What is “the gift of God” in John 4:10?

Response

John 4:1–26 narrates the encounter of Jesus conversing with a Samaritan woman. Following a lengthy journey, Jesus sat down to rest by a well when a Samaritan woman arrived to draw water. He initiated the dialogue by requesting, “Please give me a drink” (verse 7, NLT). The woman was taken aback, replying, “How can you ask me for a drink?” (verse 9). It was deemed inappropriate for a Jewish man to engage socially with a woman, particularly a Samaritan whom the Jews had long looked down upon. Disregarding tradition and prejudice, Jesus responded, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water” «Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. », (John 4:10).

Biblical scholars note that the term the gift of God is only found once in the Gospels, specifically in John 4:10. Nevertheless, the word (dōrea in Greek) appears four times in Acts, each instance referring to “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38;Acts 8:20;Acts 10:45;11:17). The gift of God that Jesus mentions in John 4:10 is the living water of eternal life that is bestowed upon believers through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God bestows numerous good gifts «Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. », (James 1:17). In the parched climate of Samaria, water was cherished as a precious gift from God. However, Jesus presented an even greater gift from God to the woman, something that noearthly fountain could supply.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received a promised gift from the Father: “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (Luke 24:49; NLT; see also Acts 1:1-5).

God is the “fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13). When we drink of God’s Spirit, we receive a soul-satisfying, supernatural supply “welling up to eternal life” «but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. », (John 4:14).

A little later, in John 7:37–39, Jesus spoke further about the promised gift of God: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’” (verses 37–38, NLT). Then John explained: “When he said ‘living water,’ he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory” (verse 39, NLT).

The gift of God is salvation in Jesus Christ (John 11:25-26; 1 John 5:11-12). It is a gift because we can’t earn it, nor do we deserve it (Ephesians 2:8-9). The gift of God is a new life sourced and supplied by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8;6:63;Romans 8:10;1 Corinthians 15:45;2 Corinthians 3:6). This gift is for everyone «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. », (John 3:16), and it is free (Romans 5:15;Romans 6:23;Revelation 22:17). The apostle Paul said this gracious gift of God is too wonderful for words (2 Corinthians 9:14-15).

God’s gift of the Holy Spirit equips and empowers believers to be ambassadors for Christ and to triumph over dark forces in this world (John 14:16;Romans 8:26-27;Acts 1:8;Acts 2:16-17;6:9-10;10:44;1 Corinthians 12;14: Hebrews 2:4;1 Peter 1:12). Believers are led by the Spirit of God «For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. », (Romans 8:14) and sanctified through the Spirit’s work (Romans 15:16;2 Thessalonians 2:13). This gift of God also inspired the writing of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21). The gift of God is the soul-sustaining living water of eternal life, and it is ours in Jesus Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit. What an indescribable gift!