He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
We have here an account of Christ's feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, which miracle is in this respect remarkable, that it is the only passage of the actions of Christ's life that is recorded by all the four evangelists.
Commenting on John 6:1-14
And this he said to prove him,.... Or "tempting him", trying his faith, and not only his, but the rest of the disciples; not as ignorant of it himself, but in order to discover it to him and them, and to prepare them for the following miracle; and that it might appear the more illustrious and marvellous: for he himself knew what he would do...
Verse 6. To prove him. To try him; to see if he had faith, or if he would show that he believed that Jesus had power to supply them.