John 4:23

Key Reflection

In John 4:23, Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan woman at the well and challenges her understanding of worship. For the original audience, this statement highlighted the prevailing view that true worship must be directed toward the one true God, who was believed by many Jews to dwell in Jerusalem. By saying, "You worship that which you don’t know," Jesus is emphasizing that the Samaritans’ current form of worship did not align with their understanding of divine revelation. Conversely, "We worship that which we know" underscores the Jews' belief in a more comprehensive and revealed knowledge of God, rooted in the teachings and traditions passed down through the Jewish people.