Jesus 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.Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.
3 sermons cite this verse
… The motivation is called into question. Verse 26, he answered them and said, truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. You have one basic motivation, and that's to get your stomachs filled. And then he answers them with another thought, don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you. for on him the Father, even God, has set his seal. If you're pedantic enough to take a pencil when you listen to sermons and follow along, take your pen or your pencil and be ready to circle a couple of contrasts that will help you understand the bread of life discourse. I'll give you a minute to pull one from your pocket or from your purse. I don't want you to miss the contrasts. In verse 27, I want you to circle or underscore the words, food which perishes and the words, food which endures. …
One of the reasons why we take vows, as we did this morning upon joining the church, is because sometimes we have to buttress our promises with sacred commitments because as fallen creatures we are by nature covenant breakers and we are taught by the Word of God that all men are liars. There is no exception to that. So I have to confess to you this morning that when we started this study of John's gospel, I said to you I would not be looking at every verse of this gospel, would be covering the highlights, and I lied. I realized this week that I had intended to pass over this brief passage that records the miracle of Christ of walking on the water. And I just couldn't do it. I couldn't just leave that out. It's too important to the whole gospel. It's too important to our understanding of the person and work of Jesus. And it's also very important to the continuity of what's going on here in this extremely important, chapter 6. And so, after having confessed my sin and asked for your forgiveness and indulgence, I'm going to start this morning at verse 15 instead of at verse 22. We read that when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king. …
2. That show of respect which you make is forced. You come to God, and make a great show of respect to him, and use very respectful terms, with a reverential tone and manner of speaking; and your countenance is grave and solemn: you put on an humble aspect; and use humble, respectful postures, out of fear. You are afraid that God will execute his wrath upon you, and so you feign a great deal of respect, that he may not be angry with you. “Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.” Psal. lxvi. 3. In the original it is, shall thine enemies lie to thee. It is rendered therefore in the margin, shall yield feigned obedience to thee. All that you do in religion is forced and feigned. Through the greatness of God’s power, you yield feigned obedience. You are in God’s power, and he is able to destroy you; and so you feign a great deal of respect to him, that he might not destroy you. As one might do towards an enemy that had taken him captive, though he at the same time would gladly make his escape, if he could, by taking away the life of him who had taken him captive. 3. It is not real respect that moves you to behave so towards God: you do it because you hope you shall get by it. It is respect to yourself, and not respect to God, that moves you. You hope to move God by it to bestow the rewards of his children. You are like the Jews who followed Christ, and called him Rabbi, and would make him a king. Not that they honoured him so much in their hearts, as to think him worthy of the honour of a king; or that they had the respect of sincere subjects; but they did it for the sake of the loaves. “Jesus perceived that they would come and make him a king. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, how camest thou hither? Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” John vi. 15, 25, 26. …