Jesus had just enraged these Jews by accusing them of being of the heritage of the devil and not of Abraham or God. He had gone further in challenging them to point out any sin in His life if they could and they respond out of indignant anger in calling Him the two worst things they can: a Samaritan and under the influence of a demon. Their view of the Samaritans is expressed by the following: “let not any Israelite for ever eat of the fruit, or of the least morsel of a Samaritan; hence they say, whoso eateth the flesh of a Samaritan, it is all one as if he ate swine’s flesh; also let not a Samaritan be made a proselyte, nor have a part in the resurrection of the dead;” (Pirke Eliezer, c. 38, qt’d by McGarvey) Jesus had just come from Samaria where He showed a much different attitude toward the Samaritans. (John 4:9,39-40).

John 4:9  The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

John 4:39-40  Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”  So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.