John Gill Commentary 1 Corinthians 10:3

"and did all eat the same spiritual food;" — 1 Corinthians 10:3 (ASV)

And did all eat the same spiritual meat.

Meaning the manna; and which the Jews also call ^F8 (ynxwr lkam), "spiritual food", as also their sacrifices, ^F9 (ynxwr Mxl), "spiritual bread": not that the manna was so in its own nature; it was corporeal food, and served for the nourishment of the body; but either because it was prepared by angels, who are ministering spirits, at the command of God, and hence called angels' food, (Psalms 78:25) or rather because it had a mystical and spiritual meaning in it; it was not the true bread, but was typical of Christ, who is so.

It resembled Christ in its original; it was prepared of God, as Christ is, as his salvation prepared before the face of all his people; it was the free gift of God, as Christ is to the mystical Israel; it came down from heaven, as Christ, the true bread of life did: it answered to him in its nature; it was round in form, expressive of his being from everlasting to everlasting, and of the perfection both of his divine and human natures; it was white in colour, signifying his purity of nature, and holiness of life and conversation; it was small in quantity, setting forth his outward meanness and despicableness in the eyes of men; and sweet in taste, as Christ, and all the blessings and fruits of his grace are to believers.

The usefulness of the manna was very great, a vast number, even all the Israelites, were supplied with it, and supported by it for forty years together, as all the elect of God, and the whole family of Christ are by the fulness of grace which is in him; and as it was ground in mills, or beaten in a mortar, and baked in pans, in order that it might be proper and suitable food; so Christ was bruised, and wounded, and endured great sufferings, and death itself, that he might be agreeable food for our faith: and as the Israelites had all an equal quantity of this food, none had more or less than others, so all the saints have an equal share and interest in Christ, in his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; as they have the same precious faith, they have the same object of it.

As the manna was the food of the wilderness, or of the people of Israel, while travelling in it, so Christ, and the fulness of grace that is in him, are the food and supply of the spiritual Israel, and church of God, while they are passing through this world to the heavenly glory. Now, though all the Israelites did not eat of Christ, the true bread, which was typified by the manna; yet they all ate the same food, which had a spiritual meaning in it, and a respect to Christ, but did not all enter into the land flowing with milk and honey.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: Yade Mose in Shemot Rabba, fol. 109. 3.
• F9: Tzeror Hammor, fol. 93. 2.