Jesus longed to unfold the deep mysteries of the truth which had been hid for ages, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews, and "partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Eph. 3:6. This truth the disciples were slow to learn, and the divine Teacher gave them lesson upon lesson. In rewarding the faith of the centurion at Capernaum, and preaching the gospel to the inhabitants of Sychar, He had already given evidence that He did not share the intolerance of the Jews. But the Samaritans had some knowledge of God; and the centurion had shown kindness to Israel. Now Jesus brought the disciples in contact with a heathen, whom they regarded as having no reason above any of her people, to expect favor from Him. He would give an example of how such a one should be treated. The disciples had thought that He dispensed too freely the gifts of His grace. He would show that His love was not to be circumscribed to race or nation.

Jesus længtes efter at afsløre sandhedens dybe mysterium, som gennem lange tider havde været skjult: at hedningerne skulle være jødernes medarvinger og "meddelagtige i forjættelsen og alt dette i Kristus Jesus ved evangeliet." Ef. 3,6. Disciplene var længe om at lære denne sandhed, og deres guddommelige lærer måtte atter og atter belære dem. Ved at belønne høvedsmandens tro i Kapernaum og ved at prædike evangeliet for Sykars beboere havde han allerede givet dem beviser for, at han ikke delte jødernes intolerance. Men samaritanerne vidste noget om Gud, og høvedsmanden havde vist venlighed mod Israel. Nu bragte Jesus disciplene i forbindelse med en hedning, som de ikke anså for at have nogen grund til at vente en gunstbevisning fra ham frem for andre af hendes folk. Han ville give dem et eksempel på, hvordan man burde være over for et sådant menneske. Disciplene havde tænkt, at han uddelte sine nådegaver alt for gavmildt. Han ville vise dem, at hans kærlighed ikke skulle være begrænset til en enkelt race eller et enkelt folk.