John 4:10

Jesus ignored the woman’s implied insult. She had drawn attention to the gift of water that Jesus was requesting and to the identity of Jesus as a Jew. Jesus picked up both subjects and used them to whet the woman’s curiosity. He implied that God had a greater gift (Gr. dorea) for her and that Jesus had the authority to give it to her. The word that Jesus used for "gift" occurs only here in the Gospels. It stressed the freeness of God’s gift. Here was another person who did not perceive Jesus’ true glory or identity (cf. John 1:14).

Most interpreters understand Jesus’ reference to God’s gift as a reference to eternal life, though some believe He was alluding to the Torah. [Note: E.g., Odeberg, p. 150.] If the latter interpretation is correct, Jesus meant that if the woman knew her Torah and who He was she would have asked Jesus for something (cf. John 3:10; John 5:39-40). This interpretation seems unlikely to me because her knowledge of the Torah would not have enabled her to ask Jesus for living water. She did not yet recognize Him as the Messiah.

The living water that Jesus promised has two meanings. Literally it refers to flowing water in contrast to stagnant water. Metaphorically it refers to the cleansing and refreshing grace that the Holy Spirit brings as a result of proper relationship with God (John 7:38-39; cf. Isaiah 1:16-18; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Zechariah 14:8; John 3:5). The Old Testament used water to symbolize teaching or doctrine and living water as a metaphor for God (cf. Psalms 36:9; Isaiah 55:1; Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13). [Note: See ibid., pp. 149-69.]

Jesus’ evangelistic method on this occasion was to start where the woman was with something material that they both had in common, namely, the desire for water. He then captured her curiosity by implying that He was not just whom He appeared to be and that He could give her something very valuable though free. She would have wondered, Who is this, what is this gift of God, and what is this living water?

"Whenever He witnessed to people, Jesus did not use a ’sales talk’ that He adapted to meet every situation. To Nicodemus, He spoke about new birth; but to this woman, He spoke about living water." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:300.]