Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 6:27

"Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed." — John 6:27 (ASV)

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you, for him hath God the Father sealed.

He rebuked their excessive ardor in seeking meat for their bodies, and urged them rather to seek food for their souls. But did you ever notice what an extraordinary piece of advice our Saviour gave to these people? It is one of his paradoxes.

He told them not to labour for the very thing which they could not get without labouring, and to labour for that which they never could get by labouring.

Labour not for the meat which perisheth: yet how else can we have it? But for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.

It is a free gift, and not the reward of labour, yet Christ told them to labour for it.

Did he not mean just this, Let not your greatest efforts be expended upon the things of time and sense, but let them go out after eternal and spiritual blessings.

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Is it not strange that Christ says, "Do not labor for the very thing which you cannot get without laboring for it," and then he says, "Labor for that which you cannot get by laboring for it"? He virtually tells us that it is so, by adding the words, which the Son of man shall give unto you, plainly proving that it does not come as the result of human labor, but as the free gift of the Son of God. He who is wise will spell out the meaning of the paradox; but he who is blind will stumble over the letter of it, and not discern the spiritual interpretation.

Do not labor for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give to you: for him God the Father has sealed.

He seemed to say to them, "Do not come to me for bread and fish; I have given you that. Come for something better; come to me for spiritual food, food for your souls, food for eternity." It is for that purpose that we should go to the house of God; not to listen to this preacher or that, but to hear the Word of God, that we may live by it.

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

They laboured hard to get the bread that perishes, so Christ made them devote their energies to a better object. This is a very extraordinary verse if we regard its letter and not its spirit. Christ told these people not to labour for that which they could only get by labour: Labour not for the meat which perisheth. Yet few men get their daily bread or meat without labouring for it.

And then Christ told them to labour for that which nobody ever does get by labouring: Labour for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. This is an instance of how the mere letter of the Word kills. We must take its spirit, and then we understand that what the Saviour meant was this: "Do not be spending all your energies to get that which will melt away when you get it; but spend your time and strength in seeking after that which will last through all time, and be yours to all eternity."

Labour not for the meat which perished, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Now, you quite understand what Jesus meant? Seek after that which will feed your souls. Do not hunt so much after bread for the body.

Yet the Saviour puts it very curiously. This is a double-shotted perplexity, a singular, curious kind of word. You are not to labour for that which you cannot get without labour, and you are to labour for that which you cannot get by labour.

The Saviour liked to put things in that sententious way, so that they might remember what he said. If they misunderstood him, it was their own fault, for it is plain enough.

God grant us grace to practice the meaning of these words. Why are you so eager to get a bit of barley bread and a fish?

Oh, that you were half as eager to come and get the bread which comes from heaven which will make a man live forever, and which will be food to him as long as he lives.