Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”
Christ let them question Him freely, no small condescension. The wise teacher listens swiftly and turns even foolish questions toward what profits. These Galileans asking "What shall we do?" show a teachable mind, unlike the Judean critics who came only to cavil. He answers the sincere request, not the impertinent quibble.
AI summary
Commenting on John 6:28-59
Our fathers did eat manna, &c.--insinuating the inferiority of Christ's miracle of the loaves to those of Moses: "When Moses claimed the confidence of the fathers, 'he gave them bread from heaven to eat'--not for a few thousands, but for millions, and not once only, but daily throughout their wilderness journey."
Verse 31. Our fathers. The Jews who were led by Moses through the wilderness. Did eat manna. This was the name given by the Jews to the food which was furnished to them by God in their journey. It means literally, "What is this?" and was the question which they asked when they first saw it, .