John 6:27
Verse
Context
Jesus the Bread of Life
26Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
Sermons
Zac Poonen
Derek Melton
Stephen Kaung
Mariano Di Gangi
F.B. MeyerSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Labor not for the meat - That is, for that only, but also for the bread, etc. Our Lord wills every man to be active and diligent in that employment in which providence has placed him; but it is his will also that that employment, and all the concerns of life, should be subservient to the interest of his soul. But for that meat, etc. - He who labors not, in the work of his salvation, is never likely to enter into the kingdom of God. Though our labor cannot purchase it, either in whole or in part, yet it is the way in which God chooses to give salvation; and he that will have heaven must strive for it. Every thing that can be possessed, except the salvation of God, is a perishing thing: this is its essential character: it can last to us no longer than the body lasts. But, when the earth and its produce are burnt up, this bread of Christ, his grace and salvation, will be found remaining unto eternal life. This is the portion after which an immortal spirit should seek. Him hath God the Father sealed - By this expression, our Lord points out the commission which, as the Messiah, he received from the Father, to be prophet and priest to an ignorant, sinful world. As a person who wishes to communicate his mind to another who is at a distance writes a letter, seals it with his own seal, and sends it directed to the person for whom it was written, so Christ, who lay in the bosom of the Father, came to interpret the Divine will to man, bearing the image, superscription, and seal of God, in the immaculate holiness of his nature, unsullied truth of his doctrine, and in the astonishing evidence of his miracles. But he came also as a priest, to make an atonement for sin; and the bread which nourishes unto eternal life, he tells us, Joh 6:51, is his body, which he gives for the life of the world; and to this sacrifice of himself, the words, him hath God the Father sealed, seem especially to relate. It certainly was a custom, among nations contiguous to Judea, to set a seal upon the victim which was deemed proper for sacrifice. The following account of the method of providing white bulls among the Egyptians, for sacrifices to their god Apis, taken from Herodotus, Euterpe, b. ii. p. 117, casts much light upon this place. "They sacrifice white bulls to Apis; and for that reason make the following trial. If they find one black hair upon him, they consider him as unclean: that they may know this with certainty, the priest appointed for this purpose views every part of the animal, both standing and lying on the ground. After this, he draws out his tongue, to see if he be clean by certain signs: in the last place, he looks upon the hairs of his tail, that he may be sure they are as by nature they should be. If, after this search, the bull is found unblemished, he signifies it by tying a label to his horns; then, having applied wax, he seals it with his ring, and they lead him away: for it is death to sacrifice one of these animals, unless he have been marked with such a seal. The Jews could not be unacquainted with the rites and ceremonies of the Egyptian worship; and it is possible that such precautions as these were in use among themselves, especially as they were so strictly enjoined to have their sacrifices without Spot, and without blemish. Infinite justice found Jesus Christ to be without spot or blemish, and therefore sealed, pointed out and accepted him, as a proper sacrifice and atonement for the sin of the whole world. Collate with this passage, Heb 7:26-28; Eph 5:27; Pe2 3:14; and especially Heb 9:13, Heb 9:14 : For if the blood of Bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth - how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself Without Spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works! The rabbins talk much of the seal of God, which they suppose to be אמת emeth, or truth; and that this is a representation of the unoriginated and endless perfections of God. This doctrine is just; but their method of proving it is not so satisfactory. Aleph א, say they, is the first letter of the alphabet; mem מ the middle; and tau ת the last: these three letters make אמת emeth, Truth, because God is the first - there was none before him; he is the middle - none mingles with him; and he is the last - there can be none after him. Hieros. Sanhed. fol. 18. See also Pe1 1:18, Pe1 1:19.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
which the Son of man--taking that title of Himself which denoted His incarnate life. shall give unto you--in the sense of Joh 6:51. him hath God the Father sealed--marked out and authenticated for that transcendent office, to impart to the world the bread of an everlasting life, and this in the character of "the Son of man."
John Gill Bible Commentary
Then said they unto him,.... Understanding by what he said, that they must labour and work, though not for perishing food, yet for durable food; and as they imagined, in order to obtain eternal life by working: what shall we do that we might work the works of God? Such as are agreeable to his will, are acceptable to him, and well pleasing in his sight: they seem to intimate, as if they desired to know whether there were any other works of this kind, than what Moses had directed them to, or than they had done; and if there were, they suggest they would gladly do them; for this was the general cast and complexion of this people; they were seeking for righteousness, and life not by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:27 Jesus’ most profound gift was not physical bread, but eternal life, which the Father authorized him to give. Physical bread is perishable; the gift of Jesus, who is himself the bread of life (6:35), will last forever.
John 6:27
Jesus the Bread of Life
26Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(John - Part 27): The Material Kingdom and the Spiritual Kingdom
By A.W. Tozer4.3K48:04ExpositionalEXO 16:15JHN 5:24JHN 6:27JHN 6:31JAS 2:191JN 5:10In this sermon, the preacher discusses the similarities between the physical world we live in and the spiritual world of God's presence. He uses the example of the four living creatures described in Ezekiel's vision to illustrate this point. The preacher emphasizes how our language and thinking are influenced by the physical world around us, but reminds us that there is another world beyond the material realm. He warns against adopting a philosophy that focuses solely on physical needs and urges listeners to seek the presence of God in their lives.
(John the Baptist Comes to Town) - Part 3 - Sermon That Cost a Preacher His Head
By Rolfe Barnard3.1K24:29John The BaptistISA 32:17MAT 3:2MAT 14:11MRK 6:14JHN 3:3JHN 6:27ACT 17:30In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the ministry of John the Baptist and the sermon that ultimately cost him his head. The sermon was about holiness, righteousness, and God's holy law. John the Baptist fearlessly confronted King Herod and his ungodly wife about their unlawful relationship, which ultimately led to his execution. The preacher emphasizes the importance of repentance and surrendering to the claims of Christ in order to receive salvation and experience true peace and joy.
A Bridal Relationship - Part 3
By Zac Poonen1.5K09:40PSA 27:4PSA 37:4MAT 6:8JHN 4:24JHN 6:27JHN 14:6
This sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking a deep connection with God rather than seeking material blessings or temporary things. It highlights the significance of seeking God for who He is, desiring a relationship with Him above all else, and understanding that Jesus came to earth seeking a bride who loves Him for Himself. The message encourages believers to seek God's presence and beauty above all worldly desires.
Costless Christianity
By Derek Melton1.4K1:02:58SacrificeMAT 7:13LUK 9:62LUK 10:2JHN 6:272CO 11:21In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not letting the affairs of this life distract or disqualify believers from serving God. He encourages the audience to prioritize their love for God and the authorities He has placed in their lives. The preacher also highlights the need for repentance and a change of heart, mind, and actions in order to serve God zealously. He references Luke 10:2, where Jesus teaches about the great harvest but few laborers, and challenges the audience to reflect on why there are so few laborers. The sermon concludes with a call to leave behind worldly pursuits and follow Jesus, becoming fishers of men.
The Essence of the Church & the Work
By Stephen Kaung9391:28:59ChurchMAT 28:19JHN 6:27ACT 1:8EPH 4:112PE 1:12In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the ultimate goal of our work and service as Christians, which is to manifest God and bring Him glory. He reminds us that this is not a small matter and should not be taken lightly. The speaker encourages us to constantly remind and encourage each other in this goal, as it is easy to forget and become immersed in the external works of the church. He highlights the importance of discernment and returning to the Lord to be reminded of His vision and burden for the work.
The Bread of Heaven
By Mariano Di Gangi1429:56Faith in ChristSpiritual NourishmentJesusEXO 16:4MAT 4:4JHN 3:16JHN 6:12JHN 6:27JHN 6:35JHN 6:40JHN 6:51JHN 6:54ROM 8:32Mariano Di Gangi preaches on 'The Bread of Heaven,' emphasizing that Jesus is essential for spiritual nourishment, likening Him to bread that sustains life. He recounts the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, illustrating how Jesus provides not just physical sustenance but also the deeper spiritual nourishment that humanity craves. Di Gangi explains that while people often seek material blessings, true fulfillment comes from recognizing Jesus as the bread of life, the bread of God, and the bread of heaven. He stresses the importance of faith in receiving this nourishment, urging believers to come to Christ and partake in His life-giving essence. The sermon concludes with a call to embrace Jesus fully, as He alone satisfies the deepest needs of the human heart.
Our Daily Homily - John
By F.B. Meyer0Spiritual GrowthFaithJHN 1:50JHN 2:10JHN 3:27JHN 4:10JHN 5:20JHN 6:27JHN 7:39JHN 8:31JHN 9:4JHN 11:40F.B. Meyer emphasizes the progressive nature of God's revelations and blessings in the sermon 'Our Daily Homily - John', illustrating that as we grow in our understanding and relationship with Christ, we are invited to experience greater things. He encourages believers to live fully in the light of what they know, assuring them that God continually offers His best, both in this life and the next. Meyer also highlights the importance of humility, recognizing that all we have is a gift from God, and urges believers to seek a deeper relationship with Christ through prayer and obedience. Ultimately, he reassures that through faith, we will witness the glory of God in our lives and the lives of others.
Discourse on the Bread of Life John 6:22-51
By R.A. Torrey0Spiritual NourishmentThe Bread of LifeJHN 3:16JHN 6:27JHN 6:35JHN 6:37JHN 6:39JHN 6:44JHN 6:51ROM 6:23EPH 2:81JN 1:1R.A. Torrey explores the profound message of Jesus as the Bread of Life in John 6:22-51, emphasizing the distinction between seeking temporary, earthly sustenance and the eternal nourishment that comes from faith in Christ. He highlights the necessity of divine drawing to truly come to Jesus and the importance of recognizing Him as the ultimate fulfillment of spiritual hunger and thirst. Torrey challenges the audience to reflect on their motivations for seeking Jesus and to understand that true belief requires a heart open to God's teaching. He underscores that the Bread of Life offers eternal satisfaction and security, contrasting it with the fleeting nature of worldly desires.
Is Muhammad a True Prophet of God?
By Sam Shamoun0ProphecyTruth in FaithNUM 23:23DEU 18:20MAT 23:34LUK 10:17JHN 6:27JHN 8:44HEB 13:201JN 2:221JN 5:9REV 14:6Sam Shamoun presents six propositions that challenge the belief in Muhammad as a true prophet of God, urging Muslims to reflect on these claims. He argues that Muhammad's teachings contradict the messages of previous prophets, particularly regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ, and highlights instances where Muhammad's actions and teachings appear inconsistent or erroneous. Shamoun emphasizes that true prophecy must align with the established revelations and warns against accepting any message that contradicts the core tenets of the Christian faith. He concludes that Muhammad's contradictions and the nature of his teachings disqualify him as a true prophet of God.
Evangelism and Social Involvement
By William MacDonald0Social ResponsibilityEvangelismMAT 4:23MAT 25:35JHN 6:27William MacDonald emphasizes the need for Christians to find a balance between evangelism and social involvement, arguing that while addressing physical needs is important, the priority should always be the Gospel. He points out that Jesus was concerned with both spiritual and physical needs, but stresses that the eternal significance of the Gospel must take precedence over temporal issues. MacDonald warns against allowing social activities to overshadow the core mission of spreading the Gospel, and he critiques the ineffectiveness of political solutions to spiritual problems. Ultimately, he encourages believers to engage in compassionate acts without compromising their commitment to evangelism.
The Approach to the Institution
By W.H. Griffith Thomas0MAT 26:26JHN 6:27ACT 2:421CO 10:16W.H. Griffith Thomas delves into the distinct treatment of the Lord's Supper in five passages in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical context and spiritual significance of this ordinance. The discourse at Capernaum, a year before the institution of the Supper, reveals the necessity of all men participating in the Atoning Death of Christ to possess eternal life. The Lord's Supper is closely associated with the Passover, symbolizing a great deliverance and redemption from sin, with Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb.
Not Conformity but Transformation
By Hieromonk Damascene0JHN 6:27ROM 12:11CO 7:312CO 3:18COL 3:2Hieromonk Damascene emphasizes the importance of sacrifice and transformation in the Christian life, drawing from Romans chapter 12 where presenting our bodies as living sacrifices leads to a renewal of the mind and a transformation away from worldly conformity. He delves into the meaning of 'the world' as the realm of passions and attachments to worldly desires, urging self-examination and confession to uproot these favorite passions. The preacher highlights the fleeting nature of worldly pleasures and the need to focus on enduring spiritual transformation, not conforming to passing fashions and appearances.
Words of Spirit and Life
By H.J. Vine0PRO 8:35PRO 13:14PRO 16:22JHN 4:14JHN 6:27JHN 6:35JHN 6:51JHN 6:63JHN 7:38ROM 5:21H.J. Vine preaches on the profound impact of Jesus' words as spirit and life, emphasizing the necessity of His death for eternal life. Despite the miracles, many sought Jesus for physical sustenance, not realizing the spiritual depth of His teachings. Those who truly believe in Christ recognize the need for His sacrifice to receive eternal life, contrasting it with the perishable food of the world. Through Christ's death, believers find righteousness, life, and the promise of reigning in eternal life.
Do Not Labor for the Food Which Perishes
By John Piper0MAT 6:19MAT 6:33LUK 8:18JHN 4:32JHN 6:271CO 7:30John Piper preaches on the importance of not laboring for material possessions that perish, but instead focusing on laboring for the eternal food that Jesus provides. He emphasizes the need for submission to Jesus as Lord and the willingness to obey His surprising commands, highlighting the difference between a fleshly attitude of resistance and a Spirit-filled attitude of humble submission. Piper explains that seeking Jesus and believing in His power is not enough; true spiritual nourishment comes from feasting on Christ and finding satisfaction in His eternal promises.
Be Lowly-Minded
By George Fox0JHN 6:27EPH 6:7PHP 2:3COL 3:121PE 4:8George Fox preaches about the importance of avoiding strife and vanity in our minds, encouraging humility, patience, and love towards one another. He emphasizes the need for servants to work in love as unto God, and for families to lead with the power and love of God. Fox reminds his audience to focus on the pure, guiding light of God within them, leading to spiritual nourishment, strength, and abundance that comes from above.
Believe Just Now
By Horatius Bonar0MAT 6:19JHN 4:32JHN 6:27ROM 14:17HEB 12:16The preacher delves into the meaning of 'rust' (brosis) in the Bible, which refers to the act of partaking of food and can also symbolize erosion or corrosion. Jesus uses 'brosis' figuratively to represent spiritual food and nourishment, emphasizing the importance of seeking eternal sustenance over temporary pleasures. The sermon highlights the destructive nature of earthly treasures that can be consumed by 'moth and rust,' urging believers to focus on storing treasures in heaven. It also emphasizes that the kingdom of God is not about external regulations but eternal realities like righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Labor not for the meat - That is, for that only, but also for the bread, etc. Our Lord wills every man to be active and diligent in that employment in which providence has placed him; but it is his will also that that employment, and all the concerns of life, should be subservient to the interest of his soul. But for that meat, etc. - He who labors not, in the work of his salvation, is never likely to enter into the kingdom of God. Though our labor cannot purchase it, either in whole or in part, yet it is the way in which God chooses to give salvation; and he that will have heaven must strive for it. Every thing that can be possessed, except the salvation of God, is a perishing thing: this is its essential character: it can last to us no longer than the body lasts. But, when the earth and its produce are burnt up, this bread of Christ, his grace and salvation, will be found remaining unto eternal life. This is the portion after which an immortal spirit should seek. Him hath God the Father sealed - By this expression, our Lord points out the commission which, as the Messiah, he received from the Father, to be prophet and priest to an ignorant, sinful world. As a person who wishes to communicate his mind to another who is at a distance writes a letter, seals it with his own seal, and sends it directed to the person for whom it was written, so Christ, who lay in the bosom of the Father, came to interpret the Divine will to man, bearing the image, superscription, and seal of God, in the immaculate holiness of his nature, unsullied truth of his doctrine, and in the astonishing evidence of his miracles. But he came also as a priest, to make an atonement for sin; and the bread which nourishes unto eternal life, he tells us, Joh 6:51, is his body, which he gives for the life of the world; and to this sacrifice of himself, the words, him hath God the Father sealed, seem especially to relate. It certainly was a custom, among nations contiguous to Judea, to set a seal upon the victim which was deemed proper for sacrifice. The following account of the method of providing white bulls among the Egyptians, for sacrifices to their god Apis, taken from Herodotus, Euterpe, b. ii. p. 117, casts much light upon this place. "They sacrifice white bulls to Apis; and for that reason make the following trial. If they find one black hair upon him, they consider him as unclean: that they may know this with certainty, the priest appointed for this purpose views every part of the animal, both standing and lying on the ground. After this, he draws out his tongue, to see if he be clean by certain signs: in the last place, he looks upon the hairs of his tail, that he may be sure they are as by nature they should be. If, after this search, the bull is found unblemished, he signifies it by tying a label to his horns; then, having applied wax, he seals it with his ring, and they lead him away: for it is death to sacrifice one of these animals, unless he have been marked with such a seal. The Jews could not be unacquainted with the rites and ceremonies of the Egyptian worship; and it is possible that such precautions as these were in use among themselves, especially as they were so strictly enjoined to have their sacrifices without Spot, and without blemish. Infinite justice found Jesus Christ to be without spot or blemish, and therefore sealed, pointed out and accepted him, as a proper sacrifice and atonement for the sin of the whole world. Collate with this passage, Heb 7:26-28; Eph 5:27; Pe2 3:14; and especially Heb 9:13, Heb 9:14 : For if the blood of Bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth - how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself Without Spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works! The rabbins talk much of the seal of God, which they suppose to be אמת emeth, or truth; and that this is a representation of the unoriginated and endless perfections of God. This doctrine is just; but their method of proving it is not so satisfactory. Aleph א, say they, is the first letter of the alphabet; mem מ the middle; and tau ת the last: these three letters make אמת emeth, Truth, because God is the first - there was none before him; he is the middle - none mingles with him; and he is the last - there can be none after him. Hieros. Sanhed. fol. 18. See also Pe1 1:18, Pe1 1:19.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
which the Son of man--taking that title of Himself which denoted His incarnate life. shall give unto you--in the sense of Joh 6:51. him hath God the Father sealed--marked out and authenticated for that transcendent office, to impart to the world the bread of an everlasting life, and this in the character of "the Son of man."
John Gill Bible Commentary
Then said they unto him,.... Understanding by what he said, that they must labour and work, though not for perishing food, yet for durable food; and as they imagined, in order to obtain eternal life by working: what shall we do that we might work the works of God? Such as are agreeable to his will, are acceptable to him, and well pleasing in his sight: they seem to intimate, as if they desired to know whether there were any other works of this kind, than what Moses had directed them to, or than they had done; and if there were, they suggest they would gladly do them; for this was the general cast and complexion of this people; they were seeking for righteousness, and life not by faith, but, as it were, by the works of the law.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:27 Jesus’ most profound gift was not physical bread, but eternal life, which the Father authorized him to give. Physical bread is perishable; the gift of Jesus, who is himself the bread of life (6:35), will last forever.