John 6:51

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven, etc.] This is the same with what is said in (<430633>John 6:33,35,48), which is true of Christ, as he has life in him; and is the author and giver of life to others; and is of an heavenly original, and came from heaven to give life to men: and such is the virtue of this living and heavenly bread, that if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever; not a natural, but a spiritual life; a life of sanctification, which is begun here, and will be perfected hereafter; and a life of glory, which will never end: and the bread that I will give is my flesh; or “body”, as all the Oriental versions render it. Here our Lord explains more clearly…”

“I am, &c.--Understand, it is of MYSELF I now speak as the Bread from heaven; of MEif a man eat he shall live for ever; and "THE BREAD WHICH I WILL GIVE IS MY FLESH, WHICH I WILL GIVE FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD." Here, for the first time in this high discourse, our Lord explicitly introduces His sacrificial death--for only rationalists can doubt this not only as that which constitutes Him the Bread of life to men, but as THAT very element IN HIM WHICH POSSESSES THE LIFE-GIVING VIRTUE.--"From this time we hear no more (in this discourse) of "Bread"; this figure is dropped, and the reality takes its place" [STIER]. The words "I will give" may be compared with the words of institution at the…”

“The bread that I will give is by flesh - That is, his body would be offered as a sacrifice for sin, agreeably to his declaration when he instituted the Supper: “This is my body which is broken for you,” 1 Corinthians 11:24. Life of the world - That sinners might, by his atoning sacrifice, be recovered from spiritual death, and be brought to eternal life. The use of the word world hero shows that the sacrifice of Christ was full free ample, and designed for all men, as it is said in 1 John 2:2, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” In this verse Jesus introduces the subject of his death and atonement. It may be remarked that in…”

“If any eat of this bread - That is, believe in me: he shall live for ever - In other words, he that believeth to the end shall be saved. My flesh which I will give you - This whole discourse concerning his flesh and blood refers directly to his passion, and but remotely, if at all, to the Lord's Supper. John 6:52”

“6:51 this bread . . . is my flesh: The gift that brings life is now unveiled. On the cross, Jesus offered his flesh for the life of the world.”

“living: Joh 3:13, Joh 4:10, Joh 4:11, Joh 7:38; Pe1 2:4 and the bread: This was one of the things which the Jews expected from the Messiah, as we learn from Midrash Koheleth. "Rabbi Berechiah, in the name of Rabbi Issac said, As was the first Redeemer, so also shall be the latter. The first Redeemer made manna descend from heaven, as it is said in Exo 16:4, 'And I will rain bread from heaven for you.' So also the latter Redeemer shall make manna descend, as it is said, Psa 72:16, 'There shall be a handful of corn in the earth.' etc." my flesh: Joh 6:52-57; Mat 20:28; Luk 22:19; Eph 5:2, Eph 5:25; Tit 2:14; Heb 10:5-12, Heb 10:20 the life: Joh 6:33, Joh 1:29, Joh 3:16; Co2 5:19, Co2 5:21; Jo1…”