Bede

Late Patristic · AD 500–800

6,271 passages across 45 books of the Bible · Who was this?

On John

20 of 195
  1. John 6:4
    Matthew and Mark make mention of the murder of John [the Baptist] in connection with the miracle of the bread while John here mentions it was near the day of the festival of Pascha of the Jews. It is evident that the festival of the Passover here coincides with the beheading of John the Baptist, and that a year later [the evangelist] returns again to the time of the Pascha when the mystery of the Lord’s passion was completed.

    On the Gospel of Mark 2.6

  2. John 6:5
    If we compare the accounts of the different Evangelists, we shall find very clearly, that there was an interval of a year between the beheading of John, and our Lord's Passion. For, since Matthew says that our Lord, on hearing of the death of John, withdrew into a desert place, where He fed the multitude; and John says that the Passover was nigh, when He fed the multitude; it is evident that John was beheaded shortly before the Passover. And at the same feast, the next year Christ suffered. It follows, When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? When Jesus lifted up His eyes, this is to show us, that Jesus was not generally with His eyes lifted up, looking about Him, but sitting calm and attentive, surrounded by His disciples.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  3. John 6:9
    (Hom. in Luc. c. vi.) Barley is the food of cattle and slaves: and the old law was given to slaves and cattle, i. e. to carnal men.

    Or, by the two fishes are meant the saying or writings of the Prophets, and the Psalmist. And whereas the number five refers to the five senses, a thousand stands for perfection. But those who strive to obtain the perfect government of their five senses, are called men, in consequence of their superior powers: they have no womanly weaknesses; but by a sober and chaste life, earn the sweet refreshment of heavenly wisdom.

    (Aug. xxiv. 5) And well is it said, But what are these among so many? The Law was of little avail, till He took it into His hand, i. e. fulfilled it, and gave it a spiritual meaning. The Law made nothing perfect. (Heb. 7:19)

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  4. John 6:14
    When the multitude saw the miracle our Lord had done, they marvelled; as they did not know yet that He was God. Then those men, the Evangelist adds, i. e. carnal men, whose understanding was carnal, when they had perceived the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  5. John 6:15
    The multitude concluding, from so great a miracle, that He was merciful and powerful, wished to make Him a king. For men like having a merciful king to rule over them, and a powerful one to protect them. Our Lord knowing this, retired to the mountain: When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone. From this we gather, that our Lord went down from the mountain before, where He was sitting with His disciples, when He saw the multitude coming, and had fed them on the plain below. For how could He go up to the mountain again, unless He had come down from it.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  6. John 6:19
    (in v. cap. Joan.) The way of speaking we use, when we are in doubt; about five and twenty, we say, or thirty.

    This ship, however, does not carry an idle crew; they are all stout rowers; i. e. in the Church not the idle and effeminate, but the strenuous and persevering in good works, attain to the harbour of everlasting salvation.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  7. John 6:19-20
    He says only “I am.” He trusts that they will easily recognize his voice, which was so familiar to them. Or, more probably, he shows that he was the same who said to Moses, “Say to the children of Israel, the one who is has sent me to you.”

    COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.14

  8. John 6:20
    (in Matt. c. xiv.) He does not say, I am Jesus, but only I am. He trusts to their easily recognising a voice, which was so familiar to them, or, as is more probable, He shows that He was the same who said to Moses, I am that I am (Exod. 3:14)

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  9. John 6:23-24
    The mystical meaning is, that the conventicles of heretics are without the company of Christ and His disciples. And other ships coming, is the sudden growth of heresies. By the crowd, which saw that Jesus was not there, or His disciples, are designated those who seeing the errors of heretics, leave them and turn to the true faith.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  10. John 6:26-27
    They too seek Jesus, not for Jesus' sake, but for something else, who ask in their prayers not for eternal, but temporal blessings.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  11. John 6:28
    i. e. By keeping what commandments shall we be able to fulfil the law of God?

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  12. John 6:33
    Not to the physical world, but to men, its inhabitants.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  13. John 6:37
    All, He saith, absolutely, to show the fulness of the number who should believe. These are they which the Father gives the Son, when, by His secret inspiration, He makes them believe in the Son.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  14. John 6:45
    He uses the plural, In the Prophets, because all the Prophets being filled with one and the same spirit, their prophecies, though different, all tended to the same end; and with whatever any one of them says, all the rest agree; as with the prophecy of Joel, All shall be taught of God. (Joel 2:23)

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  15. John 6:51
    This bread our Lord then gave, when He delivered to His disciple the mystery of His Body and Blood, and offered Himself to God the Father on the altar of the cross. For the life of the world, i. e. not for the elements, but for mankind, who are called the world.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  16. John 6:52
    The Jews thought that our Lord would divide His flesh into pieces, and give it them to eat: and so mistaking Him, strove.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  17. John 6:54
    And that this might not seem addressed to them alone, He declares universally, Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  18. John 6:55
    He had said above, Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life: and now to show the great difference between bodily meat and drink, and the spiritual mystery of His body and blood, He adds, For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  19. John 6:58
    And to show the wide interval between the shadow and the light, the type and the reality, He adds, Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

  20. John 6:59
    Mystically, Capernaum, which means beautiful town, stands for the world: the synagogue, for the Jewish people. The meaning is, that our Lord hath, by the mystery of the incarnation, manifested Himself to the world, and also taught the Jewish people His doctrines.

    (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274) Catena Aurea by Aquinas

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