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“All of you continue to work, not for the food that perishes,1 but rather for the Food that remains unto endless Life2 – which the Son of Humankind will give you – for the Father, The God, has sealed this person.”3
| 1 | Work, not for the food that perishes: See notes on Matthew chapter 6 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. In some parts of the world today a person’s work just for food requires over 80% of their time. Food should not be the single motivation in a disciple’s life. |
| 2 | The Food that remains unto endless Life: Or, endures to eternal life, last forever. See notes on John 4:14. |
| 3 | The God, has sealed this person: Or, NEB: seal of authority; BER: certified him; NWT: seal of approval. Compare Matthew 3:17 and 2 Peter 1:17. If “The God” has sealed the Son it means that prior to this the Son was not so sealed. This is not he final seal, for Christ must yet suffer and die on a tree in complete integrity and loyalty. |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose John 6:27 as the theme verse of chapter six – Heavenly Nourishment. There is a big crowd and one little boy with five loaves of two little fish. [1-9] Jesus miraculously feeds over 5,000 persons from this little boy’s supply. [10-13] As a result the crowd want to make Jesus king but he withdraws. [14, 15] Jesus walks on water to reach his apostles in their boat. [16-21] The crowd continues to search for Jesus. [22-24] The Nazarene Master teaches the crowd to work for everlasting food. [25-27] Christ teaches that the Father gives heavenly food. [28-34] He explains that this heavenly bread is the Son himself who came down from heaven. [35-40] The Father draws people to learn from Jesus. [41-47] Jesus calls himself ‘the bread of life’. [48-51] He encourages all to eat and drink this heavenly nourishment. [52-59] Jesus tells his disciples that he is returning to heaven. [60-65] The disciples are prompted to ask, ‘Master, whom shall we go to?’ [66-71]
Abba our Father bless those who find their nourishment in Christ.
[4 December 2002]
The Savior does not prohibit laboring for food, but making the acquisition of food and worldly things the leading object of life. He means: Do not manifest a chief anxiety for bodily food, for the food that perishes with the using, but rather seek … the Bread of Life.
