Jesus reproves the Jews for ST. JOHN. their pride and unbelief. A. D. 31. A. M. 4035. think ye have eternal life: And 'they || 42 But I know you, that ye have A. M. 4035. are they which testify of me. A. D. 31. 1 Deut. xviii. 15, 18; Luke xxiv. 27; Chap. i. 45. not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. ; m Chap. i. 11; iii. 19.—————a Verse 34; 1 Thess. ii. 6. Jesus for their Messiah, notwithstanding that the daily, to know whether the things declared to them evidences of his mission were so unexceptionable, by Paul and Silas really accorded with those divine he appeals, lastly, to their own scriptures, which, oracles or not. For in them ye think—Or rather, for further proof, and their full satisfaction, he de- as dоKELTE evidently means, ye know, or, are assured sires them to search, because these writings, as they || ye have eternal life-Ye know they show you the justly supposed, contained the knowledge of eternal way to eternal life; and these very Scriptures testify life, and of the way leading to it, and therefore the of me, and of the necessity of believing in, receiving knowledge of the Messiah. As if he had said, I can and obeying me, in order thereto. And yet, such with confidence refer you to them, knowing that is the obstinacy of your hearts, that, notwithstanding they confirm my pretensions in the most ample you profess so great a regard for them, ye will not manner, the characters of the Messiah pointed out come to me-Will not believe in, and make applicaby them, being all fulfilled in my person. It must tion to me; that ye may have life—Even that eterbe observed that the word epevvare, here rendered ||nal life which they direct you to seek, and assure imperatively, search, may with equal propriety be you may be obtained in this way; but you rather translated as Le Clerc, L'Enfant, Vitringa, Raphelius, || choose to die under the force of your inveterate pre&c., contend it ought to be, in the present tense, ye judices. It is justly observed by Dr. Whitby here, search, the ambiguity of the word justifying either that if the Jews were justified in supposing that the translation. If thus rendered, the sense of the pas-doctrine of eternal life was contained in the scripsage will be; Ye search the Scriptures, because in ||tures of the Old Testament, and that they, by searchthem ye think ye have eternal life, or, infallible||ing, might find it there, it must be to them a sufficient directions from God, concerning the true way of rule of faith and practice: but that, if in this they obtaining it. Now they testify of me; yet, or, never- erred, it behooved Christ to correct in them an error theless, ye will not come to me that ye might have so pernicious. life.-Dr. Doddridge, who reads the clause in that manner, observes, he thinks the following words, which express their high opinion of the Scriptures, rather suit this translation than the common one, and that it is exceeding probable that, at a time when the Pharisees were so impatient of the Roman yoke, they would with great diligence search the sacred oracles for predictions relating to the Messiah; though it is too plain they had an unhappy bias on their minds, which prevented the good effects which might have been expected from that inquiry, had it been impartial. It must be observed, however, that Origen, Chrysostom, and Austin, confirm our version, which certainly is fully as agree- || able to the scope of the passage; for having told || them that they would find abundant evidence of his mission in the Scriptures, he observed, that their want of faith was not owing to any deficiency in the proofs of his mission, but to the wickedness and obstinacy of their own dispositions. It is justly observed by Grotius, on the word ɛpevvate, search, or, ye search, that it does not merely mean to read, but to weigh and consider with an attentive mind, as it is taken chap. vii. 52, where the Jews bid Nico-ation the Jews gave many proofs during their wars demus search and look; and 1 Pet. i. 10, 11, where we read of the ancient prophets inquiring and searching diligently, respecting the salvation to be received through the Messiah, and the time of its manifestation, of which they had prophesied. The expression means the same with that used Acts xvii. 11, namely, avaкpivεiv ras ypaḍas, where we read of the Jews at Berea searching the Scriptures Verses 41-43. I receive not honour from men—I need it not; I seek it not from you for my own sake. As if he had said, Though I speak of your coming to me as necessary in order to your salvation, it is not out of an ambition of drawing multitudes after me, who may approve and applaud my teaching; for the whole of my conduct proves that I seek not the praise of men. But I say it out of a tender regard for your salvation and reformation; for I know you-I am fully acquainted with the state of your minds, and the conduct of your lives; that ye have not the love of God in you-That, notwithstanding the distinguished profession of piety which you make, you are destitute of that great and only principle of true religion, the love of God: For I am come in my Father's name-With evident credentials from him; and yet ye receive me not—Which, if you had really loved him, you would undoubtedly have done: if another shall come in his own name -Without such credentials, and without any commission from God; him ye will receive-Provided he assume the majesty of a king, and promise you temporal wealth, power, and glory. Of this infatu with the Romans, and a little before the destruction of Jerusalem. For then many impostors arose, pretending to be the Messiah, and promising them deliverance, by which, although they wrought no miracles, yet they drew great multitudes after them, as their own historian, Josephus, informs us; and met with a much better reception, even from the Pharisees and rulers, than Christ did, notwithstand He declares that Moses a. M. 4035. A. D. 31. CHAPTER V. trust. will become their accuser. A. D. 31. 44° How can ye believe, which || cuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye A. M. 4035. receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. r 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how you to the Father: there is one that ac-| shall ye believe my words? r Gen. iii. 15; xii. 3; xviii. 18; xxii. 18; xlix. 10; Deut. xviii. 15, 18; Chap. i. 45; Acts xxvi. 22. salvation, was likewise dishonoured by it, inasmuch as he wrote of him, namely, under the names of the Seed of Abraham; Shiloh; and a Prophet like to Verse 44. How can ye believe which receive hon- || himself, whom God would raise up unto them from our one of another-That is, while ye seek the praise among their brethren, and whom he commanded of men, rather than the praise of God? In other them to hear. Wherefore, seeing they refused to words, How can such persons as you believe in believe in him, Moses would accuse them as guilty me, whose character and station are entirely dif- of disbelieving his writings." "This," says Dr. Dodferent from what you have all along told the people dridge, "is one of the most expressive passages that the Scriptures teach concerning the Messiah? This can be imagined, in which Moses, their great lawconfession of your own ignorance is not to be ex- || giver, is represented as looking down with indignapected from you, who, in all your actions, seek the tion upon these elders, who gloried in being the praise of men, (Matt. xxiii. 5,) and not the praise of most distinguished of his disciples; and seeing how God, which is the only true praise, and is to be ob- injuriously they treated Jesus, the great Prophet, tained by a steady regard to truth and virtue, in turning himself to God with a severe accusation opposition to all earthly passions whatever." Thus against them, and urging his own predictions as our Lord shows, that "their infidelity was owing, in an aggravation of their inexcusable infidelity." For a great measure, to their pride. They who had all had ye believed Moses-Had ye believed his writalong preached glorious things concerning the em- ings, which are daily read in your synagogues; you pire and grandeur of the Messiah, would not ascribe || would have believed me-For these writings describe that august character to a mere teacher, who was me not by types and figures only, but by particular destitute even of the ordinary advantages of birth,|| and direct prophecies. See the margin. But if ye fortune, and erudition; because it would have been || believe not his writings-Which it is plain from such a confession of ignorance and unskilfulness in your conduct that you do not, though they are daily the Scriptures, as must have exposed them to the in your hands, and you strenuously assert their contempt of those whom they had misled.”—Mac-|| divine authority; how shall ye believe my words— knight. I have no reason to be surprised that you do not credit me upon my own testimony. Thus Jesus asserted his own personal dignity, as the Son of God and Judge of the world, at the same time that he proposed the evidences of his mission from God with such strength of reason, perspicuity, and brevity, as are unequalled. Verse 45. Do not think that I only will accuse you to the Father-Our Lord proceeds to caution them against supposing, "that in rejecting him they sinned against no person but him, and that he alone would accuse them to the Father for their infidelity; for that Moses, in whose laws they trusted to have CHAPTER VI. (1,) Christ feeds five thousand with five loaves and two small fishes, 1–14. (2,) To avoid being proclaimed a king, he crosses the sea of Tiberias, and walks on the water, 15–21. (3,) The multitudes follow him in boats to Capernaum, 22–25. (4,) He reproves them for the carnal and worldly views with which they sought him, and directs them to seek to enjoy spiritual blessings by believing on him, 26–29. (5,) He represents himself as the bread of life, prefigured by, but far more excellent than, the manna, 30–40. (6,) He enlarges on the necessity and benefit of feeding upon him as such, 41–58. (7,) Many of his followers, offended with his doctrine and reproofs, finally desert him, 59–66. (8) He is confessed by Peter to be the Christ the Son of God; and, while he is adhered to by the other apostles, he intimates the treachery of Judas, 67-71. Jesus feeds five thousand ST. JOHN. men with five loaves. A. D. 32. A. M. 4036. AFTER * these things Jesus went || loaves, and two small fishes: but A. M. 4036. over the sea of Galilee, which is what are they among so many? A. D. 32. the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. (Now there was much grass in the place.) So the men sat down in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disci 4 b And the passover, a feast of the Jews,|| ples, and the disciples to them that were set was nigh. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. down; and likewise of the fishes, as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley * Fourth Sunday in Lent, gospel, verse 1 to verse 15. a Matt. xiv. 15; Mark vi. 35; Luke ix. 10, 12.- b Leviticus xxiii. 5, 7; Deut. xvi. 1; Chapter ii. 13; v. 1. 1.- Twentyfifth Sunday after Trinity, gospel, verse 5 to verse 15. NOTES ON CHAPTER VI. Verses 1-4. After these things-The history of between ten and eleven months is to be here supplied from the other evangelists; Jesus went over the sea of Galilee-Luke tells us (chap. ix. 10) he|| went with his disciples into a desert belonging to Bethsaida: of the reason of which, see notes on Matt. xiv. 13, 14; Mark vi. 30–32. And a great multitude followed him—Eagerly desiring to hear so divine a teacher; because they saw his miracles, wrought on them that were diseased-And were struck with the power and goodness which he manifested in performing them. And Jesus went up into a mountain-That he might be heard and seen with the greater advantage; and there he sat with his disciples-And the multitude about him. And the passover was nigh―This circumstance, together with the observation made verse 10, that there was much grass in the place, shows that the spring was now far advanced, and therefore determines the time of the following miracle with sufficient precision. Verses 5-14. When Jesus lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come to him-That is, gathered round him; he saith unto Philip-Namely, after he had first taught the people many things, as we learn from the other evangelists, and had healed them that had need of healing, Mark vi. 34; Luke ix. 11; Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?—He addressed himself to Philip particularly, because he, being a native of Bethsaida, was best acquainted with that country. This he said to prove f that Prophet that should come into the world. 15 ¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that • Matthew xiv. 14; Mark vi. 35; Luke ix. 12.d Numbers xi. 21, 22.- 2 Kings iv. 43.-f Genesis xlix. 10; Deuteronomy xviii. 15, 18; Matthew xi. 3; Chapter i. 21; iv. 19, 25; vii. 40. One him-To try what idea he had conceived of his di- Verses 15-21. When Jesus perceived-Through the knowledge which he had of their thoughts and He walks on the sea. A. D. 32. A. D. 32. A. M. 4036. they would come and take him by || that there was none other boat there, A. M. 4036. force, to make him a king, he de- save that one whereinto his disciples parted again into a mountain himself alone. were entered, and that Jesus went not with his 16 And when even was now come, his dis- disciples into the boat, but that his disciples ciples went down unto the sea, were gone away alone; 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great || thanks :) wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25 And when they had found him on the 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, afraid. when camest thou hither? 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. 22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw 8 Matt. xiv. 23; Mark vi. 47. intentions; that they would come and take him by force-That they had formed a purpose of doing so; to make him a king-Believing that the Messiah was to rule as well as teach his people; he departed again unto a mountain himself alone-Having ordered his disciples to cross the lake, and dismissed the multitude. To this mountain, according to Matthew and Mark, he retired to pray. For a further explanation of this, and the following verses, to verse 21, see notes on Matt. xiv. 22-33. || 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 1Labour not for the meat which perish 1 Or, Work not. ples, they expected to have found him on the other side of the sea, and could not conceive when he could come, or what imaginable means he could have of crossing the water. Jesus, modestly waiving the recital of those extraordinary circumstances which attended his passage, diverted the discourse to a more important and edifying subject; and knowing, by an intimate penetration of their very hearts, that they were governed only by carnal motives in this attendance upon him, humble and zealous as it Verses 22-24. "In this and the two following might appear, he said-With great solemnity, Verily, verses,” says Dr. Campbell, “is contained a sen- ye seek me,not because ye saw the miracles-Because, tence more involved than any in this gospel. In- having been eye-witnesses of the miracles which I deed it is so unlike the composition of this evangelist, || performed, you are convinced by them that I am a dias to give ground to suspect that it has been injured vine teacher, and are now disposed to hearken unto in transcribing. He often indeed uses tautologies; || and obey my doctrine: but because ye did eat of the but, except in this instance, they occasion no dark- loaves, and were filled-And have from thence conness or perplexity. I have adopted the reading of || cluded, that you shall gain great secular advantages the Vulgate as preferable upon the whole, namely, || by following me: having been once fed, you expect On the morrow the people, who were on the sea-side, knowing that there had been but one boat there, and that Jesus went not into the boat with his disciples, || who went alone, (other boats, however, arrived from Tiberias, nigh the place where they had eaten, after the Lord had given thanks,) knowing besides, that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, embarked, and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus." Verses 25-27. When they had found him on the|| other side-Namely, in the synagogue of Capernaum, as appears from verse 59; they said unto him -As soon as the worship was over, and even before they quitted the place; Rabbi, when camest thou | hither?—They ask this question because, as Jesus did not go on the preceding evening with his disciVOL. I. ( 36 ) that I will feed you frequently by a miracle; and the satisfaction you have found in that meal has made you conceive great hopes of temporal felicity under my administration. These are the views with which you are following me; but you are entirely mis|| taken in them, for your happiness does not consist in the meat that perisheth, neither is it that sort of meat which the Messiah will give you. Hitherto Christ had been gathering hearers; he now begins to try their sincerity by a figurative discourse concerning his passion, and the fruit of it to be received by faith. Labour not for the meat which perisheth -For bodily food, or for any merely temporal blessing; not for that only, not chiefly: not at all, but in subordination to divine knowledge and grace, faith 561 a Jesus speaks of himself h ST. JOHN. A. D. 32. as the bread of life. A. M. 4036. eth, but for that meat which en- || sign showest thou then, that we may A. M. 4036. dureth unto everlasting life, which see, and believe thee? what dost thou the Son of man shall give unto you: for him work? hath God the Father sealed. A. D. 32. i 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, *This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 31 m Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the 30 They said therefore unto him, 'What true bread from heaven. h Verse 54; Chapter iv. 14. Matthew iii. 17, xvii. 5; Mark i. 11; ix. 7; Luke iii. 22;. ix. 35; Chapter i. 33; v. 37; viii. 18; Acts ii. 22; 2 Peter i. 17. k 1 John iii. 23. Matt xii 38; xvi. 1; Mark viii. 11; 1 Cor. i. 22.- m Exodus xvi. 15; Num. xi. 7; Neh. ix. 15; 1 Cor. x. 3.- n Psa. lxxviii. 24, 25. ing in him for salvation, present and eternal, which was necessary, notwithstanding all their acts of obedience to the law, whether moral or ceremonial. Verses 30, 31. They said, What sign showest thou and love; the meat that endureth to everlasting life|| -Which, by invigorating all the faculties of the soul, and making it wise and good, holy and happy,|| renders it incorruptible and immortal, entitled to, and prepared for, everlasting felicity. Which meat,||—What miracle dost thou work; that we may see · or which life, the Son of man shall give you—If with || and believe thee?-Since thou requirest us to give sincerity, earnestness, and faith, you apply to him for thee credit, and to regard thee as invested with a it. It is his gift, xapiopa, a gift of grace, Rom. vi. || higher character than has been claimed by any one 23: and yet we are commanded to labour for it, as || before, produce thy credentials; give some evidence if it were to be procured by our own industry, and of a superior kind to what has been done by others. sold upon that valuable consideration. But when Thus these unreasonable men speak, though they we have laboured with the utmost diligence for it, had just before seen the astonishing miracle of the still we have not merited it as our hire, but the Son || loaves and fishes, one of the most extraordinary disof man gives it. And it is an encouragement, that plays of creating power that could well be conceived, he who has the giving of it is the Son of man, our || and though several of them lived in the neighbourkinsman and brother; for, in consequence of that, hood of Capernaum, where he had long multiplied we may hope that the sons of men, who seek it and his wonders! But the greatest miracles are lost on abour for it, shall not fail to obtain it. For him hath || persons who are blinded by prejudice, and whose God the Father sealed-By this very miracle, as minds are earthly, sensual, and devilish! The views well as by his whole testimony concerning him. and opinions, however, of those that speak to Christ Having given him authority, he has given us as- in this discourse, are so various, (compare verses 34, surance of it; having intrusted him with unlimited || 41, 42,) and the evangelist so expressly declares that powers, he hath satisfied us by undoubted proofs that there was a debate between some and others of them, he has done so. Sealing a writing is a mark of the (verse 52,) that it would be wrong to imagine these authenticity of it. God the Father sealed his Son, || to have been the perverse and ungrateful sentiments or manifested that he had commissioned him to be of the whole multitude, who had followed him with the Teacher, Redeemer, Saviour, and Governor of so much eagerness from place to place, for several his church, by causing his Holy Spirit to rest on him, || days. Our fathers did eat manna-By extolling by the voice from heaven uttered once and again, || the miracle of the manna, and by calling it bread and by the testimony he bore to him in signs and || from heaven, and by insinuating that it was Moses's wonders. || || miracle, the Jews endeavoured to disparage both Verses 28, 29. Then said they-Desiring to ap- Christ's mission and his miracle of the loaves, which pear willing to receive his instructions, as well as they affected to despise, as no miracle in comparison. his bounties; What shall we do that we may work || It was only a single meal of terrestrial food, at which the works of God?-Works pleasing to God, so as to || nine or ten thousand had been fed: whereas Moses secure his favour, and eternal life. Jesus answered, || with celestial food, fed the whole Jewish nation, ir This is the work of God-The work most pleasing || number upward of two millions, and that not for a to God, and the foundation of all others; that ye be- || day, but during the space of forty years in the willieve on him whom he hath sent-That you acknow-derness. ledge him for the Son of God, the Saviour of the Verses 32, 33. Jesus said, Moses gave you not world, (chap. xx. 31; 1 John iv. 14, 15;) that you that bread from heaven-It was not Moses who in credit and obey his doctrine; rely, for acceptance || ancient times gave the manna to your fathers, neither with God, on his mediation; apply to him for, and was the manna bread from heaven, though it be so receive, his pardoning and renewing grace. See on called by the psalmist, on account of the thing which chap. iii. 16-19. Thus our Lord calls them to a work it typified: for it dropped from the air only; but my they never thought of; the owning him to be tae || Father giveth you the true bread from heaven-It true Messiah; the receiving him as such, and trust- I was my Father that gave to your ancestors the manna. a 562 ( 36* ) |