Bible Commentaries
John 6

Verse 1

John 6:0

John 6:1-21. The other evangelists have also given accounts of these transactions. Mark 6:30-53.Luke 9:10-17.) There are only two or three other instances with the exception of the events connected with the closing scenes of the Savior's life, in which John narrates incidents which the other evangelists have recorded.

Verse 1

Went over the Sea; probably to avoid the hostility of Herod, as it was immediately after he had beheaded John the Baptist. (Matthew 14:12,Matthew 14:13.)

Verse 9

Verse 9

A lad here; perhaps an attendant employed to carry provisions.

Verse 14

Verse 14

That Prophet; meaning the Messiah, as appears by their design of raising an insurrection against Herod, to make him king in his stead.

Verse 17

Verse 17

Jesus was not come to them; having remained behind to allay the excitement among the people.

Verse 22

Verse 22

On the other side; that is, on the side where the miracle had been performed.

Verse 25

Verse 25

When camest thou hither? as there had been no boat in which he could have been conveyed from the opposite shore; though John says (John 6:23.) that other boats afterwards arrived, in which they themselves probably embarked.

Verse 30

Verse 30

They said; they and others of the people of Capernaum, who, perhaps, had not witnessed the miracle of feeding the five thousand.

Verse 32

Verse 32

Moses gave you not. The meaning is, that the true bread from heaven was not the manna of Moses, but the spiritual food bestowed upon the believer through Christ.

Verse 35

Verse 35

Shall never hunger and--never thirst; never suffer the want of spiritual food.

Verse 51

Verse 51

Which I will give, &c.; referring to the sacrifice of himself upon the cross.

Verse 53

Verse 53

Eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man; in a spiritual sense; that is, become thoroughly imbued with the spiritual influences arising out of the instructions, the example, and, more than all, the dying sufferings, of the Redeemer.

Verse 59

Verse 59

In the synagogue; not as an address to a congregation, at public worship, but in conversation with bystanders. The synagogue was a place of general resort on all occasions.

Verse 63

Verse 63

It is the Spirit that quickeneth, it is spiritual food which gives true and real life; the flesh--that is, what relates to the body--is, of little value.

Verse 67

Verse 67

Will ye also, &c.; that is, Do you wish or, desire to go away? There seems to be nothing in the John 5:19-47 from which we should anticipate that feelings of resistance and animosity would be awakened, unless it is the sentiment expressed in the conclusion, (John 6:65,) that the human soul never seeks spiritual good from its own spontaneous impulses, but that, if it turns at all into the way of life, it turns in consequence of a prevenient action exerted upon it by Almighty God. This truth is repeatedly recognized in this conversation. (John 6:37,John 6:44,John 6:45,John 6:65.)