Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 4:32

"But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not." — John 4:32 (ASV)

The disciples were mainly interested in Jesus’ physical welfare. He must have been exhausted by the travel of the morning. They were amazed that he was not hungry and wondered whether somebody else had given him food. He tried to tell them that the satisfaction of completing the work the Father had entrusted to him was greater than any food he might have been given (cf. Dt 8:3; Matthew 4:4).