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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 6:1-14

We have here an account of Christ's feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, which miracle is in this respect remarkable, that it is the only passage of the actions of Christ's life that is recorded by all the four evangelists. John, who does not usually relate what had been recorded by those who wrote before him, yet relates this, because of the reference the following discourse has to it. Observe, I. The place and time where and when this miracle was wrought, which are... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 6:1-13

6:1-13 After these things Jesus went away across the Sea of Galilee, that is, the Sea of Tiberias. A great crowd was following him, because they were watching the signs which he did on those who were ill. Jesus went up into the hill and he was sitting there with his disciples. The Passover, the Feast of the Jews, was near. When Jesus lifted up his eyes and saw that a great crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip: "Where are we to buy bread for these to eat?" He was testing Philip when he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 6:1-13

We will never know exactly what happened on that grassy plain near Bethsaida Julias. We may look at it in three ways. (a) We may regard it simply as a miracle in which Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes. Some may find that hard to conceive of; and some may find it hard to reconcile with the fact that that is just what Jesus refused to do at his temptations ( Matthew 4:3-4 ). If we can believe in the sheer miraculous character of this miracle, then let us continue to do so. But if we are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:6

And this he said to prove him ,.... Or "tempting him", trying his faith, and not only his, but the rest of the disciples; not as ignorant of it himself, but in order to discover it to him and them, and to prepare them for the following miracle; and that it might appear the more illustrious and marvellous: for he himself knew what he would do ; Christ had determined to work a miracle, and feed the large number of people that were with him, with that small provision they had among them;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:6

This he said to prove him - To try his faith, and to see whether he and the other apostles had paid proper attention to the miracles which they had already seen him work; and to draw their attention more particularly to that which he was now about to perform. This is an observation of the evangelist himself, who often interweaves his own judgment with the facts he relates, which St. Matthew rarely ever does. The other evangelists say that, previously to this miracle, he continued to instruct... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:1-6

The feeding of the five thousand. I. A THOUGHTLESS CROWD . Five thousand men have allowed themselves to be gathered together in a desert place, not very far indeed from places of habitation and nourishment, and yet far enough to cause faintness and famishing before they can reach them. They seem to have drifted into this position without any thought beforehand. The only sufficiently wise person among them was a bit of a lad who had five loaves and two small fishes with him. Yet these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:1-15

(1) The supply of human wants illustrated by a well known " sign " of power . Chronological difficulties beset our treatment of this miraculous narrative with its varied consequences and results. Many curious and even violent measures have been resorted to with a view to solve them. Some have supposed that John 5:1-47 . and 6. have been inverted in order, and that thus the presence of our Lord in Galilee, mentioned in John 4:1-54 ., would account for the statement of John 6:1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:1-15

The miracle of the loaves and fishes. The scene of our Lord's ministry changes once more to Galilee, where he remains for the next seven months. Large multitudes followed him on account of his miracles—"because they saw the miracles which he did on them which were diseased." I. THE SCENE OF THE NEW MIRACLE . 1 . It was, as Luke tells us, at a " city called Bethsaida, " that is, Bethsaida Julias, in Gaulonitis, on the northeast of the sea of Galilee. 2 . It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:1-71

2. Christ declares himself to be the Sustainer and Protector of the life of which he is the Source . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:6

This he said to test him; but it is doubtful whether more is involved than an endeavour to entice from Philip the answer of faith, such e . g . as "Lord, all things are possible to thee." Philip of Bethsaida was, moreover, in all probability, present at the wedding feast at Cans, and might have anticipated some such sign of the resources of his Lord. The other hints of Philip's character are severally consistent with this. Philip had said in the first instance to Nathanael, "Come and... read more

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