John 6:4-5

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 6:4

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. This was the third passover, since our Lord's baptism, and entrance on his public ministry; see John 2:13 . Whether Christ went up to this feast is not certain; some think he did not; but from what is said in John 7:1 , it looks as if he did: how nigh it was to the feast, cannot well be said. Thirty days before the feast, they began to talk about it; and especially in the last fifteen days, they made preparations for it, as being at hand ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:5

When Jesus then lift up his eyes ,.... Being before engaged in close conversation with his disciples, and looking wistly and intently on them, whilst he was discoursing with them: and saw a great company come unto him ; who came on foot, over the bridge at Chammath, from Capernaum, and other cities of Galilee: he saith unto Philip ; he directed his discourse to him particularly, because he was of Bethsaida, near to which place Christ now was, and therefore might be best able to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:4

And the passover - was nigh - This happened about ten or twelve days before the third passover which Christ celebrated after his baptism. Calmet. For a particular account of our Lord's four passovers see the note on John 2:13 . For thirty days before the Passover there were great preparations made by the Jews, but especially in the last nineteen days, in order to celebrate the feast with due solemnity. Lightfoot supposes that what is here related happened within the last fifteen days.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:5

Saw a great company - See this miracle explained at large on Matthew 14:13 ; (note), etc.; Mark 6:31 ; (note), etc.; Luke 9:10 ; (note), etc. In speaking of the passovers, and various other matters, it does not appear that John follows any strict chronological order. From John 6:15 , it appears that our Lord had come down from the mountain, and fed the multitudes in a plain at the foot of it. Saith unto Philip - This, with what follows, to the end of the seventh verse, is not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:5

Verse 5 5.He saith to Philip. What we here read as having been said to Philip alone, the other Evangelists tell us, was said to all. But there is no inconsistency in this; for it is probable that Philip spoke according to the opinion entertained by all, and, therefore, Christ replies to him in particular; just as John, immediately afterwards, introduces Andrew as speaking, where the other Evangelists attribute the discourse to all alike. Perceiving that they have no conception of an... 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

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