John 6:52

This new point of light, which Christ brings forth to cleare the way of this spiritual feeding, occasions a further discovery of his hearers; who understanding his words carnally, did stumble at them, and strive among themselves about them, that is, they did in a fighting tumultuous way expresse their stumbling one to another, or, it seemes that some understood him aright, or gave him charity, others took him up carnally, and stumbled, and so they fell to strive. Whence learn, 1. Carnal men and misbeleevers will grow still the longer the worse, when pains are taken upon them, and they do not profit; for after misbeleeving and murmuring, they fall a brawling and contending, they strove, or fought. All, or most part, of them were in a rage at what he had said. 2. Division, and strife and tumult, may follow upon the doctrine of the best Preachers, and yet the doctrine is not to blame, but onely mens corruptions; for, upon Christs preaching, The Jewes strove amongst themselves. 3. Carnal misbeleevers do put a carnal sense upon Christs spiritual words, and so do occasion their own stumbling; for, this they stumble at, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? They understand it of bodily eating, and this they cannot endure, because it is inhumane to eate mans flesh, and his owne body could not be food, that way, to all the world, far lesse could it give life. But Christ meant no such thing, they stumble on their own mistakes; And they who assert such a bodily eating of Christs flesh, and yet do not stumble at it, are more brutish then these Capernaites. 4. The right way to be satisfied about any point of truth, or doctrine, is, to come to Christ himself in his own appointed means; And they who neglect this, are justly left to stumble in darknesse: for, herein they failed, They strove among themselves about it, but come not to him for resolution.