Chapter 6:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Luke Acts
John 6
Concise Complete
Five thousand miraculously fed. (1-14) Jesus walks on the
sea. (15-21) He directs to spiritual food. (22-27) His discourse with the
multitude. (28-65) Many of disciples go back. (66-71)
Verses 1-14 John
relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following
discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common
Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The
Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is
the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still
turn a deaf ear to him.
Verses 15-21 Here
were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet
they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time,
where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the
children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even
the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become
the occasions of fear. Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that
word, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;" nothing more powerful to comfort
saints than this, "I am Jesus whom thou lovest." If we have received Christ
Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind high, yet we may comfort
ourselves, we shall be at the shore before long.
Verses 22-27
Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus blamed their asking.
The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of
appointed means; yet it is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him
the Father has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be the
Son of God with power.
Verses 28-35
Constant exercise of faith in Christ, is the most important and difficult part
of the obedience required from us, as sinners seeking salvation. When by his
grace we are enabled to live a life of faith in the Son of God, holy tempers
follow, and acceptable services may be done. God, even his Father, who gave
their fathers that food from heaven to support their natural lives, now gave
them the true Bread for the salvation of their souls. Coming to Jesus, and
believing on him, signify the same. Christ shows that he is the true Bread; he
is to the soul what bread is to the body, nourishes and supports the spiritual
life. He is the Bread of God. Bread which the Father gives, which he has made to
be the food of our souls. Bread nourishes only by the powers of a living body;
but Christ is himself living Bread, and nourishes by his own power. The doctrine
of Christ crucified is now as strengthening and comforting to a believer as ever
it was. He is the Bread which came down from heaven. It denotes the Divinity of
Christ's person and his authority; also, the Divine origin of all the good which
flows to us through him. May we with understanding and earnestness say, Lord,
evermore give us this Bread.
Verses 36-46 The
discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the teaching of the Holy
Spirit, makes men willing and glad to come, and to give up every thing which
hinders applying to him for salvation. The Father's will is, that not one of
those who were given to the Son, should be rejected or lost by him. No one will
come, till Divine grace has subdued, and in part changed his heart; therefore no
one who comes will ever be cast out. The gospel finds none willing to be saved
in the humbling, holy manner, made known therein; but God draws with his word
and the Holy Ghost; and man's duty is to hear and learn; that is to say, to
receive the grace offered, and consent to the promise. None had seen the Father
but his beloved Son; and the Jews must expect to be taught by his inward power
upon their minds, and by his word, and the ministers whom he sent among them.
Verses 47-51 The
advantage of the manna was small, it only referred to this life; but the living
Bread is so excellent, that the man who feedeth on it shall never die. This
bread is Christ's human nature, which he took to present to the Father, as a
sacrifice for the sins of the world; to purchase all things pertaining to life
and godliness, for sinners of every nation, who repent and believe in him.
Verses 52-59 The
flesh and blood of the Son of man, denote the Redeemer in the nature of man;
Christ and him crucified, and the redemption wrought out by him, with all the
precious benefits of redemption; pardon of sin, acceptance with God, the way to
the throne of grace, the promises of the covenant, and eternal life. These are
called the flesh and blood of Christ, because they are purchased by the breaking
his body, and the shedding of his blood. Also, because they are meat and drink
to our souls. Eating this flesh and drinking this blood mean believing in
Christ. We partake of Christ and his benefits by faith. The soul that rightly
knows its state and wants, finds whatever can calm the conscience, and promote
true holiness, in the redeemer, God manifest in the flesh. Meditating upon the
cross of Christ gives life to our repentance, love, and gratitude. We live by
him, as our bodies live by our food. We live by him, as the members by the head,
the branches by the root: because he lives we shall live also.
Verses 60-65 The
human nature of Christ had not before been in heaven, but being God and man,
that wondrous Person was truly said to have come down from heaven. The Messiah's
kingdom was not of this world; and they were to understand by faith, what he had
said of a spiritual living upon him, and his fulness. As without the soul of man
the flesh is of no value, so without the quickening Spirit of God all forms of
religion are dead and worthless. He who made this provision for our souls, alone
can teach us these things, and draw us unto Christ, that we may live by faith in
him. Let us apply to Christ, thankful that it is declared that every one who is
willing to come unto him shall be made welcome.
Verses 66-71 When
we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter
into temptation, which, if the Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing
back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for
offence, which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the foregoing
discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the disciples fastened on
that plain saying, and resolved to cleave to him, when others fastened on hard
sayings, and forsook him. Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life,
therefore we must live and die by it. If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own
mercies. They believed that this Jesus was the Messiah promised to their
fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted to backslide or turn
away, it is good to remember first principles, and to keep to them. And let us
ever remember our Lord's searching question; Shall we go away and forsake our
Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the forgiveness of
sins. And this alone brings confidence, comfort, and joy, and bids fear and
despondency flee away. It gains the only solid happiness in this world, and
opens a way to the happiness of the next.
Chapter 6:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Luke Acts
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
