John vi. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. SECTION VIII. Christ teaches in the Synagogue of Capernaum. Conver- JOHN Vi. 22. to the end, and vii. 1. The day following, when the people which stood on the Capernaum. other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone: (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks :) When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is. written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said 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. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life "3: he 13 We have here another instance in which Christ applied to himself an epithet given by the Jews to their expected Messiah. Midrash Coheleth, fol. 73. 3. R. Berechia nomine R. Isaac dixit: quem admodum Goël primus, sic quoque erit postremus. Goël primus, descendere fecit Manna. q. d. Exod. xvi. 4. Et pluere faciam vobis panem de cœlo. Sic quoque Goël postremus descendere facit Manna q. d. Ps. lxxii. 16. crit multitudo frumenti super terram.-See Schoetgen. in loc. John vi. 35. that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that be- Capernaum. lieveth on me shall never thirst. 36. 37. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and 38. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. It is probable that our Saviour alluded to this tradition, as well as to the ideas of Philo and the Rabbis, discussed at great length by Whitby, on John vi. 31. 37, &c. The comparison of food which nourishes the body, and wisdom which nourishes the soul, is common in many parts of Scripture. Thus Isaiah-Ye that are thirsty, come buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread, &c. &c. Lightfoot quotes also Chajigah, fol. 14. 1. and Gloss. in Succah, fol. 52. to prove that bread was frequently used among the Jewish doctors for doctrine-on bon feed him with bread; that is, make him take pains in the warfare of the law, as it is written. It may be observed here that an acquaintance with the Jewish traditions would materially assist the theological student to form a more accurate notion of many subjects of controversy between the Church of Rome and the Protestants. This discourse of our Lord in John vi. has been much insisted upon by the Romanists, as defending and supporting the doctrine of transubstantiation. This notion originated in the sixth century, and is founded on the literal interpretation of passages which were commonly used by the Jews, to whom the Scriptures were addressed, and by the inspired writers who primarily wrote for their use, in a metaphorical sense. I do not observe that Fulke has noticed this point in his remarks on John vi. in his work on the Rhemish translation of the New Testament.See that work, p. 275-280. folio edit. 1633. London. John vi. 46. 47. 48. 49. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which Capernaum. is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that 51. 52. 53. 54. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath 56. 57. 58. 59. deed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwell- As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the This is that bread which came down from heaven: not These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in 60. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard 61. 62. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up 63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. : But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. John vi. 69. 70. 71. vii. 1. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, Capernaum, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. SECTION IX. Julian Pe- Christ converses with the Scribes and Pharisees on the riod, 4741, Vulgar Æra, 28. Summer. Mark vii. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Subject of the Jewish Traditions. MATT. XV. 1-20. MARK Vii. 1-23. Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the Scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and Scribes asked him, Matt. xv. 1. saying, 2. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition"? 14 To prove that the Evangelist has here spoken with the utmost correctness, Schoetgen has quoted from Jevachim, fol. Et sapientes וחכמים עשו חיזוק מדבריהם יותר משל תורה: .1 .101 fecerunt robur verbis suis, plusquam verbis Legis. Lightfoot also has given many others to the same purpose. The words of the Scribes are .חביבים דברי סופרים מדברי תורה: more lovely than the words of the law. Hieros. berac. fol. 3. 2. The error of the Pharisees was the same as that of the Romanists. They substituted unauthorized tradition in the place of their inspired writings, and ritual observances in the place of spiritual worship. The ordinances of external religion are only valuable, as they are the emblems, and the appointed means of spiritual blessings. While their proper value is set upon the records of history, the inquiries of the critical, the labours of the learned, the opinions of the judicious, the decisions of the early Church, and all the sources of accurate information, it ought never to be forgotten, neither is it forgotten by the Protestant Churches, that Scripture is the one unerring test of truth, to which every conclusion must be submitted. The Jews Mat. xv. 4. 11. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and Capernaum. thy mother: and, Mark vii. 10. Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, It is Corban, that is to say a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. Mat. xv. 6. Mark vii.12. And honour not his father or his mother, And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Mat. xv. 6. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Mark vii. 13. which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, Mark vii. 6. as it is written, This people Matt. xv. 8. draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Mark vii. 7. Howbeit, in vain do they worship me, teaching for adopted many traditions, which were not only contrary to, but The Church that teaches these doctrines is as justly worthy |
