1._Afterwards, Jesus went. _Although John was accustomed to collect those actions and sayings of Christ, which the other three Evangelists had omitted, yet in this passage, contrary to his custom, he repeats the history of a miracle which they had related. But he does so for the express purpose of p... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And a great multitude followed him. _So great ardor in following Christ arose from this, that, having beheld his power in miracles, they were convinced that he was some great prophet, and that he had been sent by God. But the Evangelist here omits what the other three relate, that Christ employed... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Jesus therefore went up into a mountain. _Christ unquestionably sought a place of retirement till _the feast of the Passover_; and therefore it is said that he _sat down on a mountain with his disciples. _Such was undoubtedly the purpose which he formed as man; but the purpose of God was differen... [ Continue Reading ]
5._He saith to Philip. _What we here read as having been _said to Philip _alone, the other Evangelists tell us, was said to all. But there is no inconsistency in this; for it is probable that _Philip _spoke according to the opinion entertained by all, and, therefore, Christ replies to him in particu... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Two hundred denarii. _As the _denarius_, according to the computation of _Budaeus_, is equal to four times the value of a_carolus _and two _deniers _of _Tours_, this sum amounts to thirty-five _francs_, or thereby. (119) If you divide this sum among _five thousand men_, each hundred of them will... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Make the men sit down. _That the disciples were not sooner prepared to cherish the hope which their Master held out, and did not remember to ascribe to his power all that was proper, was a degree of stupidity worthy of blame; but no small praise is due to their cheerful obedience in now complyin... [ Continue Reading ]
11._After having given thanks. _Christ has oftener than once instructed us by his example that, whenever we take food, we ought to begin with prayer. For those things which God has appointed for our use, being evidences of his infinite goodness and fatherly love towards us, call on us to offer prais... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And filled twelve baskets. _When _four thousand men _were fed by _seven loaves_, Matthew relates that the number of baskets filled with fragments was exactly the same with the number of the loaves, (Matthew 15:37.) Since, therefore, a smaller quantity is sufficient for a greater number of men, a... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Those men, therefore. _The miracle appears to have been attended by some advantage, that they acknowledge the author of it to be the Messiah; for Christ had no other object in view. But immediately they apply to a different and improper purpose the knowledge which they have obtained concerning C... [ Continue Reading ]
15._To make him a king. _When those men intended to give to Christ the title and honor of king, there was some ground for what they did. But they erred egregiously in taking upon themselves the liberty of _making a king_; for Scripture ascribes this as peculiar to God alone, as it is said, I have a... [ Continue Reading ]
16._His disciples went down. _Christ undoubtedly intended to conceal himself until the crowd should disperse. We know how difficult it is to allay a popular tumult. Now, if they had openly attempted to do what they had intended, it would have been no easy matter afterwards to wipe off the stain whic... [ Continue Reading ]
17._It was now dark. _John passes by many circumstances which the other Evangelists introduce; such as, that for several hours they struggled with a contrary wind; for it is probable that the storm arose immediately after the night began to come on; and they tell us that Christ did not appear to his... [ Continue Reading ]
19._They were terrified. _The other Evangelists explain the cause of that fear to have been, that _they thought that it was an apparition_, (Matthew 14:26; Mark 6:49.) Now it is impossible not to be seized with consternation and dread, when _an apparition _is presented before our eyes; for we conclu... [ Continue Reading ]
20._It is I: be not terrified _We learn from them that it is in Christ’s presence alone that we have abundant grounds of confidence, so as to be calm and at ease. But this belongs exclusively to the disciples of Christ; for we shall afterwards see that wicked men were struck down by the same words,... [ Continue Reading ]
22._Next day. _Here the Evangelist relates circumstances from which the multitude might conclude that Christ had gone across by divine power. There had been but one ship; they see it go away without Christ; next day, ships come from other places, by which they are conveyed to Capernaum; and there th... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Near the place where they had eaten bread. _The meaning of the words is doubtful; for they may be explained, either that Tiberias was _near the place where _Christ had fed them with five loaves, or that the ships reached the shore which was near and below that place. I approve more highly of the... [ Continue Reading ]
25._On the other side of the sea. _We have already said that Capernaum was not situated on the opposite shore; for Tiberias is situated on that part of the lake where it is broadest, Bethsaida follows next, and Capernaum lies near the lowest part, not far from where the river Jordan issues from the... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Jesus answered them. _Christ does not reply to the question put to him, which would have been fitted to show to them his power in having come thither by a miracle. (134) But, on the contrary, he chides them for throwing themselves forward without consideration; for they were not acquainted with... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Labour for food, not that which perisheth. _He shows to what object our desires ought to be directed, namely, to eternal life; but because, in proportion as our understandings are gross, we are always devoted to earthly things, for this reason he corrects that disease which is natural to us, bef... [ Continue Reading ]
28_. What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? _The multitude understood well enough that Christ had exhorted them to aim at something higher than the conveniences of the present life, and that they ought not to confine their attention to the earth, since God calls them to more valuable b... [ Continue Reading ]
29._The work of God is this. _They had spoken of _works _Christ reminds them of one work, that is, _faith_; by which he means that all that men undertake without_faith _is vain and useless, but that_faith _alone is sufficient, because _this _alone does God require from us, _that we believe _For ther... [ Continue Reading ]
30._What sign doest thou? _This wickedness abundantly proves how truly it is said elsewhere, _This wicked generation seeketh a sign_, (Matthew 12:39.) They had been at first drawn to Christ by the admiration of his miracles or _signs, _and afterwards, through amazement at a new _sign, _they acknowle... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness. _Thus we see that Christ put his finger on the sore, when he told them that they came like brute beasts to fill their belly; for they discover this gross disposition, when they demand a Messiah by whom they are to be fed. And as to the magnificent terms i... [ Continue Reading ]
32._Verily, verily, I say to you, Moses gave you not bread from heaven. _Christ appears to contradict what was quoted from the psalm, but he speaks only by comparison. The _manna _ מן is called _the bread of heaven_, but it is for the nourishment of the body; but _the bread _which ought truly and pr... [ Continue Reading ]
33._For the bread of God. _Christ reasons negatively from the definition to the thing defined, in this manner: “_The heavenly bread is that which hath come down from heaven to give life to the world _In the _manna _there was nothing of this sort; and, therefore, the _manna _was not _the heavenly bre... [ Continue Reading ]
34._Give us always this bread. _There is no doubt that they speak ironically, to accuse Christ of vain boasting, when he said that he was able to give _the bread of life. _Thus wretched men, while they reject the promises of God, are not satisfied with this evil alone, but put Christ in their room,... [ Continue Reading ]
35._I am the bread of life. _First, he shows that _the bread_, which they asked in mockery, is before their eyes; and, next, he reproves them. He begins with doctrine, to make it more evident that they were guilty of ingratitude. There are two parts of the doctrine; for he shows whence we ought to s... [ Continue Reading ]
36._But I have told you. _He now reproves them for wickedly rejecting the gift of God, which is offered to them. Now, that man is chargeable with wicked contempt of God, who rejects what he knows that God has given him. If Christ had not made known his power, and plainly showed that he came from God... [ Continue Reading ]
37._All that the Father giveth me. _That their unbelief may not detract anything from his doctrine, he says, that the cause of so great obstinacy is, that they are reprobate, and do not belong to the flock of God. His intention, therefore, in distinguishing here between the elect and the reprobate i... [ Continue Reading ]
38._For I came down from heaven. _This is a confirmation of the preceding statement, that we do not seek Christ in vain. For faith is a work of God, by which he shows that we are his people, and appoints his Son to be the protector of our salvation. Now the Son has no other design than to fulfill th... [ Continue Reading ]
39._And this is the will of the Father. _He now testifies, that this is the design of the Father, that believers may find salvation secured in Christ; from which again it follows, that all who do not profit by the doctrine of the Gospel are reprobate. Wherefore, if we see that it turns to the ruin o... [ Continue Reading ]
40._And this is the will of him who sent me. _He had said that the Father had committed to him the protection of our salvation; and now he likewise describes the manner in which it is accomplished. The way to obtain salvation, therefore, is to obey the Gospel of Christ. This point he had, indeed, gl... [ Continue Reading ]
41._The Jews therefore murmured concerning him. _The Evangelist explains the cause of the murmuring to have been, that the Jews were offended at the mean condition of Christ’s human nature, (150) and did not perceive in him any thing Divine or heavenly. Yet he shows that they had a twofold obstructi... [ Continue Reading ]
43._Murmur not among yourselves. _He throws back on them the blame of the _murmuring_, as if he had said, “My doctrine contains no ground of offense, but because you are reprobate, it irritates your envenomed breasts, and the reason why you do not relish it is, that you have a vitiated taste.”... [ Continue Reading ]
44._No man can come to me, unless the Father, who hath sent me, draw him. _He does not merely accuse them of wickedness, but likewise reminds them, that it is a peculiar gift of God to embrace the doctrine which is exhibited by him; which he does, that their unbelief may not disturb weak minds. For... [ Continue Reading ]
45._It is written in the Prophets. _Christ confirms by the testimony of Isaiah what he said, that _no man can come to him_, _unless he be drawn by the Father _He uses the word_prophets _in the plural number, because all their prophecies had been collected into one volume, so that all _the prophets _... [ Continue Reading ]
46._Not that any man hath seen the Father. _As he has hitherto magnified the grace of his Father, so now he earnestly directs believers to himself alone. For both must be joined together; that no knowledge of Christ can be obtained, until the Father enlighten by his Spirit those who are by nature bl... [ Continue Reading ]
47._He who believeth in me. _This is an explanation of the former statement. For we are taught by these words that it is when we believe in Christ that God is made known to us; for then do we begin to see, as in a mirror, or as in a bright and lively image, God who was formerly invisible. Accursed t... [ Continue Reading ]
48._I am the bread of life _Besides what he formerly said, that he is the life-giving _bread, _by which our souls are nourished, in order to explain it more fully, he likewise repeats the contrast between this _bread _and the ancient manna, together with a comparison of the men.... [ Continue Reading ]
49._Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead. _He says that the _manna _was a perishing food to _their fathers, _for it did not free them from death. It follows, therefore, that souls do not find anywhere else than in him that food by which they are fed to spiritual life. Besides, we m... [ Continue Reading ]
51._I am the living bread. _He often repeats the same thing, because nothing is more necessary to be known; and every one feels in himself with what difficulty we are brought to believe it, and how easily and quickly it passes away and is forgotten. (156) We all desire life, but in seeking it, we fo... [ Continue Reading ]
52._The Jews therefore debated among themselves. _He again mentions the Jews, not by way of honor, but to reproach them with their unbelief, because they do not receive the well known doctrine concerning eternal life, or, at least, do not inquire modestly into the subject, if it be still obscure and... [ Continue Reading ]
53._Verily, verily, I say to you. _The just resentment which Christ felt, (159) when he saw his grace rejected with such haughty disdain, constrained him to employ this oath. For he does not now make use of simple doctrine, but likewise mingles threatenings for the purpose of striking terror. He den... [ Continue Reading ]
54._He who eateth my flesh. _This is a repetition, but is not superfluous; for it confirms what was difficult to be believed, That souls feed on _his flesh and blood_, in precisely the same manner that the body is sustained by _eating and drinking _Accordingly, as he lately testified that nothing bu... [ Continue Reading ]
55._For my flesh is truly food. _He confirms the same statement by other words, “As the body is weakened and consumed by the want of food, so the soul, if it be not fed with heavenly bread, will soon perish with hunger.” For when he declares that_his flesh is truly food, _he means that souls are fam... [ Continue Reading ]
56._He who eateth my flesh. _This is another confirmation; for while he alone has life in himself, he shows how we may enjoy it, that is, by _eating his flesh_; as if he had affirmed that there is no other way in which he can become ours, than by our faith being directed to his flesh. For no one wil... [ Continue Reading ]
57._As the living Father hath sent me. _Hitherto Christ has explained the manner in which we must become partakers of life. He now comes to speak of the principal cause, for the first source of life is in the Father. But he meets an objection, for it might be thought that he took away from God what... [ Continue Reading ]
58._This is the bread which came down from heaven. _He returns to the comparison between _the manna _and _his flesh, _with which he had begun; for it was necessary that he should close the sermon in this manner: “There is no reason why you should prefer Moses to me, because he fed your fathers in th... [ Continue Reading ]
59._He spoke these things in the synagogue. _John points out the place, that we may know that there were many present, and likewise, that a sermon was delivered as on a weighty and important subject. But it immediately follows that out of so great a multitude there were scarcely to be found a very f... [ Continue Reading ]
60._This is a harsh saying. _On the contrary, it was in their hearts, and not in the _saying, _that the _harshness _lay. But out of the word of God the reprobate are thus accustomed to form stones to dash themselves upon, and when, by their hardened obstinacy, they rush against Christ, they complain... [ Continue Reading ]
61._But Jesus knowing. _Christ knew indeed, that the offense which the reprobate had taken up could not be removed; for, to tell the truth, (171) the doctrine does not so much wound them as it exposes the putrid ulcer which they inwardly nourished in their hearts. But he wished by all methods to try... [ Continue Reading ]
62._What if you shall see the Son of man ascend to where he was before? _The mean and despicable condition of Christ which they saw before their eyes, while, clothed with flesh, he was not at all different from other men, prevented them from submitting to his Divine power; but now — by withdrawing,... [ Continue Reading ]
63._It is the Spirit that quickeneth. _By these words Christ shows the reason why the Jews did not profit by his doctrine to be, that, being spiritual and _quickening_, it does not find ears well prepared. But as this passage has been variously expounded, it will be of importance first to ascertain... [ Continue Reading ]
64._But there are some of you who do not believe. _He again imputes blame to them, because, being destitute of _the Spirit, _they wickedly corrupt and debase his doctrine, and thus turn it to their ruin. For otherwise they might have objected: “You boast, indeed, that what you speak is quickening, b... [ Continue Reading ]
65._Therefore have I told you. _He again states that faith is an uncommon and remarkable gift of the Spirit of God, that we may not be astonished that the Gospel is not received in every place and by all. For, being ill qualified to turn to our advantage the course of events, we think more meanly of... [ Continue Reading ]
66._From that time many of his disciples went back. _The Evangelist now relates what trouble was the consequence of that sermon. It is a dreadful and monstrous thing, that so kind and gracious an invitation of Christ could have alienated the minds of many, and especially of those who had formerly pr... [ Continue Reading ]
67._Jesus therefore said to the twelve. _As the faith of the apostles might be greatly shaken, when they saw that they were so small a remnant of a great multitude, Christ directs his discourse to them, and shows that there is no reason why they should allow themselves to be hurried away by the ligh... [ Continue Reading ]
68._Simon Peter therefore answered him. Peter _replies here in the name of all, as he does on other occasions; because all of them were of the same mind, except that in Judas there was no sincerity. This reply contains two clauses; for _Peter _first states the reason why he cheerfully adheres to Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
69._And we have believed and known. _The verbs are in the past tense, but they may be changed into the present tense, _we believe and know_, but it makes little difference in the meaning. In these words Peter gives a brief summary of faith. But the confession appears to have nothing to do with the m... [ Continue Reading ]
70._Jesus answered them. _Since Christ replies to all, we infer from it that all spake by the mouth of Peter. Besides, Christ now prepares and fortifies the eleven apostles against a new offense which was already at hand. It was a powerful instrument of Satan for shaking their faith, when they were... [ Continue Reading ]
71._He spoke of Judas _Although Judas had a bad conscience, still we do not read that he was at all moved. Hypocrites are so stupid that they do not feel their sores, and in the presence of men they have such hardened effrontery, that they do not scruple to prefer themselves to the very best of men.... [ Continue Reading ]