking worship from one group of people but from all who would come to Him with a sincere heart.
The encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is often seen as one of the first recorded examples in Jesus’ ministry where He directly engages with someone who is not fully Jewish. Although the Samaritans shared some common heritage with the Jews, they were considered by most Jews of the time to be outsiders due to their mixed ethnicity and religious practices. Here’s a closer look at why this is significant:
Samaritans as "non-Jews": The Samaritans were a distinct group, with their own version of the Pentateuch and religious practices that differed from the Jewish practices in Jerusalem. Although they had some connection to Israel’s history, Jews did not consider them to be part of the covenant people. This makes Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman a notable early example of Him reaching out beyond the ethnic and religious boundaries of Israel.
Jesus Breaking Social Norms: In this story, Jesus not only crosses the boundary between Jew and Samaritan, but also the social boundary between men and women, as Jewish men generally did not converse with women in public, especially Samaritan women. By speaking to her, Jesus demonstrates His mission to reach all people, regardless of their ethnic background or social status.
Jesus’ Universal Mission: In John 4 , He not only talks to this Samaritan woman but also stays in the Samaritan town for two days, and many Samaritans believe in Him ( John 4:39-42 ). This is a significant moment because it shows the openness of Jesus’ ministry beyond the Jewish people early in His public life.
Earlier References to Gentiles in Jesus' Ministry: While this encounter with the Samaritan woman is the first direct interaction with a non-Jew, it’s worth noting that Jesus’ ministry from the outset had hints of His mission to the Gentiles. For example:
In Matthew 8:5-13 , Jesus heals the servant of a Roman centurion, praising the centurion’s faith as greater than any He had found in Israel. This event, however, takes place after the Samaritan woman encounter.
In Matthew 2 , the visit of the Magi (Gentiles from the East) is seen as a foreshadowing of the inclusion of non-Jews in God's plan of salvation.
So while Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman might not be the absolute first time He engages with someone outside the Jewish community (depending on how you view the Magi), it is chronologically the first recorded instance in His ministry where He explicitly preaches to non-Jews and initiates a direct outreach to those considered outside of the covenant people. This event marks a significant moment in His mission to bring salvation to all nations.