Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 5 – Verse 7
Verſe 5 When Jeſus then lift up his eyes, and ſaw a great company come unto him, he ſaith unto Philip, Whence ſhall we buy bread that theſe may eate?
6. (And this he ſaid to prove him: for he himſelf knew what he would do.)
7. Philip anſwered him, Two hundred penny worth of bread is not ſufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
Followeth the introduction and preparations to the miracle, wherein is recorded what paſt betwixt Chriſt and ſome, or all of his diſciples, and betwixt them and the people, before the miracle was wrought. In theſe verſes is recorded, that Chriſt taking notice of the multitude, doth poſe Philip, how they might be provided, verſe 5. which he doth, not out of ignorance or irreſolution, but to try him, verſe 6. Philip gives ſuch an anſwer as bewrayes his weakneſſe in the matter, by ſhewing that much money (and poſſibly more then they could command) would not by a mouthful, farre leſſe full refreſhment, to every one of ſuch a multitude, verſe 7. We are to conſider, that this was not the firſt thing Chriſt did with them; But after he had pitied the multitude, and preached unto them, and healed their ſick, and after he had refuſed to ſend them away in the evening, faſting, at the diſciples deſire (all which are recorded by the other Evangeliſts:) he at laſt falls upon this, and other queſtions recorded by the reſt, for the further trial and diſcovery of the diſciples.
From verſe 5. Learn, 1. There is no trouble nor diſtraction, nor deſire of eaſe, will hinder Chriſt from taking notice of them who come to him, even albeit they have many defects in their coming; Therefore, albeit Chriſt had withdrawn to refreſh himſelf and his diſciples, and it was much indiſcretion in them to interrupt him, yet he takes notice of them, and pitying them, doth preach unto them, and cure their ſick, as is recorded by the reſt. And this may teach Chriſts ſervants not to take it in evil part, though they be kept ſo buſie in their calling, as to want ſometime that kindly reſt that is allowed upon them. See 2 Cor. 11.27, 28, 2. As an ardent affection after Chriſts company, will make men oft-times forget their owne outward neceſſities, ſo they may enjoy him, (as here, we find the multitude follow him to a deſart place, without any proviſion;) So Chriſt will not faile to take notice of all the neceſſities, even bodily, of thoſe that follow him; for, here he is carefull of what they had neglected. 3. Chriſt will put his followers, who have been long in his company, and have ſeene much of him, to give a proof of their proficiencie thereby, before he let them ſee new proofs of his power; for ſuch was his ſcope in this queſtion, Whence ſhall we buy bread, that theſe may eat? He would firſt try what was in the thoughts of his diſciples, who heretofore had ſeene many of his miracles. And the queſtion ſeemes to be put to Philip, not ſo much becauſe he had been the mouth of the diſciples, in deſiring Chriſt to ſend the multitude away: as becauſe now he was an old ſcholar, and among the firſt of his followers, John 1.43. (as Andrew alſo was, John 1.40.) and yet long after this, he is but rude and ignorant, John 14.8, 9.
From verſe 6. Learn, 1. Chriſts words (as alſo his diſpenſations) wil very readily be miſtaken and miſconſtructed, unleſſe himſelfe explaine what is his ſcope in them; Therefore it is neceſſary that he clear it here. 2. Chriſts ſcope in his words, (as alſo in his dealing,) is oft-times onelyonly to try them with whom he hath to do: and when he hath ſo done, he can let them finde that his trying word or diſpenſation is not all; but he hath more to ſay and do; for, this he ſaid, to prove him, and yet after that, he did the work. See Deut. 8.15.16. 3. Chriſt will even have the weakneſſe of his own followers tried; partly, that what is known to him, and yet lurking, may be diſcovered to them, and ſo they may not conceit of more then they have, and the evil which before lurked and was unſeen, may be cured when it is diſcovered; And partly, that he may be exalted, who is alſufficient to do what he pleaſeth, when their weakneſſe layeth them by: for theſe cauſes did he prove Philip, and belike the reſt alſo, as appears afterward in Andrew. 4. Chriſt needs not conſult with any, nor the help of any mans wit in greateſt extremities; nor is he ignorant, or uncertain and irreſolute what to do, whatever his way of carrying on his work ſeeme to ſay; Therefore it is added for confirmation, for he himſelf knew what he would do.
From verſe 7. Learn, 1. When Chriſt puts even his moſt eminent followers to trial, they will prove weak, if they be left to themſelves; for, ſo appears here in one and moe of them, though they had ſeene many proofs of him 2. When men judge by ſenſe or reaſon, and do look to likelihoods and probabilities, and not to Chriſts power, they will ſoone be at their wits end in extremities, and unable to anſwer doubtful caſes; for, ſo much doth his anſwer teach, Two hundred penny worth of bread is not ſufficient for them that every one of them may take a little. It is not needful to determine how much this ſumme was according to our coin, but it is ſufficient to know that it was a great ſumme to them, and would have bought more then he made uſe of to feed the people with. 3. It is Chriſts way, oft-times, to do that for his people, whereof there is no probability or likelihood, that ſo his glory may ſhine the more brightly in it; for, ſo it appears in his working this miracle, and feeding the multitude, when there was no appearance how it ſhould be done. And this ſhould warne men, as not to tempt God in an ordinary calling, by neglecting ordinary means; ſo alſo, not to be diſcouraged with improbabilities, when they are in need, and have to do with Chriſt.
Verſe 8. One of his diſciples, Andrew, Simon Peters brother, ſaith unto him.
9. There is a lad here which hath five barley loaves, and two ſmall fiſhes: but what are they among ſo many?
Followeth a further preparation to the miracle, in Andrews giving an account of their proviſion, though with as little faith and expectation of what Chriſt was to do, as Philip had ſhewed. It ſeemes that after Chriſt had bid them try what they had, Mark. 6.38, Andrew gave him an account that a little boy had ſo many loaves and fiſhes, (which belike were carried about for the diſciples uſe, Matth. 14.17. Mark 6.38. Luke 9 13.) but all that was nothing for feeding ſo many. Doctrine 1. Weakneſſe and ſhort-ſightedneſſe is not the temper of one onelyonly, but of all Chriſts followers, if they be put to it; and every diſciple will be ready to diſcover his own weakneſſe, faſter then anothers, in a day of trial; for, Andrew acquits himſelf no better then Philip here, though he was one of the firſt diſciples. 2. As Chriſt did not neglect to provide ſuch outward things, as were neceſſary for himſelf and his followers; So his proviſion is ſuch as may teach ſobriety, and contentment with a mean condition, unto all, for, he hath onelyonly five barley loaves, and two ſmall fiſhes. 3. Such as would imitate Chriſt, ought to be tender, and ready to communicate to the neceſſities of others, were their own portion never ſo ſmall; for, not onelyonly Chriſt, but his diſciples are willing to beſtow their ſmall proviſion upon the multitude, though they judge it could ſerve them in no ſtead. 4. It is worthy of ſerious and frequent obſervation, to conſider how weak ſenſe and reaſon will prove in Gods matters; how much Chriſt will lay by the hope and expectation of creatures, before he appear in his glorious working; and, how he will work that for a needy people, that is little expected by any; Therefore alſo is Andrew's weakneſſe marked, (What are they among ſo many?) as well as Philips, that it might contribute to ſet out Chriſts glory in this miracle.
Verſe 10. And Jeſus ſaid, Make the men ſit down. Now there was much graſſe in the place. So the men ſate down in number about five thouſand.
Followeth a nearer preparation to the miracle, wherein, Chriſt having laid by the expectation of his diſciples, commands that they bid the people ſit down upon the graſſe, which was rank in that Countrey and climate at that ſeaſon; whereunto the people (who were a great many) give obedience, and ſo Chriſt proceeds to feed them. Doctrine 1. Chriſt takes no advantage of his peoples weakneſſe and dulneſſe, to hinder him to do good when it is needed; for, notwithſtanding their ſlowneſſe of heart to give him glory, yet he goeth to the miracle, for their good, and the peoples. 2. It is Chriſts way, oft-times, to refute the doubts of his people, by his working, and by real proofs of his power and love; for, he ſtayeth not to debate with his diſciples about their doubts, but refutes them by the following work. 3. Chriſt may ſee it fit to engage his own in ſtrange-like ſervice, and to impoſe commands upon them that ſeeme abſurd to ſenſe and reaſon, and yet give a good account of all, in his time: for, ſuch was this command, to make the men ſit down upon the graſſe, to a bare table, and yet he fed them all. 4. It is the commendation of Chriſts followers, when, how weak ſ…ever their faith be, yet they ſubject themſelves to his commands, and yeild obedience, without any reaſoning; for, ſuch was both the diſciples, and the peoples practice, here; they being commanded by Chriſt, do make the men ſit down, and the men ſate down, though none of them ſaw well what Chriſt was about to do. 5. Every circumſtance of Chriſts work, which ſets out his glory ought to be marked, and he will order his working ſo, as theſe may be ſeen; Therefore it is marked, as ſetting out Chriſts glory, that they were in number about five thouſand, whom he fed, which is to be underſtood of the men onelyonly, beſides women and children, Matth. 14.21. And this is marked in this place, becauſe Chriſt commanded that they ſhould be ſo ſet down in ranks and companies, (Mark 6.39, 40. Luke 9.14.) as the diſciples might eaſily mark the number of them.