Understanding John 4:39-40 and Matthew 10:5-7: A Comprehensive Analysis

The passages in the Gospels of John (4:39-40) and Matthew (10:5-7) are often seen as contradictory, especially in light of the historical and religious differences between Jews and Samaritans. This article seeks to provide a harmonization of these texts, offering clarity on their contexts and messages.

Context and Differences in the Gospels

The two passages come from divergent traditions within early Christian writings. Matthew’s Gospel and John’s Gospel were written independently, with neither author being aware of the other’s work. The emphasis on preaching primarily to Jews versus including Samaritans in the mission is a reflection of these differing traditions.

Matthew 10:5-7 highlights a specific instruction from Jesus to the disciples to focus their mission efforts on the Jewish people. This was due to the immediate proximity of the mission to the boundaries of the Jewish community. The instruction was not a broad general command but a temporal and local directive.

John 4:39-40, on the other hand, records a moment when a Samaritan expresses a desire to hear Jesus. This passage is set in a different temporal context, closer to the resurrection of Jesus, where the scope of the mission broadens. The Samaritan’s openness to hear Jesus aligns with the broader mission that Jesus predicted would extend beyond the Jewish community.

Broadening of Missions in the Early Church

The emphasis on everyone being preached to came after the resurrection of Jesus. At that time, Matthew 28:19-20 assigns a new and broader mandate to the disciples, signaling a transition from a focus on Jews to a mission to all people groups. This broader mandate, however, does not negate the initial instructions in Matthew 10:5-7 but rather builds upon them.

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) supports this view by emphasizing the progressive nature of the mission as revealed in the New Testament. According to the NWT, Jesus aimed to bless all people and preached to them, including Samaritans. The initial focus on Jews was a preparatory phase, setting the stage for the eventual expansion of the mission.

No Contradiction

Upon closer examination, there is no inherent conflict between these two passages. The instructions in Matthew 10:5-7 were specific to the immediate context and sphere of influence of the disciples, while the broader mission to all people is seen in John 4 and Matthew 28:19-20. These texts reflect different stages of the mission and the evolving understanding of who the message was intended for.

The first temple in the Samaritan tradition still stands in Nablus, a testament to their prolonged separation from mainstream Jewish authority and their unique identity. This separation, though strained, did not preclude the possibility of interfaith engagement and spiritual openness.

Conclusion

The juxtaposition of Matthew 10:5-7 and John 4:39-40 highlights the progressive and evolving nature of Jesus’s mission. While the initial instructions to the disciples were specific to the Jewish community, the broader mission to all people, as evidenced in the later passages, demonstrates the inclusive and comprehensive nature of the New Testament message.

Understanding these texts within their historical and religious contexts provides clarity, affirming that Jesus’s message of salvation was intended for all people, regardless of their ethnic or religious background.