18 was not come to them. And the lake rose, because of a 19 great wind which blew. So when they had rowed about

twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the lake, and drawing near to the ship: and they were 20 afraid. But he saith unto them, "It is I: be not afraid." 21 Then they were glad to receive him into the ship and immediately the ship was at the land whither they were going.

22

The day following, when the multitude who stood on the other side of the lake saw that there was none other

boat there but one, and that Jesus had not gone with his disciples into the ship, but that his disciples had de23 parted alone; (however there came other boats from Ti

berias, near the place where they ate bread, after the 24 Lord had given thanks;) when the people therefore saw

that neither Jesus was there, nor his disciples, they took 25 shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the lake, they said unto him, "Rabbit, when camest thou hither?" 26 Jesus answered them and said, "Verily verily I say unto

you, Ye seek me, not because ye have seen miracles, but 27 because ye ate of the loaves and were filled. Work not so much for the food which perisheth, as for the food which endureth to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give you: for him hath the Father sealed, even 28 God." They said therefore unto him, "What shall we 29 do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, 30 that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Then they

said unto him, "What miracle [therefore] doest thou, that we may see it, and believe in thee? what dost thou 31 work? Our fathers ate manna in the desert: as it is writ32 ten, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus [therefore] said unto them, "Verily verily I say unto

whereinto his disciples were entered, R. T.

Master, or, My Master, N. Gr. Work not for, &c. but for, &c. Or, Work not out, &c. N. m.

you, Moses gave you not the bread from heaven; but 33 my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven*. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from hea34 ven, and giveth life to the world." Then they said unto 35 him, Master, always give us this bread." And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life+: he who cometh to me, shall never hunger; and he who believeth in me, 36 shall never thirst. But I have said unto you, that ye 37 have both seen me and believe not. All whom the Father

giveth me, will come to me; and him who cometh to 38 me, I will in no wise cast out. For I am come down

from heaven †, not to do mine own will, but the will of 39 him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that of all whom he hath given me I should lose none, 40 but should raise them up at the last day. For this is the

41

42

will of him who sent me, that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have everlasting life: and him I will raise up at the last day."

The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven' and said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father

and mother we know? how therefore doth this man say, 43 'I came down from heaven | ?"" Jesus answered and said 44 unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. No man

can come to me, unless the Father, who sent me, draw 45 him and him I will raise up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And all shall be taught of God.'

* Or, giving you, &c.] The bread from heaven clearly signifies the doctrine, not the person, of Christ. See Lindsey's List, p. 45, and Dr. Priestley in loc.

+ I am the bread of life,] i. e. my doctrine, which will ensure eternal life to all whe practically embrace it.

‡ I am come down from heaven,] i. e. I am invested with a divine commission. See John iii. 13.

§ Or, of my father who, MSS.

The Jews, like many modern expositors, mistook our Lord's meaning. They understood that of his person which he intended of his doctrine, and took that in a literal sense which he meant figuratively. Observe, that the Jews call Jesus the son of Joseph, without being contradicted by the Evangelist.

Every one that hath heard and learned from the Father, 46 cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father,

50

but he that is from God; he hath seen the Father *. 47 Verily verily I say unto you, He who believeth in me, 48 hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fa49 thers ate manna in the desert, and died. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat of 51 it, and not die. 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 which I will give, is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world +."

52

The Jews therefore contended among themselves, say53 ing, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus therefore said unto them, "Verily verily I say unto you, Unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his 54 blood, ye have not life in you. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life; and him I 55 will raise up at the last day. For my flesh is truly food, 56 and my blood is truly drink. He that eateth my flesh,

57 and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. As

This is

the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; 58 so he likewise that eateth me, shall live by me. the bread which came down from heaven: not as [your]

*seen the Father,] i. e. has known his will. So ver. 40. To see the Son, is to understand the doctrine of Christ. See ch. xiv. 9.

+ Our Lord perceived the mistake of his hearers, but not desiring to retain them as his followers he does not correct it; but proceeds to use expressions still more offensive to their feelings and prejudices. What he means to inculcate is a practical reception of his divine doctrine, as the means of securing everlasting life. This, in allusion to the descent of the manna, ver. 32, 33, he first compares to feeding upon new and heavenly bread: he then describes it as feeding upon himself, ver. 51, and more particularly and offensively, as even eating his flesh and drinking his blood, ver. 53-57. This language, which they either did not or would not understand, so disgusted many of his hearers, that they quitted his society. This was the effect which Jesus intended, with respect to those who, as he well knew, followed him from mercenary and ambitious motives.

Unless ye eat the flesh, &c.] Unless ye receive and observe my doctrine. See ver. 35. 40. 47. Newcome. It is not necessary to suppose that our Lord here has any allusion to his own death: though that is not improbable.

fathers ate [manna,] and died. He that eateth of this 59 bread, shall live for ever." He said these things in a* synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard him, said, "This is hard doctrine: who can understand 61 it?" But when Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at this, he said unto them, Do ye revolt 62 at this? What then if ye shall see the Son of man 63 going up where he was before? It is the spirit that

giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing §: the words which I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed 65 not, and who was to deliver him up.) Then he said, "For this cause I said unto you, that none can come unto me, unless it be given unto him by my Father."

66

From that time many of his disciples went back, and 67 walked no more with him. Jesus therefore said to the 68 twelve, "Will ye also depart?" Simon Peter answered

him, "Master, to whom shall we go? thou hast the 69 words of everlasting life and we believe, and know, 70 that thou art the Holy One of God." Jesus answered

*The synagogue, N. "Doth this cause you to offend?" N. See Wakefield. This text is generally understood of a local ascent to a place from whence there had been a previous local descent. But this interpretation is not necessary, nor does it well suit the connexion. To ascend where he was before, is, as all interpreters agree, to ascend to heaven. But this phrase, as applied to the Son of man, means nothing more than" searching into the truths of God;" a sense in which Dr. Doddridge says that the phrase "ascending into heaven" is plainly used in many other places, and which indeed no one disputes. See ch. iii. 13, with Raphelius's and Doddridge's notes. The proper meaning therefore of this passage seems to be this: Do ye revolt at what I have now said? What then would you do if I should advance still further into the subject of my mission, and reveal truths which would be still more remote from your appre hension, and more offensive to your prejudices? See ch. xvi. 12.

§ These words are a caution to his hearers not to understand his expressions literally buť figuratively, q. d. The spiritual and figurative sense of my words is the only useful sense. If it were possible for you literally to feed upon my flesh, it would do you no good. I am not speaking of a natural life, supported by eating my flesh, but of a spiritual life, supported by my doctrine. See Bishop Pearce.

that thou art the Christ, the son of the living God, R. T.

them, "Have not I chosen you twelve? and yet one of 71 you is a false accuser*." Now he Now he spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he was about to deliver

CH.him up, [being] one of the twelve. And after these VII. things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

2

Now the feast of the Jews, called the feast of taberna3 cles, was near. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judea; that thy disciples 4 also may see the works which thou doest. For no man doeth any thing in secret, and yet he himself seeketh to be known publicly. If thou do these things, show thy5 self to the world." (For neither did his brethren believe 6 in him.) [Then] Jesus saith unto them, "My time is 7 not yet come: but your time is always ready. The world

cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it 8 that its works are evil. Go ye up to this feast: I go not up now to this feast; for my time is not yet fully come." 9 When he had said these words unto them, he still remain10 ed in Galilee. But when his brethren had But when his brethren had gone up, then he also went up to the feast; not openly, but as it were 11 in secret. Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and 12 said, Where is he?" And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him and some said, "He is a good man:" others said, "No: but he de13 ceiveth the people." However, no man spake openly of him, for fear of the Jews.

14

But when it was now about the midst of the feast, Je15 sus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews

wondered, saying, "How hath this man learning, hav16 ing never been taught?" Jesus answered them and said, 17" My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me. If any

man desire to do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it be from God, or whether I speak of

* in the original, a "devil."