Charles Ellicott Commentary John 6:26

"Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled." — John 6:26 (ASV)

Jesus does not answer their question. There is an earlier sign than that about which they now ask, the spiritual significance of which neither they nor the disciples have realized (Mark 6:52). He does not satisfy their curiosity, but with the solemn Verily, verily, begins to reveal this hidden truth.

Not because ye saw the miracles.—Better, not because you saw signs. There is no article in the original, and the common rendering “miracles” quite misses the sense.

They had seen miracles and had felt their force as wonders; what they had not done was to enter into the spiritual significance and see in them signs of the eternal truth.

They regarded the whole matter from without. It was to them nothing more than an eating yesterday, which might be repeated today; or perhaps He would allow them to take Him and make Him King now, even though He did not then.