Bible Commentaries

John 6

John 6:1-21. The other evangelists have also given accounts of these transactions. Mark 6:30-53. Luke 9:10-17.) There are only two or three other instances with the exception of the events connected with the closing scenes of the Savior's life, in which John narrates incidents which the other evangelists have recorded.

Went over the Sea; probably to avoid the hostility of Herod, as it was immediately after he had beheaded John the Baptist. (Matthew 14:12,13.)

A lad here; perhaps an attendant employed to carry provisions.

That Prophet; meaning the Messiah, as appears by their design of raising an insurrection against Herod, to make him king in his stead.

Jesus was not come to them; having remained behind to allay the excitement among the people.

On the other side; that is, on the side where the miracle had been performed.

When camest thou hither? as there had been no boat in which he could have been conveyed from the opposite shore; though John says (John 6:23.) that other boats afterwards arrived, in which they themselves probably embarked.

They said; they and others of the people of Capernaum, who, perhaps, had not witnessed the miracle of feeding the five thousand.

Moses gave you not. The meaning is, that the true bread from heaven was not the manna of Moses, but the spiritual food bestowed upon the believer through Christ.

Shall never hunger and--never thirst; never suffer the want of spiritual food.

Which I will give, &c.; referring to the sacrifice of himself upon the cross.

Eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man; in a spiritual sense; that is, become thoroughly imbued with the spiritual influences arising out of the instructions, the example, and, more than all, the dying sufferings, of the Redeemer.

In the synagogue; not as an address to a congregation, at public worship, but in conversation with bystanders. The synagogue was a place of general resort on all occasions.

It is the Spirit that quickeneth, it is spiritual food which gives true and real life; the flesh--that is, what relates to the body--is, of little value.

Will ye also, &c.; that is, Do you wish or, desire to go away? There seems to be nothing in the John 5:19-47 from which we should anticipate that feelings of resistance and animosity would be awakened, unless it is the sentiment expressed in the conclusion, (John 6:65,) that the human soul never seeks spiritual good from its own spontaneous impulses, but that, if it turns at all into the way of life, it turns in consequence of a prevenient action exerted upon it by Almighty God. This truth is repeatedly recognized in this conversation. (John 6:37,44,45,65.)