John 6:7 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters | Metropolitan Tabernacle

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John 6:7

Comments

His response is intensely practical, too practical. Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred pennyworth of bread’. That word ‘pennyworth’ translates the term which was a day’s pay. Two hundred days’ pay – quite a lot of money ‘is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take’ – and you could insert the word ‘just’ – ‘a little.’ Even 200 days’ pay would not go anywhere with this great crowd. That is Philip’s response.There is apparently no other response. So, although this is true of us all, he fails the test of faith. He loves the Saviour and believes in him, but he fails his test of faith. He does not for a moment say, ‘Well, Lord, it is quite impossible. Are you going to do something? You could feed them all.’ It does not seem to occur to him. ‘If you give us some direction, perhaps you know Lord, you know all things where this can be obtained. Are you going to do a mighty sign, Lord. Are we about to see a demonstration of your power and glory and omnipotence?’ None of that occurs to him. That problem after a while extends to Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, and the other Gospels say it was true of them all. No one came up with something which you might call a response of faith and belief in him as the Messiah, even though they did believe in him.

Application

But how typical of us all? When problems arise and we are caught out and we react and respond as though we have no God, no Saviour, no hold on divine resources, no blessing from on high, no place to get help. And we become distraught, and often lost in self-pity and recriminations, and attaching blame to someone or other for possibly bringing this about. We fail the test of faith as dismally as Philip failed. And yet as he had seen miracles and mighty things, so have we. We have had wonderful answers to prayer, wonderful evidences of the blessing and power of God, and how easily we go to pieces. We forget our faith is being tested so that it may be refined. If we do not remember God’s blessing and we do not meditate upon them, we will be caught out.

It happens in many forms. You have had a meeting with a relation or a friend or a colleague. Maybe it was expected and arranged, maybe not, maybe by chance. You talked about all sorts of things and you were alone with that person, but afterwards, you had a pang of conscience – I did not say anything useful. I did not turn anything to spiritual account. I lost my opportunity. Our faith is being tested all the time. We forgot who we are, who we represent. We forgot what riches we have to give to others.

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John 6:7 Commentary and Bible Study