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William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 6:28-29

6:28-29 They said to him: "What are we to do to work the works of God?" Jesus answered: "This is the work of God, to believe in him whom he has sent." When Jesus spoke about the works of God, the Jews immediately thought in terms of "good" works. It was their conviction that a man by living a good life could earn the favour of God. They held that men could be divided into three classes--those who were good, those who were bad and those who were in between, who, by doing one more good work,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 6:28

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:28

That we might work the works of God? - That is, Divine works, or such as God can approve. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 6:28

Verse 28 28. What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? The multitude understood well enough that Christ had exhorted them to aim at something higher than the conveniences of the present life, and that they ought not to confine their attention to the earth, since God calls them to more valuable blessings. But, in putting this question, they are partly mistaken by not understanding the kind of labor; for they do not consider that God bestows upon us, by the hand of the Son, all that is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:1-71

2. Christ declares himself to be the Sustainer and Protector of the life of which he is the Source . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:22-29

The dialogue between Jesus and the Jews in the synagogue of Capernaum. The multitude followed our Lord on the following day across to Capernaum. I. JESUS DISCLOSES TO THEM THE SELFISH MOTIVES THAT GOVERNED THEIR CONDUCT . "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of those loaves, and were filled." 1 . Jesus knew the hearts of men . 2 . He exposes their inward character with an unshrinking boldness . 3 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:22-59

(3) The sequel of the signs . The discussion which follows is closely linked with these two great miracles of power and love. It naturally arises out of them, and refers with great explicitness to the former of them and to its true meaning. The discussion does unquestionably alter its scope as it proceeds, and at John 6:41 and John 6:52 "the Jews" take up a controversy which had previously been conducted by a portion of the crowd who witnessed his mighty works. Jesus declared (1) ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:27-29

Working and eating. In looking at the feeding of the five thousand, we must not allow the miraculous provision to hide the equally important element of the free donation. Jesus might have provided all this vast supply of food miraculously, and yet have said also, "Now you that can pay must pay." But all the necessities of the case required promptitude, and it was best to give freely. We see, however, that immediately the people began to draw wrong conclusions from this free giving. They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 6:28

They say unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? The works of God might be, either works like those which are wrought by God the Father, but this would be a very improbable demand; or "the works of God" may be those which God has assigned to man as the conditions of his favour. There is a breadth about the question that may cover the ground involved in Christ's declaration, but it reveals, at the same time, the self-complacency, the carnal conception on the part of... read more

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