Father Noël Alexandre's Commentary on John 6:1-15
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
From "Literal Commentary" and "Moral Commentary" on the Gospel of John
LITERAL COMMENTARY
John 6:1-4 — Chronological and Geographical Context
This passage does not immediately follow the discourse described in the previous chapter, but many events intervene which are narrated by the other Evangelists. After some time, Jesus departed across the Sea of Galilee (also called the Lake of Gennesareth or the Sea of Tiberias), to that part of the lake adjacent to the city of Tiberias—a city founded by Herod the Tetrarch in honor of the Emperor Tiberius Caesar.
A great multitude followed him on foot: some eager for benefits, some for spectacle, some hungry for his teaching—because they saw the signs he performed upon those who were sick.
John 6:3-4 — The Mountain and the Approaching Passover
Therefore Jesus went up on the mountain and sat there with his disciples, that they might rest a little. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. This was the third Passover since the baptism of Christ.
John 6:5-6 — Jesus Tests Philip
When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great multitude was coming to him—having descended from the mountain, spoken to them concerning the kingdom of God, and healed their sick—he said to Philip: "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" Now he said this to test him, or wishing to try his faith. For Jesus himself knew what he was about to do; he had decreed it within himself and had established with the Father from eternity what he would do in these circumstances.
John 6:7 — Philip's Response
Philip answered him: "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that each one may receive a little." [Note: Two hundred denarii are equivalent to approximately seventy-seven pounds of our currency.]
John 6:8-9 — Andrew Mentions the Loaves and Fishes
One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him: "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these among so many?" Surely these are not sufficient to feed such a great multitude of people.
John 6:10-11 — The Miracle Prepared and Executed
Therefore Jesus said to them: "Make the people sit down." For although human aid fails, I will provide food for them by divine power. Now there was much grass in the place, so that they might sit down comfortably. Therefore the men sat down, in number about five thousand, besides women and children—for only the men were counted according to the custom of the Law.
Therefore Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks to God, he distributed them to those sitting down through the ministry of the Apostles; and likewise from the fish, as much as they wanted.
John 6:12-13 — The Fragments Gathered
But when they were filled, after hunger had been removed, he said to his disciples: "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing be lost." Therefore they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that remained after those who had eaten. Christ so ordered all things that from the circumstances of the miracle, its necessity, truth, and greatness might certainly be evident. [Compare with Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9.]
John 6:14-15 — The People's Reaction and Jesus' Withdrawal
Therefore those people, when they had seen the sign that Jesus had performed—so greatly surpassing all the powers of nature—said: "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world": the Messiah promised by God and expected by us.
Therefore Jesus, when he had known—having looked into their counsels by divine power—that they were about to come to seize him and make him king (having cast off the yoke of foreign rule, with the hope of easy sustenance and earthly happiness to be procured through him), fled again into the mountain, he alone: both to decline the pride of honor and secular power, and to demonstrate by his action that his kingdom is not of this world; and also to devote himself to prayer.
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