=36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.= An assertion, not a promise. The declaration is not that everlasting life shall be given to him in the future as a reward for his act of faith, but that faith at once inducts him into spiritual life, which is alone everlasting. Compare ver. 18 above; Rom. 6:23; 1 John 3:2. Observe what faith confers is _life_, _i. e._, the highest development and activity of the whole being (John 10:10), the reverse being death.--=He that believeth not the Son.= Two different Greek words are translated in the two clauses of this verse by the English word _believe_. The force of the original is impaired, if not destroyed, by this mistranslation; but it is not easy to find in English the exact equivalent for the distinction which is noted in the original. The passage may perhaps be rendered, _He that hath faith in_ (πιστεύων εἰς) _the Son hath everlasting life; but he that will not be persuaded by_ (ἀπειθων) _the Son shall not see life_. Beware of considering _Believe on the Son_ as equivalent to either _Believe correctly about the Son_, or even _Believe the Son_. See Matt. 18:6, note.--=Shall not see life.= Not only shall not have it, but cannot even comprehend it. Spiritual life is only spiritually discerned, and faith is the first condition of spiritual discernment. See ver. 3 and note.--=The wrath of God abideth on him.= Remains, as something previously resting upon him and not removed. See Ephes. 2:3. [Illustration: SYCHAR.] CHAPTER IV. Ch. 4:1-26. CHRIST AND THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.--CHRIST A PREACHER IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON.--HIS EXAMPLE AS A CHRISTIAN CONVERSATIONALIST.--THE DIVINE SPRING; THE HUMAN CISTERN.--THE ESSENTIAL AND THE INSIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS IN WORSHIP CONTRASTED. This interview between Christ and the Samaritan woman is reported alone by John. The time is uncertain; the only definite indication is that of verse 35, and the interpretation of that is uncertain. With Ellicott and Andrews, I think December of A. D. 27 the most probable date. Matthew (4:12) explains Christ’s departure into Galilee by saying that it took place when he heard that John the Baptist was cast into prison; John here attributes it to another cause, a fear of rivalry and contention between his own and John’s disciples. The probable explanation is that Christ left Judea for the latter reason, but did not commence his public ministry till the imprisonment of the Baptist. See ch. 5, Prel. note. 1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized[124] more disciples than John, [124] ch. 3:22, 26. 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judæa, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs[125] go through Samaria. [125] Luke 2:49.