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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Is not this the Christ?" Observe again here the great wisdom of the woman; she neither declared the fact plainly, nor was she silent, for she desired not to bring them in by her own assertion, but to make them to share in this opinion by hearing Him; which rendered her words more readily acceptable to them. Yet He had not told all her life to her, only from what had been said she was persuaded as to the rest. Nor did she say, "Come, believe," but, "Come, see"; a gentler expression than the other, and one which more attracted them. …
Cyril of Alexandria
O wondrous change! O truly great and God-befitting Might, translucent with unspeakable marvel! Skilful workwoman unto doctrine, and initiater is she, who understood none of the things that were said at first, and therefore rightly heard, Go, call thy husband and come hither. For see how skilfully she conversed with the Samaritans. She does not say at once that she has found the Christ, nor does she introduce Jesus at first into her account. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Truly, a soul inflamed by divine fire looks upon nothing earthly, neither upon shame nor upon dishonor. And so she is not ashamed to reveal her deeds, but says: "Who told me everything that I have done." She could have said otherwise: "Come, see a prophet who prophesies"; but she does not say so, rather she disregards the opinion about herself and has in mind one thing only – to proclaim the truth. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
"The woman then left her water-pot." Having heard, "I that speak with thee am He," and having received Christ the Lord into her heart, what could she do but now leave her water-pot, and run to preach the gospel? She cast out lust, and hastened to proclaim the truth. Let them who would preach the gospel learn; let them throw away their water-pot at the well. …
Thomas Aquinas
Next we see her manner of preaching (v 29). She first invites them to see Christ, saying, Come and see the man. Although she had heard Christ say that he was the Christ, she did not at once tell the people that they should come to the Christ, or believe, so as not to give them a reason for scoffing. So at first she mentions things that were believable and evident about Christ, as that he was a man: "made in the likeness of men" (Phil 2:7). …
Bonaventure
"Come and see the man who told me all things that I have done." She was drawing them by this, that he had revealed her secrets: she did not say: Come and see a prophet: but she divulges her own life, so that she might uproot and draw all. "Is not this the Christ?" She did not assert it, lest she seem deceived: she did not assert, but proposed it by doubting, so that they themselves might likewise doubt, and through this come to be made certain. …
Translation