23. Sed venit hora, et nunc 23. But the hour cometh, and est, quando veri adoratores now is, when the true adorers adorabunt Patrem in spiritu et shall adore the Father in veritate. Nam et Pater tales spirit and in truth. For the quaerit, qui adorent eum. Father also seeketh such to adore him. 23. Still, though this is so, not even to Jerusalem, shall worship be restricted in the future; *but the hour cometh*, &c. What is the adoration *in spirit and in truth*, here foretold? Evidently the worship of the new dispensation, as contrasted with that of the old; this is plain from the whole context. What, then, is meant by saying that the worship of the new dispensation is to be *in spirit and in truth*? Various interpretations of the words have been given. (1) “In spirit” is opposed to the worship of the Jews; “in truth” to that of the Samaritans. Hence the worship of the new dispensation is to be, _not merely external_, as was the Jewish (unless it was accompanied by faith in the Redeemer to come, in which case it was not merely Jewish, but Christian), nor _false_, as was the Samaritan. (Toletus.) (2) “In spirit” is opposed to all merely external and local worship, whether of _Jews_ or _Samaritans_; “in truth” to the _typical_ and imperfect worship of the Jews. For the Jewish sacrifices and ceremonies were only shadows and types of the realities in the New Law. “For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image (reality) of the things: by the selfsame sacrifices which they offer continually every year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect” (Heb. x. 1), Mald., who favours next opinion also. (3) “In spirit” and “in truth” are synonymous, and signify true supernatural worship, springing from faith and grace, and hence opposed to all imperfect or false worship. This opinion, considered equally probable with the preceding by Maldonatus, and held by Beelen and Corluy, we prefer; for in verse 24, the fact that God is a Spirit (it is not stated that He is also Truth) is given as the reason why He should be worshipped in _both_ spirit and truth. The distinguishing features of true Christian worship, indicated in verses 21, 23, are that it is to be _universal_, not restricted, like the Jewish or Samaritan, to Jerusalem or Garizim; and _spiritual_, offered with hearts animated by faith and grace, and not consisting merely in external rites. 24. Spiritus est Deus: et eos, 24. God is a Spirit, and they qui adorant eum, in spiritu et that adore him, must adore him veritate oportet adorare. in spirit and in truth.