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.