Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 20 – Verse 22
Verſe 32. Then ſaid Jeſus unto them, Verily, verily, I ſay unto you, Moſes gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Chriſt in anſwering to this queſtion, doth not meddle with their asking of a ſigne, but as before he cleared the way of attaining this ſpiritual food, ſo here he takes occaſion to ſet forth the excellency thereof, by comparing it with, and preferring it unto the Manna, whereof they boaſted ſo much. The compariſon is propounded in this ver. which may be diverſly underſtood, As, 1. That it was not Moſes (of whom they gloried in oppoſition to him) who gave them, even that Manna; for it was the Father that gave it, upon Moſes petition, who alſo doth now offer this true bread, and that of free grace, without any previous deſire of theirs. This is a truth in it ſelfe, and ſheweth, how Chriſt will debaſe them whom men do injuſtly cry up, to the prejudice of truth; But it doth not reach Chriſts full ſcope here. 2. That the Manna was not given from heaven, that is, from the celeſtial heaven, but only from the aire and clouds, which frequently in the Old Teſtament is called heaven. But Chriſt, this ſpiritual food, is given from the heaven of glory. Yet neither doth this exhauſt the ſcope. Therefore. 3 I take the compariſon to be inſtitute betwixt the nature and effects of Manna, which was given by the miniſtry of Moſes, and this food, given by the Father; That, however Manna was a Sacrament and type of Chriſt, and in that reſpect is called ſpiritual meat, 1 Cor. 10.3. Yet it was not bread from heaven, or true ſpiritual food, in effect and of it ſelfe; but only bodily food. But this is true bread from heaven, that is, real ſpiritual food, and the ſubſtance and truth of all theſe types pointing it out. Doctrine 1. It is not to any purpoſe to follow a contentious and quarreling people, in their endleſs debates with Chriſt, and about his doctrine; But the beſt way of dealing with them, is, conſtantly to hold out unto them their need of Chriſt, and that ſingular excellency that is in him; Therefore, Chriſt ſtands not to debate with them about ſignes, but goeth on to point the excellency of this food, and how needful it was for them, if they looked for life. 2. Unbeliefe is a diſeaſe ill to be cured, and it is no eaſie matter to draw men from doating on the external priviledges they have enjoyed, that they may learn to prize and eſteeme of what is ſpiritual and more excellent; Therefore Chriſt, in preſſing this doctrine, muſt uſe doubled aſſeverations, verily, verily, becauſe they would account but little of his bare word in this matter. 3. There is no outward priviledge enjoyed of old, and which the Church wants under the Goſpel, but it is all made up in Chriſt with advantage; for, here, better bread is daily offered then that of Manna was. 4. Chriſt is the truth and ſubſtance of all the types in the Old Teſtament. And particularly, the type of Manna is fulfilled in him, in his Incarnation and coming in the world. In his Original, he comes from a better heaven then that whence Manna came; He is but little, ſmall and deſpiſed in the eyes of men, and yet is white and ſpotleſſe, as Manna was, and of a ſweeter taſte to right diſcerners; and feeds and entertains a better life, then Manna did: He is alſufficient to feed all his people, (as Manna furniſhed all Iſrael) and is laid freely forth, to be gathered and received by all of them; as Manna fell daily round about the camp; And, the weakeſt beleever ſhall not come behinde with the ſtrongeſt, in ſharing in him, according as the Manna was equally divided. Therefore is he called the true bread from heaven, with relation to Manna as the type, 5. The holieſt of Miniſters do not conferre the thing ſignified in a Sacrament, nor is the outward element of the Sacrament, the thing ſignified by it, which feeds the ſoul; But God hath the giving of that in his own hand, and if he be not employed, men will get but the earthly part of the Sacrament: Therefore albeit Moſes was a Miniſter in giving them Manna, which was the type and outward element, yet, ſaith he, Moſes gave you not that bread from heaven, or the thing ſignified, but my Father giveth, &c. And thus he not only debaſeth Manna in compariſon of himſelfe, but ſpeaks the more meanly of it, in reſpect they looked not ſo much to the ſpiritual ſignification thereof, but only propounded it as an inſtance, to invite Chriſt to give the like carnal ſatisfaction to their bellies. 6. Such as ſtand in need of true ſpiritual food, have both the Father and the Sonne ready and engaged to give it unto them; for, whereas he had ſaid, the Sonne of man ſhall give it unto you, ver. 27. now ſaith he, my Father giveth the true bread; Wherein he doth not only, as Mediatour, give the glory of all to his Father; but ſheweth that the Father concurreth with him in this, and giveth it by his hand. 7. Even ſuch as are, for preſent, but carnall and unſound, are not ſecluded from the offer of Chriſt, but, upon right tearmes, may expect that he will be gifted to them; Therefore, ſaith he, even to theſe hearers, but my Father giveth you, &c. that is, by me maketh offer of it, to be embraced upon right tearms, and in the due order.
Ver. 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
In this ver. the aſſertion concerning this true bread given by the Father, is repeated, and cleared and enlarged in a deſcription thereof, which aggreeth not to Manna. Wherein, 1. It is declared, that this is the true bread of God, which comes down from heaven, to give life to loſt and dead men, which Manna could not do. 2. This benefit is enlarged, that whereas any benefit Manna brought, was peculiar to Iſrael only, this is appointed to give life to all ſorts of perſons, as well as the Jewes. Whence learn, 1. Albeit not only Manna, but even our ordinary refreſhments, are of God, and from him; Yet Chriſt is the bread of God by way of excellency, as being indeed divine food; and food for our better part, and food wherein God manifeſts his riches and fulneſſe as God, and wherein he ought to be clearly ſeen: Therefore ſaith he, the bread of God is he, &c. or, he is divine bread, and bread which comes from God in a ſingular way. And he ſpeaks of this bread as a perſon having action, he cometh down, &c. becauſe it is Chriſts perſon and benefits accompanying him, which, being applyed, do give life. 2. Benefits of God ought to be in eſteem with us, according as they have much of God ſhining clearly in them, and in giving of them; which will commend ſpiritual benefits before temporal, and leſſer benefits, coming more immediatly and ſenſibly from his hand, before greater favours, wherein that is not ſo viſible; for, this is an argument to commend him as the true bread; for he is the bread of God. 3. All mankinde by nature is in a loſt condition, lying ſpiritually dead, and being obnoxious to eternal death, without Chriſt; for this is the caſe of the world, that they need life. 4. Mans loſt and dead condition is irremediable by himſelfe, or any other mean under heaven; for, this life muſt come down from heaven. 5. Chriſt is the true bread and food, that not only preſerves life, and keeps from eternal death, but doth put life and quickening even in the dead; And ſuch as do partake of Chriſt, will live, and become lively in their motions and actions; for, this bread of God giveth life. 6. Chriſt (that he might become fit food to quicken dead ſouls, and might ſtoop to them who could not aſcend to him) hath been pleaſed to come down from heaven to earth, unto ſinners, Not in regard of his Godheads changing of place, ſeeing he fills heaven and earth, but in regard of ſtate, in that he ſtooped to be incarnate, and did aſſume our nature on earth, by a perſonal union to himſelfe; Nor yet that his humane nature was from heaven, but that the ſanctification, manner of conception, and perſonal union thereof unto the Godhead, was divine and from heaven, and wrought by the vertue and power of the holy Ghoſt: In theſe reſpects is this bread of God commended, that he cometh down from heaven, and giveth life 7. The ſpiritual benefits and refreſhments of Chriſt are not proper to Iſrael only, but common to all Nations; And as the offer is made indifferently to all ſorts of perſons, where the Goſpel cometh; So he is applyed to his own elect, of all Nations and ranks of perſons; for, he giveth life unto the world, not to Iſrael only, but to his own of all ſorts and conditions throughout the world, who in themſelves diſter nothing from the reſt of the world till grace prevent them, and therefore they get the common name of the world.
Verſe 34. Then ſaid they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Chriſts commending of this bread, produceth a vehement deſire, and earneſt petition for it; Albeit they had wickedneſſe enough to propound this deſire by way of taunt, deſiring him who made ſuch faire offers, to give ſome real proofes of it; Yet it ſeems rather to ſlow from their ignorant and carnal diſpoſition, who hearing of ſuch bread, and conceiving of it but carnally, they deſire to partake of it conſtantly, as Iſrael did of the Manna. Whence learn. 1. The commendation of ſpiritual things may produce ſtrange motions, and deſires and affections in men, who yet are but carnal; while as they have but carnal conceptions of things ſpiritual, and their deſires are neither ſerious, nor conſtant, nor laborious; for, here, the former commendation produceth very vehement deſires, and ſtrong inſinuations with Chriſt, calling him, Lord, that they may have their will, and yet the iſſue proves them to be but naught in all this. 2. As all men by nature are carnal, ſo their conceptions of things ſpiritual are but carnal, and their deſires are agreeable to ther diſpoſitions; for, ſuch was their conception and deſire here; they are far from Chriſts purpoſe, and dream of nothing but bodily refreſhment in all this. 3. As mens luſtful hearts are vehement and ardent upon their deſired objects; So ſuddain changes, and when people on a ſuddain become vehement in deſi…ing ſpiritual things, it gives juſt ground of ſuſpition, that (at beſt) there is much of fleſh in theſe deſires; Seeing (what ever grace can do yet) ſuch deſires are not attained without much wreſtling, and much ſenſe of former negligence, and are, for moſt part, carried on againſt ſtrong tides of oppoſition; for, their very inſtancy on a ſudden, is a ſtrong evidence that they conceived but carnally of the matter.