What does John 4:24 mean?

In verse 23, Jesus gave the Samaritan woman a better explanation of what His offer of "water of life" really is. This woman's greatest thirst seems to have been for acceptance. This is why she stumbled from one bad relationship to the next (John 4:16–18). The kind of relationship she seeks can only be truly found in God, and only through Christ. So, Jesus explains to her that "true worship" of God does not require one to be Jewish, or Samaritan, or in the temple, or on the mountain. Rather, true worship requires spirit and truth, and God is seeking those who want Him in this way.

Verse 24 also makes a clear point that God, Himself, is spirit. God is not simply a more complex physical being, or a limited creature. In other words, God is not restricted to seeing, hearing, or being in a single location, like the false gods of most religions. This also helps to keep Genesis 1:26 in context. The fact that man is created in "the image" of God does not mean we have some physical resemblance to Him. We share his moral and rational nature.