Our Lord enters very minutely into this subject. He institutes a comparison between the manna, and himself as the bread of life ; and shews the superiority of the true bread,
1. In its origin —
[They supposed that the manna had been given them from heaven: whereas it came only from the clouds c; and was as earthly in its nature as if it had been formed like common bread. But Christ himself was the true bread d : and He came down from heaven. His abode from all eternity had been in the bosom of his Father. And he was now come down from thence to be the food of his chosen people e.]
2. In its properties —
[The manna, like any other bread, was suited only to the body ; nor could it give life to that, but only maintain its life; and after all, the bodies which it nourished would die at lastf. But the true bread was intended for the soul. Nor would it merely support it when alive, but quicken it when dead&. Yea, the soul, once quickened by it, should never die11. Christ himself being their life, they should live by him here1, and with him for everk.]
3. In its uses—
[The manna was very confined as to its use. It was for one nation only ; whereas the true bread is intended for the use of all mankind1. It is more extensively necessary. The Israelites might as easily have been supported by other food. And we can find many substitutes for bread. But without Christ, no man can livem. Neither earth nor heaven can provide a substitute for him. That bread is equally needed by every child of man. It is also more extensively suitable. Persons may be so disordered as to be incapable of enjoying, or even digesting, common bread. But in whatever state we be, Christ is the proper food of the soul. He is a bread, which is suited both, as milk, to babes, and, as strong meat, to them that are of full age". Further, it is more extensively satisfying. The manna could supply but one want. Whatever abundance of bread we have, we may need a variety of other things, for want of which we may even perish. But if we have Christ, we have all things. We can want nothing which is good for the body0; nor any thing that relates to the soulp. He is food to the
c ver. 32. d ver. 48. e ver. 51.
f ver. 49. s ver. 33. h ver. 50, 58.
1 ver. 57. k Col. iii. 4. • ver. 33. before cited.
m ver. 53. n ver. 54—56. ° Matt. vi. 33. p ver. 35.