I know that Messias cometh,— This, as well as John 4:29; John 4:42 plainly proves, both that the Samaritans expected the Messiah, and that they concluded he would be a prophet. The general expectation which now prevailed, that a great prince was to arise in Judea, together with Moses's prophesy concerning him, constrained the Samaritans to a right sentiment with respect to the Messiah's nation: for though they contended that the true place of acceptable worship was in their country, they did not assume the honour of being progenitors of the deliverer of mankind. They seem also to have formed some just, though partial, ideas of the Messiah's character.
His kingly dignity being chiefly described in the prophetical books, which they are said to have rejected, they considered him only as a Saviour, John 4:42 and a prophet or teacher, according to Moses's description of him, Genesis 22:18. Deuteronomy 18:18. See also Nehemiah 7:65. Hence the woman, speaking of the Messiah, said, When he is come, he will tell us all things; and therefore while our Lord industriously avoided the title of Messiah among the Jews, he without scruple discovered himself to the Samaritans, because he could do it with success; the meanness of his condition being no way inconsistent with the prophetical character. We may just observe, that the words which is called Christ, should be in a parenthesis; they being the words of the evangelist, not of the woman.