<p>4:18 <i>For you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truthfully</i>- See on :17. What was apparently an untrue, or less than fully truthful comment is turned around positively by the Lord, to demonstrate His style of imputing righteousness. The woman was evidently a sinner; and the Lord made it clear that He knew all about her five men. But He didn&rsquo;t max out on that fact; His response to knowing it was basically: &lsquo;You&rsquo;re thirsty. I&rsquo;ve got the water you need&rsquo;. He saw her spiritual need, more than her moral problem; and He knew the answer. When she replied that she had no husband, He could have responded: &lsquo;You liar A half truth is a lie&rsquo;. But He didn&rsquo;t. He said, so positively, gently and delicately, &lsquo;What you have said is quite true. You had five men you have lived with. The one you now have isn&rsquo;t your husband. So, yes, you said the truth&rsquo; (Jn. 4:16-18). He could have crushed her. But He didn&rsquo;t. And we who &lsquo;have the truth&rsquo; must take a lesson from this.</p>