Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 6:2
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
2. a great multitude ] All the greater seeing that the Baptist was no longer a counter-attraction, and that the Twelve had returned from their mission, in which they had no doubt excited attention. This multitude went round by land while Christ crossed the water. All the verbs which follow are imperfects and express continued and habitual action; were following Him, because they were beholding the signs which he was doing, &c., i.e. after He landed He kept on working miracles of healing, and these continually attracted fresh crowds.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Because they saw his miracles … – They saw that he had the power to supply their wants, and they therefore followed him. See Joh 6:26. Compare also Mat 14:14.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. They saw his miracles which he did] John does not mention these miracles; but Matthew details them, Mt 12:2-14:13. John seems more intent on supplying the deficiencies of the other evangelists than in writing a connected history himself.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Our Saviour (as appeareth by Mar 6:31) only spake to his apostles to withdraw into a desert place, and to rest a while; but, Mar 6:33, though our Saviour went by ship, yet the people ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. That which induced them was their knowledge of the miracles which he had wrought.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And a great multitude followed him,…. From several cities and towns in Galilee, where he had been preaching and working miracles:
because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased; so that it was not for the sake of his doctrine, or for the good of their souls, they followed him; but either to gratify their curiosity in seeing his miracles, or to be healed in their bodies, as others had been.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Followed (). Descriptive imperfect active, picturing the crowd, but without the details of the boat for Christ and the rapid race of the crowd on foot (Mark 6:32; Matt 14:13).
They beheld (). Imperfect active of . They had been beholding the signs which Jesus had been doing (, imperfect again) for a long time (2:23), most of which John has not given (Mark 1:29; Mark 2:1; Mark 3:1; Mark 6:5). The people were eager to hear Jesus again (Lu 9:11) and to get the benefit of his healing power “on them that were sick” ( , the weak or feeble, without strength, privative and , strength).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Multitude [] . See on 1 19.
Followed [] . Imperfect tense, denoting not merely the following on this occasion, but generally.
Saw [] . Rev., beheld. See on 1 18.
His miracles. Omit his. Render, as Rev., the signs.
He did [] . Imperfect, was doing, from time to time.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And a great multitude followed him,” (ekolouthei de auto ochlos polus) “Then there followed him a large or numerous crowd,” out of Galilee, from the Capernaum area, to the east side of the Sea. They seem to have circled the north end of the Sea on foot.
2) “Because they saw his miracles which he did,” (hoti heoron ta semeia ha epoiei) “Because they repeatedly saw the miracles that he did,” the numerous signs that attested or verified His claim to be the Son of God, the Messiah, Joh 20:30-31. They had heard of His deeds and were sure that He was at least a very great prophet, Mat 14:3; Mat 21:26; Mar 11:32.
3) “On them that were diseased.” (epi ton asthenounton) “Upon those who were ill or ailing,” with physical ailments, and emotionally deranged, Mat 14:14; Luk 9:11.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
2. And a great multitude followed him. So great ardor in following Christ arose from this, that, having beheld his power in miracles, they were convinced that he was some great prophet, and that he had been sent by God. But the Evangelist here omits what the other three relate, that Christ employed a part of the day in teaching and in healing the sick, and that, when the sun was setting, his disciples requested him to send away the multitudes, (Mat 14:13; Mar 6:34; Luk 9:11😉 for he reckoned it enough to give the substance of it in a few words, that he might take this opportunity of leading us on to the remaining statements which immediately follow.
Here we see, in the first place, how eager was the desire of the people to hear Christ, since all of them, forgetting themselves, take no concern about spending the night in a desert place. So much the less excusable is our indifference, or rather our sloth, when we are so far from preferring the heavenly doctrine to the gnawings of hunger, that the slightest interruptions immediately lead us away from meditation on the heavenly life. Very rarely does it happen that Christ finds us free and disengaged from the entanglements of the world. So far is every one of us from being ready to follow him to a desert mountain, that scarcely one in ten can endure to receive him, when he presents himself at home in the midst of comforts. And though this disease prevails nearly throughout the whole world, yet it is certain that no man will be fit for the kingdom of God until, laying aside such delicacy, he learn to desire the food of the soul so earnestly that his belly shall not hinder him.
But as the flesh solicits us to attend to its conveniences, we ought likewise to observe that Christ, of his own accord, takes care of those who neglect themselves in order to follow him. (118) For he does not wait till they are famished, and cry out that they are perishing of hunger, and have nothing to eat, but he provides food for them before they have asked it. We shall perhaps be told that this does not always happen, for we often see that godly persons, though they have been entirely devoted to the kingdom of God, are exhausted and almost fainting with hunger. I reply, though Christ is pleased to try our faith and patience in this manner, yet from heaven he beholds our wants, and is careful to relieve them, as far as is necessary for our welfare; and when assistance is not immediately granted, it is done for the best reason, though that reason is concealed from us.
(118) “ Pour le suyvre.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) A great multitude . . .This is explained by the facts (1) that the Baptist had been put to death, and that those who had followed him would now follow Christ; (2) that the Twelve had now returned from their ministry in the towns and villages of Galilee; (3) that the Passover was at hand, and that numbers would be flocking from Northern Palestine to Jerusalem.
Followed . . . saw . . . did.Better, were following . . . were beholding . . . was doing. The verbs express a continuance of the actions. It does not mean simply that they saw these miracles on the west of the lake, and followed Him across it; but that He kept on healing the sick, and that the crowds kept on following Him. The usual caravan-road for the northern pilgrims was on the east side of the lake, and the throng would increase as He went.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Great multitude Partly of Capernaites, and partly of passengers to the approaching Passover at Jerusalem.
Saw his miracles Mere love of wonder-working was the low motive of the great number. To perform upon their whole mass a compassionate miracle, a miracle emblematic of his mission to the world, was the bridge upon which Jesus sought to bring them up to higher views.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And a huge crowd were following him because they were seeing the signs which he was performing on those who were sick.’
This very description demonstrates that He had already performed many miracles of healing in Galilee which are not mentioned by John elsewhere, and that there must have been some considerable ministry (unmentioned in John) in order to build up His popularity. It assumes a wide Galilean ministry without mentioning it.
As he regularly does, John brings out that the crowds were following Jesus for the wrong reason. They were sign seekers, not believers. The more they saw the more they wanted. They were looking for a great spectacle. This is preparatory to what follows (their final response in Joh 6:15). Nevertheless their belief was strong enough to bring them to this lonely place away from civilisation.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 6:2-3 . ] on this journey, continuously.
] not had seen (against Schweizer, B. Crusius), but saw . He performed them ( ) upon the way.
. .] among the sick . Dem. 574. 3; Plat. Pol . iii. p. 399 A; Bernhardy, p. 246.
] upon the mountain which was there . See on Mat 5:1 . The mountain was certainly on the other side of the lake, but we cannot determine the locality more nearly. The loneliness of the mountain does not contradict Mat 14:13 , nor does the eastern side of the lake contradict Luk 9:10 ff. (see in loc .).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
Ver. 2. And a great multitude followed him ] Though he went privately into a desert place belonging to Bethsaida, Luk 9:10 . The Sun of righteousness could not be hidden, for he had “healing in his wings,” Mal 4:2 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2. ] It is evident from this that a circuit in Galilee and works of healing are presupposed (see Mat 14:13 ; Mar 6:33 ; Luk 9:11 ).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
multitude = crowd.
followed = was following. saw = beheld. Greek horao. App-133. Not the same word as in verses: Joh 6:5; Joh 6:14; Joh 6:19; Joh 6:22; Joh 6:24; Joh 6:26; Joh 6:30; Joh 6:40; Joh 6:62, but same as in verses: Joh 6:36, Joh 6:46, Joh 6:46. L Tr. A WI R. read theoreo, App-133., as in Joh 6:19.
His. All the texts omit “His”.
miracles = signs. See note on Joh 2:11. App-176.
did = was doing, or working.
on. Greek. epi. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2.] It is evident from this that a circuit in Galilee and works of healing are presupposed (see Mat 14:13; Mar 6:33; Luk 9:11).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 6:2
Joh 6:2
And a great multitude followed him,-The eastern shore was an uninhabited wilderness and to it Jesus frequently went and the people would follow him and in the quiet of the wilderness he would teach them.
because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick.-They followed him, attracted by the miracles he performed; and while they did not believe in him, they brought the sick and afflicted, and he healed them. So far as the record shows, Jesus never left a soul in suffering that appealed for help to him.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Mat 4:24, Mat 4:25, Mat 8:1, Mat 12:15, Mat 13:2, Mat 14:14, Mat 15:30, Mat 15:31, Mar 6:33
Reciprocal: Mat 5:1 – he went Luk 5:15 – great Joh 7:31 – When
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Curiosity as well as genuine interest, drew great crowds after Him.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 6:2. And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. The Greek words are very expressive pointing clearly to repeated miracles of healing, on account of which crowds followed him continually from place to place. This is the only verse in Johns Gospel corresponding with the many passages in the Synoptic Gospels that briefly record a multitude of such works (Mat 4:24; Mat 8:16; Mat 9:35; Mat 15:30; Mar 6:56; Luk 9:11, etc.); and it refers to that very Galilean ministry to which those records belong. In Judea, as in unbelieving Nazareth (Mar 6:5), He could not do many mighty works.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, What an exact knowledge Christ had, not only of all his followers, but of the motives and principles which did induce them to follow him; it was not the excellency of his person, nor the heavenliness of his doctrine, that drew the mutitude at this time after him, but the novelty of his miracles, They saw the miracles which he did: it is better to feel one miracle wrought upon the heart, in changing and renewing that, than to see a thousand outward miracles wrought before our eyes.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
LXIII.
FIRST WITHDRAWAL FROM HEROD’S TERRITORY AND RETURN.
(Spring, A. D. 29.)
Subdivision B.
FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND.
aMATT. XIV. 13-21; bMARK VI. 33-44; cLUKE IX. 11-17; dJOHN VI. 2-14.
c11 But {aand} the multitudes heard thereof [heard of Jesus and his disciples crossing the lake], b33 And they saw them going, and cperceiving it, bmany knew them, d2 And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. band they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them. a14 And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, bbecause they were as sheep not having a shepherd cand he welcomed them, band he began to teach them many things. cand spake unto them of the kingdom of God, aand healed their sick. cand them that had need of healing he cured. [Jesus probably set sail from near Capernaum, and from thence across the lake to the narrow, secluded plain of El Batihah, where he landed is less than five miles. Seeing him start, the people followed him by running along the northern shore, and, though having a little farther to go, they traveled faster than the sailboat, and were waiting for him on the shore when he arrived.] d3 And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. [The level plain did not afford a good platform from which to address the people.] 4 Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. [This passover is computed to have been held on April 16, A.D. 29. This statement as to the time of year prepares us for his further statement that there was much grass in the plain. It also explains in part the gathering of a multitude in this secluded region. Pilgrims on their way to the passover would gladly go several miles out of their way to see the great Prophet perform a miracle. The excitement, due to the mission of the twelve and the death of the Baptist, also tended to swell the [375] crowd.] c12 And the day began to wear away; b35 And when the day was now far spent, a15 And when even was come, bhis disciples cthe twelve bcame unto him cand said unto him, {asaying,} bThe place is desert, and the day is now far spent; aand the time is already past [the time to seek lodging and provisions had gone by, and therefore the multitude must act quickly]; b36 send them athe multitudes {cmultitude} away, that they may go into the villages and country around, and lodge, and get provisions: aand buy themselves food. bsomething to eat. cfor we are here in a desert place. [The apostles were the first to think of eating, and naturally enough, for they had started on empty stomachs, and their own discomfort made them anticipate the sad plight in which the multitude would soon find itself.] a16 But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; d5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh to him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings’ worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. [Jesus tested Philip to see which way he would turn in his weakness. Jesus asked where the bread might be bought, knowing that power to feed the multitude resided in himself ( Isa 55:1), but Philip wondered where the money was to be had to buy it.] b37 But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings’ worth of bread, and give them to eat? [The word translated shilling is the Roman denarius, worth about seventeen cents. The sum was not large, as we reckon money, but, considering the purchasing power of money in those days, it was an imposing sum, and it is to be doubted if the treasury-bag of Judas ever contained the fourth part of it. For a denarius was the regular price for a day’s labor.] 38 And he saith unto them, How many [376] loaves have ye? go and see. d8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are they among so many? bAnd when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. a17 And they say unto him, {csaid,} aWe have here but cno more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14 For they were about five thousand men. [When sent to see what was in their larder, it appears that they had nothing at all. Andrew reports the finding of the boy’s lunch while it was as yet the boy’s property. Some of the others, having secured it from the boy, report it now at the disposal of Jesus, but comment on its insufficiency. Eastern loaves were thin and small, like good-sized crackers, and around the Sea of Galilee, the salting and preserving of small fish was an especial industry. These fish, therefore, were about the size of sardines. The whole supply, therefore, was no more than enough for one hungry boy. But each loaf had to be divided between a thousand, and each fish between twenty-five hundred men.] a18 And he said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down cAnd d10 Jesus said, cunto his disciples, Make them dthe people sit down. cin companies, about fifty each. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. b40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. dNow there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. [By thus arranging them in orderly companies, Jesus accomplished several things. He saved his apostles much time and labor in distributing the food. He insured that each one should be fed, and that the reality of the miracle could not be questioned, and he ascertained definitely how many men were fed.] c16 And d11 Jesus therefore took athe five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, che blessed and brake them, band brake the loaves; dand having [377] given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; aand gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. {cand gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.} dlikewise also of the fishes as much as they would. band the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 And they all ate, cand were all filled. [He blessed the loaves and fishes by returning thanks for them. This and similar acts of Jesus are our precedents for giving thanks, or, “asking the blessing,” at our tables]: d12 And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost. [Christ is the economist of the universe. This command was in keeping with his laws which permit nothing to suffer annihilation. Ruin and destruction have no other effect than merely to change the form of things. Every atom of the material world which was here at the beginning of creation is here to-day, though it may have changed its form a million times in the progress of events.] So they gathered them up, cand there was taken {athey took} cup that which remained over to them of athe broken pieces, dand filled atwelve baskets full. {bbasketfuls,} dwith broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. band also of the fishes. a21 And they that did eat {bate} the loaves were aabout five thousand men, besides women and children. [Considering the distance from any town, the women and children would not likely be numerous. They form no part of the count, for Eastern usage did not permit the women to sit with the men. They, with the little ones, would stand apart.] d14 When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world. [That is to say, this is the Messiah, the prophet promised at Deu 18:15. Their desire to avenge the death of John made them feverishly anxious for the appearance of the Messiah, but this faith was inconstant.] [378]
[FFG 375-378]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Multitudes followed Jesus because they wanted to profit from His miraculous powers as well as hear Him teach (cf. Joh 2:23-25).
"Like the vast majority of men and women, they [these Galileans] supposed that their needs as human beings were limited to their physical requirements. They were, in consequence, very ready to accept Jesus as a political Christ, who would be a purveyor of cheap food and establish an economic Utopia, for that would render the task of satisfying these physical needs less laborious." [Note: Tasker, pp. 92-93.]
Jesus went up on the mountainside to be alone with His disciples who had just returned from their mission throughout the towns of Galilee (Mar 6:30-32; Luk 9:10). He had just heard that Herod Antipas had beheaded John the Baptist (Mat 14:12-13). The crowd soon found Him, and He healed many of the people and taught them (Mat 14:14; Mar 6:33-34; Luk 9:11). Only John mentioned that this happened on a mountainside. Perhaps he did this so his readers would see a parallel with what happened on Mt. Sinai (Joh 6:31-32; cf. Exo 16:21). Possibly it is just a detail that he as an eyewitness observed.