John 6:28

They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?”

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?”

BSB

Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”

KJV

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

ASV

They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God?

BBE

Then they said to him, How may we do the works of God?

Original Greek

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The early church

As though they had heard nothing, they said, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" This they said, not that they might learn and do them, (as the sequel shows,) but to induce Him again to supply them with food, and desiring to persuade Him to satisfy them.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on John
Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" For He had said to them, "Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life." "What shall we do?" they say; by observing what, shall we be able to fulfil this precept?
Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Tractates on John
i. e. By keeping what commandments shall we be able to fulfil the law of God?
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
They understood that the meat, which remaineth unto eternal life, was the work of God: and therefore they ask Him what to do to work the work of God, i. e. obtain the meat: Then said they unto Him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God?
Alcuin of York · d. 804Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 28–35

Constant exercise of faith in Christ, is the most important and difficult part of the obedience required from us, as sinners seeking salvation. When by his grace we are enabled to live a life of faith in the Son of God, holy tempers follow, and acceptable services may be done. God, even his Father, who gave their fathers that food from heaven to support their natural lives, now gave them the true Bread for the salvation of their souls. Coming to Jesus, and believing on him, signify the same. Christ shows that he is the true Bread; he is to the soul what bread is to the body, nourishes and supports the spiritual life. He is the Bread of God. Bread which the Father gives, which he has made to be the food of our souls. Bread nourishes only by the powers of a living body; but Christ is himself living Bread, and nourishes by his own power. The doctrine of Christ crucified is now as strengthening and comforting to a believer as ever it was. He is the Bread which came down from heaven. It denotes the Divinity of Christ's person and his authority; also, the Divine origin of all the good which flows to us through him. May we with understanding and earnestness say, Lord, evermore give us this Bread.

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Cross-references

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Topics

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.