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both Jerusalem and Gerizim, and that not only as a future effect of the change that was
coming, but, by the added words, "and now is", as a then present effect, so that while still
continuing to worship in the temple, the true worshipper could, even then, anticipate the
day that was fully coming later, when they that worship God will worship Him in spirit
and in truth. The Lord does not say "God will then be spirit", but that "God is Spirit".
God's essence remains unchanged by His successive dispensational dealings with men.
The imposition of carnal ordinances upon Israel was not because God had changed, but
because of man's inability to rise to spiritual heights.
"God is Spirit."--It is a serious mistake to read "God is a spirit", for that would only
be true if God were one of the angelic order of beings. This sublime statement refers, not
to His Personality, but His essence. He is Spirit. It follows therefore that, to be
acceptable, worship, at its zenith, must be spiritual. "The true worshippers shall worship
the Father in spirit and in truth."
What is the meaning of "true" worshippers?
What is the meaning of "in spirit and in truth"?
Why does the Lord introduce the "Father" here?
The word translated "true" in John 4: 23 is alethinos.
"The endings inos and einos denote that the quality, as a fundamental idea, exists in
abundance" (Kruger).
"Accordingly, alethinos is related to alethes (true) as form to contents or substance;
alethos denotes the reality of a thing; alethinos defines the relation of the conception to
the thing to which it corresponds--genuine" (Cremer).
When the Saviour said, "Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father
giveth you the true bread from heaven" (John 6: 32). He did not deny that manna fell in
the wilderness; He affirmed, that He was the reality of which the manna was a type.
When Paul contrasted the earthly tabernacle with the "true" (Heb. 8: 2; 9: 24) he
did not impugn the integrity of the O.T., but asserted that the tabernacle built by Moses
was not the real holiest of all, which was nothing less than heaven itself. The "true"
worshipper therefore was one who had risen above the mediation of type and symbol--
Jerusalem and Gerizim--and drew near with a "true" heart. The word "truth" in the
phrase "in spirit and in truth" is aletheia. This too sometimes has the same meaning as
alethinos.
"Grace and truth" came by Jesus Christ in contrast with the "law" that was given by
Moses (John 1: 17). Yet the law was as true as the gospel, and he who rejects Moses
rejects Christ (John 5: 46, 47). The meaning of this passage is,
"The law which had a shadow of good things to come was given by Moses, but true,
real, antitypical grace came by Jesus Christ."
In the phrase "in spirit and in truth" the second "in" should be omitted. The
preposition before the noun "in spirit" turns it into an adverb, as though it read