22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereiuto his disciples were enter- ed, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone ;
23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
25 And when they had found him on the other side of tho sea, they said unto him. Rabbi, w)»ca earnest thou hither ?
2G 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 wcfe filled.
2 7 Labou r not for the meat which perieheth, but for that meat which eiidureth unto everlastinoc Ufe,
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which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath (xod the Father sealed.
We should mark first, in this passage, icJiat Jcjiowledge of niaji's heart our Lord Jesus Christ possesses. We see Him exposing the fiilse motives of those who followed Him for the sake of the loaves and fishes. They had fol- lowed Him across the Lake of Galilee. They seemed at first sight ready to believe in Him, and do Him honour. But He knew the inward springs of their conduct, and was not deceived. " Ye seek me," He said, " not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled."
The Lord Jesus, we should never forget, is still the same. He never changes. He reads the secret motives of all who profess and call themselves Christians. He knows exactly why they do all they do in their religion. The reasons why they go to Church, and why they receive the sacrament, — why they attend family prayers, and why they keep Sunday holy, — all are naked and opened to the eyes of the great Head of the Church. By Him actions are weighed as well as seen. " Man looketh on the out ward appearance, but the Lord looketh at the heart." (1 Sam. xvi. 7.)
Let us be real, true, and sincere in our religion, what- ever else we are. The sinfulness of hypocrisy is very great, but its folly is greater still It is not hard to deceive minis- ters, relatives, and friends.. A little decent outward profes- sion will often go a long way. But it is impossible to deceive Christ. " His eyes are as a flame of fire." (Rev. i. 14.) He sees us through and through. Happy are those who can say,—" Thou, Lord, who knowest all things, knowest that we love thee." (John xxi. 17.)
We should mark, secondly, in this passage, lohat Christ forbids. He told the crowds who followed Him so dili
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