Matthew Henry Commentary


Matthew Henry Commentary
"After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings` worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter`s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many? Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would. And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost. So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world." — John 6:1-14 (ASV)
John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude because it relates to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had on 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 the most about Him who is the end of the law. Yet people may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet and still turn a deaf ear to Him.
"Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone. And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea; and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew. When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going." — John 6:15-21 (ASV)
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, even when 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 are often so mistaken that they 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.
"On the morrow the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus entered not with his disciples into the boat, but [that] his disciples went away alone (howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks): when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 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. Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed." — John 6:22-27 (ASV)
Instead of answering their inquiry about how He came there, Jesus criticized their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet salvation is to be sought only as the gift of the Son of Man. The Father has sealed Him, proving Him to be God. The Father declared the Son of Man to be the Son of God with power.
"They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. Jesus said unto them. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." — John 6:28-35 (ASV)
Constant exercise of faith in Christ is the most important and difficult part of the obedience required of us as sinners seeking salvation. When by his grace we are enabled to live a life of faith in the Son of God, holy dispositions follow, and acceptable services may be done. God, even his Father, who gave their ancestors 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 in him signify the same thing. Christ shows that he is the true Bread; he is to the soul what bread is to the body, nourishing and supporting the spiritual life. He is the Bread of God: Bread that the Father gives, which he has made to be the food of our souls.
Bread nourishes only through 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 that came down from heaven.
It denotes the Divinity of Christ's person and his authority; also, the Divine origin of all the good that flows to us through him. May we, with understanding and earnestness, say: Lord, evermore give us this Bread.
"But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not. All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, I am the bread which came down out of heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven? Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father." — John 6:36-46 (ASV)
The discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, makes people willing and glad to come, and to give up everything that hinders them from 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 until divine grace has subdued and, in part, changed their heart; therefore, no one who comes will ever be cast out.
The gospel finds no one willing to be saved in the humbling, holy manner made known in it; but God draws people with His word and the Holy Spirit. A person's duty is to hear and learn; that is, to receive the grace offered and consent to the promise.
No one had seen the Father except His beloved Son; and the Jews were to expect to be taught by His inward power upon their minds, by His word, and by the ministers whom He sent among them.
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