But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; because the Father also seeks those who adore him.
4:23 But (But, NASB) — 1:17. The word but is very significant. Jesus emphatically said that there would be a change of religion. He did not say that the Samaritans (much less the Gentiles) should keep the law of Moses, but he pointed to a complete change of law (Hebrews 7:12; Hebrews 8:7-13; Hebrews 10:9-10). Millions of professed “Christians” ignore this but and impose the commandments and practices of the law of Moses that suit them (eg, tithing, musical instrument, burning incense). — the hour comes, and now it is (Matt 3:2; Matt 4:17; Acts 8:5; Ac 8:12), when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; — As conversion must be spiritual (3:5), so worship must be spiritual. Now the abode of God will not be “neither here on this mountain nor in Jerusalem”, but in the spirit (heart) of man. The place (temple or mount) was no longer important, but the adoration taught by God (the truth), offered with all sincerity (with the spirit) of true children. The temple of God is now the church (Eph 2:20; Eph 3:21; 1Co 3:17; 1Co 6:19-20). — because the Father also seeks such adorers to be adored. — Under the Mosaic dispensation God required his people to offer sacrifices only in Jerusalem, and now under the law of Christ the proper place is the heart (“praising the Lord in your hearts”, Eph 5:19). The “sacrifice of praise” is “the fruit of lips” (Hebrews 13:15), the “do well” (Hebrews 13:16), offering to have fellowship with those who preach the gospel (Phil 4:18), etc., but these acts of service will not be acceptable in the sight of God unless they come from the heart (2Co 9:7, “as he purposed in his heart”). In seeking the lost Christ was seeking worshipers of God. Luke 19:10. Christ wanted Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and Zacchaeus to be true worshipers of God. God wants to save us so that we can serve and worship him.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
but the time is coming. Joh 5:25; Joh 12:23.
true worshipers. Isaiah 1:10-15; Isaiah 26:8, Isaiah 26:9; Isaiah 29:13; Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:2; Isaiah 58:2, Isaiah 58:8-14; Isaiah 66:1, Isaiah 66:2; Jer 7:7-12; Matt 15:7-9; Luke 18:11-13.
in spirit. Romans 1:9; Romans 8:15, Romans 8:26; Gal 4:6; Eph 6:18; Phil 3:3; Jude 1:20, Jude 1:21.
and in truth. Joh 1:17; Josh 24:14; 1Sa 12:24; 1Ch 29:17; Ps 17:1; Ps 32:2; Ps 51:6; Isaiah 10:20; Jer 3:10; Jer 4:2.
the Father seeks such worshipers. Ps 147:11; Pro 15:8; Sing 2:14; Isaiah 43:21; Eze 22:30; 1Pe 2:9.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
THEY SHALL WORSHIP…IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. With this Jesus teaches several things:
(1) “In spirit” indicates the level at which true worship occurs. God must be sought in absolute sincerity and with a spirit guided by the life and activity of the Holy Spirit.
(2) The “truth” (Gr. aleteia) is characteristic of God (Ps 31:5; Romans 1:25; Romans 3:7; Romans 15:8) and intrinsic to the Holy Spirit (Joh 14:17; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:13), and is at the heart of the gospel (Joh 8:32; Gal 2:5; Eph 1:13) and incarnate in Christ (Joh 14:6; 2Co 11:10; Eph 4:21). Therefore, worship must take place according to the truth of the Father that is revealed in the Son and received through the Spirit. Those who advocate a worship that sets aside the truth and doctrines of God’s Word have actually discarded the only foundation for true worship (see PRAISE ARTICLE, P. 714. ).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
hour. This refers to the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus after having completed the redemption. true worshipers. Jesus meant that after his coming as Messiah and Savior, worshipers would be identified, not by a particular place or shrine, but by their worship of the Father through the Son. Thanks to the coming of Christ, any other distinction between false and true worshipers based on a certain place disappeared. The true worshipers are all those who worship God from anywhere, through the Son and with all their hearts (cf. Phil 3:3).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
4:23 But (But, NASB) — 1:17. The word but is very significant. Jesus emphatically said that there would be a change of religion. He did not say that the Samaritans (much less the Gentiles) should keep the law of Moses, but instead pointed to a complete change of law (Heb 7:12; Heb 8:7-13; Heb 10:9-10). Millions of professed “Christians” ignore this but and impose the commandments and practices of the law of Moses that suit them (eg, tithing, musical instrument, burning incense).
— the hour is coming, and now is (Mat 3:2; Mat 4:17; Acts 8:5; Acts 8:12), when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; — As conversion must be spiritual (3:5), so worship must be spiritual. Now the abode of God will not be “neither here on this mountain nor in Jerusalem”, but in the spirit (heart) of man. The place (temple or mount) was no longer important, but the adoration taught by God (the truth), offered with all sincerity (with the spirit) of true children. The temple of God is now the church (Eph 2:20; Eph 3:21; 1Co 3:17; 1Co 6:19-20).
— because the Father also seeks such adorers to be adored. — Under the Mosaic dispensation God required his people to offer sacrifices only in Jerusalem, and now under the law of Christ the proper place is the heart (“praising the Lord in your hearts”, Eph 5:19). The “sacrifice of praise” is “the fruit of lips” (Heb 13:15), the “doing good” (Heb 13:16), the offering to have fellowship with those who preach the gospel (Phil 4:18), etc., but these acts of service will not be acceptable in God’s eyes unless they come from the heart (2Co 9:7, “as he purposed in his heart”).
In seeking the lost Christ was seeking worshipers of God. Luke 19:10. Christ wanted Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and Zacchaeus to be true worshipers of God. God wants to save us so that we can serve and worship him.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
works as an explanation of the above with the verbs in the present (search, adore, necessary, that they adore).
Source: Commentary for Exegesis and Translation
Phil 3:3.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
CROSS-REFERENCES
s 197 Joh 14:17; Romans 8:4; 2Co 4:18; 2Co 5:7; Phil 3:3
t 198 Josh 24:14; 1Sa 12:24; Ps 25:5; Ps 86:11; Mark 7:7
u 199 2Ch 16:9
Source: New World Translation
the time…now it is. The arrival of the Messiah (ie, of Jesus) brings new meaning to worship.
In true and spirit. The worship that God accepts is that which emphasizes the spiritual and not the material. Also this worship must have as its foundation the truth and not falsehood.
Source: The Bible of the Americas
true worshipers… → §260.
Source: Textual Bible IV Edition
R1186 Abbott (p. 100) considers ἀλλά to be inexplicable, because it always has to mean but.