Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:55
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
55. my flesh is meat indeed, &c.] According to the best reading; My Flesh is true food and My Blood is true drink; i.e. this is no misleading metaphor, but an actual fact.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 55. My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.] Or, rather, My flesh is the true meat, c. In both clauses of this verse, instead of , the adverb, I read , the adjective, agreeing with . This reading is supported by BCKLT, and twenty-one others both the Arabic, Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, two copies of the Itala, Clement, Origen, Cyril, Chrysostom, and Damascenus. Our Lord terms his flesh, the true meat, and his blood the true drink, because those who received the grace merited by his death would be really nourished and supported thereby unto eternal life. He calls himself the true vine, Joh 15:1, in exactly the same sense in which he calls himself the true bread, Joh 6:32, and the true meat and drink in this verse.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I, as a Christ crucified, not merely considered as to my Divine nature, but as to both natures united in one person, and particularly with respect to my death and suffering, am indeed the food of souls; not a typical food, as manna was, but a true and real food, which nourisheth them to eternal life, and the most excellent food for them. In which sense Christ is called the true light, Joh 1:9, and the true vine, Joh 15:1.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
53-58. Except ye eat the flesh . . .and drink the blood . . . no life, c.The harshest word He hadyet uttered in their ears. They asked how it was possible toeat His flesh. He answers, with great solemnity, “It isindispensable.” Yet even here a thoughtful hearer mightfind something to temper the harshness. He says they must not only”eat His flesh” but “drink His blood,“which could not but suggest the idea of His deathimplied inthe separation of one’s flesh from his blood. And as He had alreadyhinted that it was to be something very different from a naturaldeath, saying, “My flesh I will give for the life of the world”(Joh 6:51), it must have beenpretty plain to candid hearers that He meant something above thegross idea which the bare terms expressed. And farther, when He addedthat they “had no life in them unless they thus ate anddrank,” it was impossible they should think He meant that thetemporal life they were then living was dependent on theireating and drinking, in this gross sense, His flesh and blood. Yetthe whole statement was certainly confounding, and beyond doubt wasmeant to be so. Our Lord had told them that in spite of all they had”seen” in Him, they “did not believe” (Joh6:36). For their conviction therefore he does not here layHimself out but having the ear not only of them but of the morecandid and thoughtful in the crowded synagogue, and themiracle of the loaves having led up to the most exalted of all viewsof His Person and Office, He takes advantage of their verydifficulties and objections to announce, for all time, those mostprofound truths which are here expressed, regardless of the disgustof the unteachable, and the prejudices even of the most sincere,which His language would seem only designed to deepen. The truthreally conveyed here is no other than that expressed in Joh6:51, though in more emphatic termsthat He Himself, in thevirtue of His sacrificial death, is the spiritual and eternal life ofmen; and that unless men voluntarily appropriate to themselves thisdeath, in its sacrificial virtue, so as to become the very life andnourishment of their inner man, they have no spiritual and eternallife at all. Not as if His death were the only thing of value,but it is what gives all else in Christ’s Incarnate Person, Life, andOffice, their whole value to us sinners.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For my flesh is meat indeed,…. Not in a corporeal, but in a spiritual sense; and the same is said of his blood:
and my blood is drink indeed, c. that is, they are both “truly” meat and drink, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions render it or are “true” meat and drink, as the Arabic version: in opposition to what was typical meat and drink; as the manna in the wilderness, the water out of the rock, the flesh and wine at the passover, the meat and drink offerings under the law, or any other meats and drinks under that dispensation; and which, though not when Christ said these words, yet now are abolished, being unprofitable, and not to be fed upon. Moreover, these phrases may denote the reality, substance, and solidity of that spiritual food believers have in Christ, in opposition to the imaginary food of sensual sinners, who feed on ashes and bread of deceit; and to that of self-righteous persons, who spend their labour and money for, and live upon that which is not bread, even upon their works of righteousness; and to the superficial tastes of hypocrites and formal professors; and to the charge of enthusiasm; and even to the outward elements of bread, and wine, in the Lord’s supper, since instituted; and as it may be attended upon by persons destitute of the grace of God. And these words may also be expressive of the virtue, efficacy, and excellency of this food, it being soul quickening, nourishing, strengthening, satisfying, and delightful food, as well as spiritual and savoury; not to carnal persons, or outward professors, but to new born babes, and true believers; and which, by them, may be had, and to the full, and that in due season, even every day, and is what will abide for ever.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Meat indeed ( ). So the best MSS., “true food.” See on 4:32 for as equal to (a thing eaten).
Drink indeed ( ). Correct text, “true drink.” For see Rom 14:17; Col 2:16 (only N.T. examples).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Indeed [] . Literally, truly. The best texts read ajlhqhv, true : true meat, true drink.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For my flesh is meat indeed,” (he gar sarks mou alethes estin brosis) “For my flesh is (exists as) true food,” that satisfies the inner desires of the longing soul, Isa 55:1-3. The food one eats for the body, repeatedly, does not do this. Acceptance of His flesh and blood for one’s sin-guilt, sin-shame, and soul-death brings gladness, Psa 4:7.
2) “And my blood is drink indeed.” (kai to haima mou alethes posis) “And my blood is (exists as) true drink,” that truly satisfies the thirst of the soul, the sense of the demoralized, depressed spirit of the unsaved person, as water satisfies physical thirst. To receive the shed blood of Jesus Christ for one’s soul-guilt brings a satisfaction and peace not found elsewhere, Joh 2:2; Rom 4:24-25.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
55. For my flesh is truly food. He confirms the same statement by other words, “As the body is weakened and consumed by the want of food, so the soul, if it be not fed with heavenly bread, will soon perish with hunger.” For when he declares that his flesh is truly food, he means that souls are famished, if they want that food. Then only wilt thou find life in Christ, when thou shalt seek the nourishment of life in his flesh. Thus we ought to boast, with Paul, that we reckon nothing to be excellent but Christ crucified; because, as soon as we have departed from the sacrifice of his death, we meet with nothing but death; nor is there any other road that conducts us to a perception of his Divine power than through his death and resurrection. Embrace Christ, therefore, as the Servant of the Father, (Isa 42:1,) that he may show himself to thee to be the Prince of life, (Act 3:15.) For when he emptied himself, (Phi 2:7,) in this manner we were enriched with abundance of all blessings; his humiliation and descent into hell raised us to heaven; and, by enduring the curse of his cross, he erected the banner of our righteousness as a splendid memorial of his victory. (165) Consequently, they are false expounders of the mystery of the Lord’s Supper, (166) who draw away souls from the flesh of Christ.
And my blood is truly drink. But why does Christ mention his blood separately, when it is included in the word flesh ? I reply, he did so in condescension to our weakness. For when he expressly mentions food and drink, he declares that the life which he bestows is complete in every respect, that we may not imagine to ourselves a life which is only half or imperfect; as if he had said, that we shall want nothing that belongs to life, provided that we eat his flesh and drink his blood. Thus also in the Lord’s Supper, which corresponds to this doctrine, not satisfied with the symbol of the bread, he adds also the cup, that, having in him a twofold pledge, we may learn to be satisfied with him alone; for never will a man find a part of life in Christ, until he has entire and complete life in him.
(165) “ Il a dresse l’enseigne de nostre justice comme un memorial magnifique de sa victoire.”
(166) “ Ceux-la donc ne sont pas bons et droicts expositeurs du mystere de la Cene.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(55) For my flesh is meat indeed.Better, for My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. This verse further explains that he who eateth the flesh and drinketh the blood hath eternal life, for he has the true elements of life. It is an answer, too, to the question. How can this Man give us His flesh to eat? (Joh. 6:52.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
55, 56. Flesh blood The emphatic reiteration of these words is made by our Lord: 1. In firmness against his immediate gainsayers, who will thereby be sifted from among his followers. 2. To imply the greatness of the truth they embody. 3. To so impress the mystery upon the memory of his disciples that it shall rise to their recollection at the time of consummation.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him’.
Here He was again emphasising the importance of His death, for without it there was nothing on offer. Only the giving of His flesh could provide food for men’s souls. Only the drinking of His blood through benefiting in His death could provide salvation. But through it what men can receive is better far than they can ever be aware of. And those who consciously ‘die with Him’ and partake in the benefit of His death through coming to Him and believing in Him will abide in Him and He in them. They will share His resurrection life. The message is stark and clear. Those who would receive life must recognise that they can do so only through His death. Nothing short of that can make life possible.
It is customary among many to see these words as referring to partaking of the bread and the wine at the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) but that is in fact to take things the wrong way round. The Lord’s Supper certainly illustrates this truth, but here it is not simply a partaking of Communion that Jesus had in mind. His thoughts went far deeper. He was wanting them to enter fully into what was now in store for Him, recognising that it was through His death at their hands alone that they could they find life. And the aim was that men would then eat and drink (coming and believing – Joh 6:35) continually by a daily response to Him in His death and resurrection. It was a daily dying and rising again that was in mind (Luk 9:23; Rom 6:1-11), an experiencing of the power of His resurrection and of the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death (Php 3:10). Of course, that is also what should be in our minds as we partake of the Lord’s Supper.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Ver. 55. For my flesh is meat indeed ] That that will do the deed. It is neither painted meat nor enchanted, but real and substantial; yet not corporal but spiritual. Our Richard II was starved at Pomfret Castle by being tantalized; for his diet being served in, and set before him in the wonted princely manner, he was not allowed either to taste or touch thereof. (Speed.) The great Caliph of Babylon was used in like manner by Haalen brother to Mango, great Khan of Tartary; saving that he had not meat set before him, but gold, silver, precious stones, whereof he was, by way of derision, willed to eat, and make no spare, &c. True believers meet with meat indeed, and by a Crapula Sacra, holy intoxication as Luther calleth it, feeding hard thereupon, they are nourished infallibly to eternal life.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
55. ] is here not = , nor is the sense, ‘ My Flesh is the true meat &c.,’ but My flesh is true meat , i.e. really TO BE EATEN, which they doubted. Thus is a gloss, which falls short of the depth of the adjective. This verse is decisive against all explaining away or metaphorizing the passage. Food and drink are not here mere metaphors; rather are our common material food and drink mere shadows and imperfect types of this only real reception of refreshment and nourishment into the being.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 6:55-56 . This is further shown in Joh 6:55-56 . [better ] , “For my flesh is a genuine food and my blood is a genuine drink”; with an implied contrast to those things with which men ordinarily endeavour to satisfy themselves. The satisfying, genuine character of Christ as the bread consists especially in this, that . He becomes as truly assimilated to the life of the individual as the nourishing elements in food enter into the substance of the body. The believer abides in Christ as finding his life in Him (Gal 2:20 ); and Christ abides in the believer, continually imparting to him what constitutes spiritual life. For in Christ man reaches the source of all life in the Father (Joh 6:57 ), . The living Father has sent Christ forth as the bearer of life. He lives , not equivalent to , through or by means of the Father, but “because of,” or “by reason of the Father”. The Father is the cause of my life; I live because the Father lives. [Beza quotes from the Plutus of Aristoph., 470, the declaration of Penia that , .] The Father is the absolute source of life; the Son is the bearer of that life to the world; cf. Joh 5:26 , where the same dependence of the Son on the Father for life is expressed. The second member of the comparison, introduced by (see Winer, p. 548; and the Nic. Ethics, passim ), is not, as Chrys. and Euthymius suggest, , but , (better ) . (For the form of the sentence cf. Joh 10:14 .) Every one that eateth Christ will by that connection participate in the life of God.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
indeed = truly. Greek. alethos. All the texts read alethes (App-175) but not the Syriac.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
55.] is here not = , nor is the sense, My Flesh is the true meat &c., but My flesh is true meat, i.e. really TO BE EATEN, which they doubted. Thus is a gloss, which falls short of the depth of the adjective. This verse is decisive against all explaining away or metaphorizing the passage. Food and drink are not here mere metaphors;-rather are our common material food and drink mere shadows and imperfect types of this only real reception of refreshment and nourishment into the being.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 6:55. , truly) This affirmation is opposed to the doubt of the Jews.- ) Food, drink, by which the believer is as truly fed, as food and drink feed the bodies of men, Joh 6:56, at its close, He that eateth My flesh, etc., dwelleth in Me, and I in him.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 6:55
Joh 6:55
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.-The making of the life of Jesus ones life indeed or true spiritual life.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
meat: Joh 6:32, Joh 1:9, Joh 1:47, Joh 8:31, Joh 8:36, Joh 15:1, Psa 4:7, Heb 8:2, 1Jo 5:20
Reciprocal: Deu 32:14 – blood 1Ch 11:19 – shall I Joh 6:53 – eat Joh 7:37 – drink 1Jo 5:6 – blood
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
This is the same thought as the preceding verse, but in another form.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
This verse explains why Jesus’ statements in Joh 6:53-54 are true. Jesus’ person is what truly satisfies and sustains life. This is the true function of food and drink.