5 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" 6 He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece." 8 One of the disciples - it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter - said, 9 "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this." 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted. 12 When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 6:5-12
Commentary on John 6:1-14
(Read John 6:1-14)
John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.