a lad = a little boy. Greek. paidarion. App-108 . The "baker boy", with his basket of barley-loaves, is still to be seen where people congregate. five. See App-10 . barley . Greek. krithinos. Occurs only here and John 6:13 . Compare Judges 7:13 . 2 Kings 4:42 .Ezekiel 13:19 . small fishes . Greek. opsarion. Occurs only here, John 6:11 , and John 21:9 , John 21:10 , John 21:13 . among = for. Greek. eis. App-104 . read more
G. Jesus’ later Galilean ministry 6:1-7:9This section of the text records the high point of Jesus’ popularity. His following continued to build, and antagonism continued to increase. This is the only section in John that narrates Jesus’ later Galilean ministry, which occupies so much of the Synoptic Gospels. read more
1. The fourth sign: feeding the 5,000 6:1-15 (cf. Matthew 14:13-23; Mark 6:30-46; Luke 9:10-17)The importance of this sign is clear in that all four Gospels contain an account of it. Apparently John was familiar with the other evangelists’ versions of this miracle as well as being an eyewitness of the event. His story compliments the others (cf. John 6:5; John 6:15). This miracle demonstrated Jesus’ authority over quantity. [Note: Tenney, John: The Gospel . . ., p. 312.] It constitutes further... read more
Andrew had discovered a young lad (Gr. paidarion, a double diminutive) who had five small barley biscuits and two small fish (Gr. opsaria). Probably the fish would have served as a relish to eat with the bread. [Note: Carson, The Gospel . . ., p. 270.] Barley bread was the food of the poor. One writer called the boy’s food mere "hors d’oeuvres." [Note: Tenney, "John," p. 72.] Andrew seems to have felt embarrassed that he had even suggested such an inadequate solution to the problem.John may... read more
The Bread of LifeJohn 6:1 to John 7:1. Feeding the five thousand. Walking upon the sea. Discourse upon the bread of life. Defection of many disciples. The Apostles stand firm.Returning from Jerusalem, our Lord met the Apostles somewhere on the W. of the lake (perhaps at Capernaum), and heard their report of their mission (Luke 9:10). He then spent about a fortnight preaching and healing the sick (John 6:2), and afterwards, seeking retirement, sailed with them to a desert place on the NE. coast... read more
(9) Again the account of the eye-witness is the more full and life-like. All tell of the five loaves and two fishes. John knows that they are barley loaves—the ordinary black bread of the Galilean peasant; and that the loaves and fishes are not the property of the disciples, but of a lad or slave who has followed the crowd, in the hope, it may be, of finding a purchaser for them.The word for “lad” is a diminutive occurring only here (not in the best text of Matthew 11:16), and in many MSS. is... read more
The Gospel Feast John 6:5 I. From the beginning, the greatest rite of religion has been a feast; the partaking of God's bounties, in the way of nature, has been consecrated to a more immediate communion with God Himself. For instance, when Isaac was weaned, Abraham 'made a great feast,' and then it was that Sarah prophesied: 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son,' she said, prophesying the introduction of the spirit, grace, and truth which the Gospel contains, instead of the bondage of the... read more
Chapter 14JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE.John 6:1-59.In this chapter John follows the same method as in the last. He first relates the sign, and then gives our Lord’s interpretation of it. As to the Samaritan woman, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so now to the Galileans, Jesus manifests Himself as sent to communicate to man life eternal. The sign by means of which He now manifests Himself is, however, so new that many fresh aspects of His own person and work are disclosed.[21]The occasion for... read more
CHAPTER 6 1. The Feeding of the Five Thousand Men. (John 6:1-14 .) 2. The Attempt to Make Him King, (John 6:15 .) 3. The Stormy Sea. “It is I, be not afraid.” (John 6:16-21 .) 4. The Discourse on the Bread of Life. The Food of the Believer. (John 6:22-59 .) 5. The Falling Away of Disciples. (John 6:60-66 ) 6. Peter’s Confession. (John 6:67-71 .) The events which are recorded in this chapter happened at the Sea of Galilee, the sea of Tiberias. John exclusively uses this name, an evidence... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 6:1-14
65. Feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14)When the apostles returned from their first tour around the country areas, they met Jesus in Galilee and tried to have a quiet time alone with him (Mark 6:30-32; John 6:1). Jesus also was in need of a rest, but he was filled with pity when he saw the crowds of people flocking to him in their need. They appeared to him as a flock of spiritually starved sheep that had no food because there was no shepherd to... read more