1 After these things Iesus went ouer the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias:
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which hee did on them that were diseased.
3 And Iesus went vp into a mountaine, and there hee sate with his disciples.
4 And the Passeouer, a feast of the Iewes, was nigh.
5 ¶ When Iesus then lift vp his eyes, and saw a great company come vnto him, he saith vnto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eate?
6 (And this he said to proue him: for he himselfe knew what he would doe)
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred peny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that euery one of them may take a litle.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peters brother, saith vnto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath fiue barley loaues, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Iesus said, Make the men sit downe. Now there was much grasse in the place. So the men sate downe, in number about fiue thousand.
11 And Iesus tooke the loaues, and when he had giuen thankes, hee distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set downe, and likewise of the fishes, as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said vnto his disciples, Gather vp the fragments that remaine, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelue baskets with the fragments of the fiue barley loaues, which remained ouer and aboue, vnto them that had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seene the miracle that Iesus did, said, This is of a trueth that Prophet that should come into the world.
15 ¶ When Iesus therefore perceiued that they would come and take him by force, to make him a King, hee departed againe into a mountaine, himselfe alone.
16 And when euen was now come, his disciples went downe vnto the sea,
17 And entred into a ship, and went ouer the sea towards Capernaum: and it was now darke, and Iesus was not come to them.
18 And the sea arose, by reason of a great winde that blew.
19 So when they had rowed about fiue and twentie, or thirtie furlongs, they see Iesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh vnto the ship: and they were afraid.
20 But he saith vnto them, It is I, be not afraid.
21 Then they willingly receiued him into the ship, and immediatly the ship was at the land whither they went.
22 ¶ The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was none other boat there, saue that one whereinto his disciples were entred, and that Iesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone:
23 Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias, nigh vnto the place where they did eate bread, after that the Lord had giuen thankes:
24 When the people therefore saw that Iesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also tooke shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Iesus.
25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they saide vnto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26 Iesus answered them, and said, Uerely, verely I say vnto you, Ye seeke me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because yee did eate of the loaues, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth vnto euerlasting life, which the Sonne of man shall giue vnto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they vnto him, What shall we doe, that we might worke the workes of God?
29 Iesus answered, and said vnto them, This is the worke of God, that ye beleeue on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore vnto him, What signe shewest thou then, that we may see, and beleeue thee? What doest thou worke?
31 Our fathers did eate Manna in the desert, as it is written, He gaue them bread from heauen to eate.
32 Then Iesus said vnto them, Uerely, verely I say vnto you, Moses gaue you not that bread from heauen, but my Father giueth you the true bread from heauen.
33 For the bread of God is hee which commeth downe from heauen, and giueth life vnto the world.
34 Then said they vnto him, Lord, euermore giue vs this bread.
35 And Iesus said vnto them, I am the bread of life: hee that commeth to me, shall neuer hunger: and he that beleeueth on me, shall neuer thirst.
36 But I said vnto you, that ye also haue seene me, and beleeue not.
37 All that the Father giueth mee, shall come to mee; and him that commeth to me, I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came downe from heauen, not to doe mine owne will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Fathers wil which hath sent me, that of all which he hath giuen mee, I should lose nothing, but should raise it vp againe at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that euery one which seeth the Sonne, and beleeueth on him, may haue euerlasting life: and I will raise him vp at the last day.
41 The Iewes then murmured at him, because hee said, I am the bread which came downe from heauen.
42 And they said, Is not this Iesus the sonne of Ioseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that hee sayth, I came downe from heauen?
43 Iesus therefore answered, and said vnto them, Murmure not among your selues.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him vp at the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Euery man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, commeth vnto me,
46 Not that any man hath seene the Father; saue hee which is of God, hee hath seene the Father.
47 Uerely, verely I say vnto you, Hee that beleeueth on me, hath euerlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eate Manna in the wildernesse, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which commeth downe from heauen, that a man may eate thereof, and not die.
51 I am the liuing bread, which came downe from heauen. If any man eate of this bread, he shall liue for euer: and the bread that I will giue, is my flesh, which I will giue for the life of the world.
52 The Iewes therefore stroue amongst themselues, saying, How can this man giue vs his flesh to eate?
53 Then Iesus sayd vnto them, Uerely, verely I say vnto you, Except yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man, and drinke his blood, yee haue no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life, and I will raise him vp at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meate indeed, and my blood is drinke indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the liuing Father hath sent me, and I liue by the Father: so, he that eateth me, euen he shall liue by me.
58 This is that bread which came downe from heauen: not as your fathers did eate Manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread, shall liue for euer.
59 These things said hee in the Synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying, who can heare it?
61 When Iesus knew in himselfe, that his disciples murmured at it, hee said vnto them, Doeth this offend you?
62 What and if yee shall see the sonne of man ascend vp where hee was before?
63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: the wordes that I speake vnto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that beleeue not. For Iesus knew from the beginning, who they were that beleeued not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I vnto you, that no man can come vnto me, except it were giuen vnto him of my Father.
66 ¶ From that time many of his disciples went backe, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Iesus vnto the twelue, Will ye also goe away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we goe? Thou hast the words of eternall life.
69 And we beleeue and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God.
70 Iesus answered them, Haue not I chosen you twelue, and one of you is a deuill?
71 He spake of Iudas Iscariot the sonne of Simon: for hee it was that should betray him, being one of the twelue.
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)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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.