Biblical Figures of Speech
"Eating" as Symbolic of Receptivity
"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever." [John 6:56-58]
The language on John 6 may, if literally taken, be seen as the support text for the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, but that does ignore Christ's own references to bread as a symbol of doctrine, and to eating as a symbol of receptivity, elsewhere in Holy Writ.
A famous example of Jesus using this symbolism is in Matthew 16:
"And Jesus said to them, 'Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, 'He said that because we did not bring any bread.' But Jesus, aware of this, said, 'You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?... How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." [Matt. 16:6-8,11,12]
In this instance, Christ spoke of "leavened" (or yeasty) bread, but meant his words to be understood as referring to doctrine. He was actually peeved that the disciples took his words literally.
Take also note of another example from Matthew's gospel:
"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, 'What do you wish?' She said to Him, 'Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.' But Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?' They said to Him, 'We are able.' He said to them, 'My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.'" [Matt. 20:20-23].
Here "drinking the cup" is not to be understood any way but as figuratively of their acceptance of their fated martyrdom.
Because Christ had made use of symbolism for eating and for bread in other places, we should be more alert in John 6 than to simply reduce his language to its literal meaning. Jesus can be trusted to be fairly consistent in his speech... he often retains the same use of symbols throughout the gospels.
"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever." [John 6:56-58]
The language on John 6 may, if literally taken, be seen as the support text for the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, but that does ignore Christ's own references to bread as a symbol of doctrine, and to eating as a symbol of receptivity, elsewhere in Holy Writ.
A famous example of Jesus using this symbolism is in Matthew 16:
"And Jesus said to them, 'Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, 'He said that because we did not bring any bread.' But Jesus, aware of this, said, 'You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?... How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." [Matt. 16:6-8,11,12]
In this instance, Christ spoke of "leavened" (or yeasty) bread, but meant his words to be understood as referring to doctrine. He was actually peeved that the disciples took his words literally.
Take also note of another example from Matthew's gospel:
"Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, 'What do you wish?' She said to Him, 'Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.' But Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?' They said to Him, 'We are able.' He said to them, 'My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.'" [Matt. 20:20-23].
Here "drinking the cup" is not to be understood any way but as figuratively of their acceptance of their fated martyrdom.
Because Christ had made use of symbolism for eating and for bread in other places, we should be more alert in John 6 than to simply reduce his language to its literal meaning. Jesus can be trusted to be fairly consistent in his speech... he often retains the same use of symbols throughout the gospels.
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