Chapter 6:41-58 Words to the Jews

6:41 The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

The Jews then murmured - Because the whole of His discourse event to prove that He was infinitely greater than Moses;

6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven?

And they said, is not this Jesus the son of Joseph? - From murmuring they go to mocking and scoffing at His parentage and descent, and object this to His coming down from heaven; and intend by it to upbraid Him with the meanness of His birth, being the son of Joseph, a poor carpenter;

6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

The Jews murmured at the doctrine of Christ; not only would not receive it themselves, but were angry that others did. Christ overheard their secret whisperings, and said, "Murmur not among yourselves; lay not the fault of your dislike of My doctrine one upon another, as if it were because you find it generally distasted;

6:44 No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw Him: and I will raise Hm up at the last day.

Observe, 

(a.) The nature of the work: It is drawing, which denotes not a force put upon the will, whereby of unwilling we are made willing, and a new bias is given to the soul, by which it inclines to God. This seems to be more than a moral suasion, for by that it is in the power to draw; yet it is not to be called a physical impulse, for it lies out of the road of nature; but he that formed the spirit of man within him by His creating power, and fashions the hearts of men by His providential influence, knows how to new-mould the soul, and to alter its bent and temper, and make it conformable to His own will, without doing any wrong to its natural liberty.  

(b.) The necessity of it: No man, in this weak and helpless state, can come to Christ without it. 

(c.) The author of it: The Father who hath sent Me. The Father, having sent Christ, will succeed Him, for He would not send Him on a fruitless errand. 

(d.) The crown and perfection of this work: And I will raise him up at the last day. When He raises them up at the last day, He will put the last hand to His undertaking, will bring forth the top stone. 

6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me.

Every man that hath heard - The secret voice of God, he, and he only believeth.

6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father.

Not that any man hath seen the Father - He does not teach men by appearing personally before them, or by any other outward voice than that of His word and messengers; but He teaches by His Spirit.

6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.

Hath everlasting life - He is entitled to this, on his believing Me to be the Messiah, and trusting in Me alone for salvation.

6:48 I am that bread of life.

I am that bread of life - I alone afford, by My doctrine and Spirit, that nourishment by which the soul is saved unto life eternal.

6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

Your fathers did eat manna - and are dead - That bread neither preserved their bodies alive, nor entitled them to life eternal; but those who receive My salvation, shall not only be raised again in the last day, but shall inherit eternal life.

6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

This is the bread, etc. - I am come for this very purpose, that men may believe in Me, and have eternal life.

6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, He shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

If any eat of this bread - That is, believe in Me: he shall live for ever - In other words, he that believeth to the end shall be saved. My flesh which I will give you - This whole discourse concerning His flesh and blood refers directly to His passion.

6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat?

The Jews therefore strove among themselves - Fell to disputing one among another; some understanding Christ, and others not; some being for Him, and vindicated what He said; and others being against Him, and who were the majority, objected.

6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.

Unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man - Spiritually: Eating His flesh is only another expression for believing.

Unless ye be made partakers of the blessings about to be purchased by His blood, passion, and violent death, ye cannot be saved.

6:54 Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood - Spiritually by faith, as explained in the preceding verse.

6:55 For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed - Or, rather, My flesh is the true meat, etc.

6:56 He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.

dwelleth in me, and I in him - There is a mutual indwelling of Christ, and believers; Christ is the habitation, or dwelling place of his people.

6:57 As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me.

So he that eateth me, even he shall live by me - From which we learn that the union between Christ and His followers shall be similar to that which subsists between God and Christ.

6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

That is, I am the bread - Which is not like the manna your fathers ate, who died notwithstanding.

Chapter 6:26-40 Words to the People

6:26 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.

ye seek Me not because ye saw the miracles; of feeding so large a number with so small a quantity of food, and of healing them that needed it. Not but that they did regard the miracles of Christ, and concluded from thence He must be that prophet that was to come; but then they had a greater respect to their own worldly interest, and their carnal appetites.....but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled; they regarded their own bellies more than the honor and glory of Christ.

6:27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.
Labor not for the meat which perisheth - Meaning either food for the body, which is perishing; its virtue is perishing; man cannot live by it alone, nor does it last long; but for that which endureth unto everlasting life - either the grace of Christ, which, as meat, is quickening and refreshing, strengthening and supporting, and which causes nourishment and growth, and by virtue of which work is done; and this springs up unto everlasting life, and is inseparably connected with it; and particularly the blessings of grace, such as sanctification, adoption, pardon, and justification: or the Gospel.

6:28 Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

That we might work the works of God? - That is, Divine works, or such as God can approve.

6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.
The grandest work that any man can do is to believe on the Savior whom God has sent.

6:30 They said therefore unto Him, What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work?

What strange questions for them to ask when He had amazed them with His wonderful works.

6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert - Their argument seems to run thus: Thou hast, we grant, fed five thousand men with five loaves and two small fishes; but what is this in comparison of what Moses did in the desert, who for forty years fed more than a million of persons with bread from heaven: do something like this, and then we will believe in Thee, as we have believed in Moses.

6:32 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 true bread from heaven.

Moses gave you not that bread from heaven - Our Lord refutes the argument of the Jews, by proving:
1. That it was not Moses, but God, who gave the manna.
2. That this bread was not the true bread, but was merely a type of it.
3. That God had given them now a bread infinitely more excellent.
4. That Himself is that heavenly nourishment of which He spake, and who was typified by the manna in the desert.
To show that Himself was the true bread from heaven, He proves two things:
1. That His doctrine was the true nourishment of the soul.
2. That He would give His body for the life of the world.

6:33 For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

The Bread of God is Jesus Christ Himself.

6:34 Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Lord, evermore give us this bread - that is so divine and heavenly, and has such a quickening virtue in it: these words are said by them either seriously, 

and to be understood of bread for their bodies, 

of which they imagined Christ was speaking; 

and from sensuality in them who followed Him for the loaves; 

and from a covetous disposition, 

being desirous of being supplied 

with such excellent food without charge; 

and from idleness, 

to save labor and pains in working for it; 

and from a vain desire of the continuance of this earthly life, 

being willing to live for ever, and therefore would have this bread evermore.

6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and He that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Hear this, poor starving people; the wants of your soul can all be met by Jesus Christ. 

6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not.
How the Savior brings the truth home to these people, and He might do the same to some of you. You pray, “Give us this bread;” and He replies, “I have given it to you, yet you have not eaten it. You have seen Me, you have heard Me, you know Me, and yet you do not believe on Me.”

6:37 All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.

And him that thus cometh to mM, I will in nowise cast out - I will give him pardon, holiness, and heaven, if he endure to the end.

6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.

Not to do Mine own will - I am come, not to act according to human motives, passions, or prejudices; but according to infinite wisdom, goodness, and mercy.

6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which he hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

See how the salvation of Christ reaches right to the end of all things. You and I may die; but though we lie a while in the grave, the salvation of Christ will preserve us, to raise us up again at the last day.

6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise Him up at the last day.
and I will raise him up at the last day - Christ will be the efficient cause, as well as He is the exemplar, the earnest, and first fruits of the resurrection of the dead; 

He will indeed raise all the dead by His power.