still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts
of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God
to abide in them.
Verses 39–44
The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to them in their Scriptures, and that they had
it, because they had the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those Scriptures
with more diligence and attention. “Ye do search the Scriptures,” and ye do well to do so. They
did indeed search the Scriptures, but it was with a view to their own glory. It is possible for men
to be very studious in the letter of the Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. Or, “Search the
Scriptures,” and so it was spoken to them in the nature of an appeal. Ye profess to receive and
believe the Scripture, let that be the judge. It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all Christians
to search the Scriptures. Not only read them, and hear them, but search them; which denotes diligence
in examining and studying them. We must search the Scriptures for heaven as our great end; For
in them ye think ye have eternal life. We must search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and
living Way, that leads to this end. To this testimony Christ adds reproofs of their unbelief and
wickedness; their neglect of him and his doctrine. Also he reproves their want of the love of God.
But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls. Many who make a great profession of religion,
yet show they want the love of God, by their neglect of Christ and contempt of his commandments.
It is the love of God in us, the love that is a living, active principle in the heart, which God will
accept. They slighted and undervalued Christ, because they admired and overvalued themselves.
How can those believe, who make the praise and applause of men their idol! When Christ and his
followers are men wondered at, how can those believe, the utmost of whose ambition is to make a
fair show in the flesh!
Verses 45–47
Many trust in some form of doctrines or some parties, who no more enter into the real meaning
of those doctrines, or the views of the persons whose names they bear, than the Jews did into those
of Moses. Let us search and pray over the Scriptures, as intent on finding eternal life; let us observe
how Christ is the great subject of them, and daily apply to him for the life he bestows.
Chapter 6
Chapter Outline
Five thousand miraculously fed. (1–14)
Jesus walks on the sea. (15–21)
He directs to spiritual food. (22–27)
His discourse with the multitude. (28–65)