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I. A SOLEMN REPROOF (ver. 26).

1. To whom addressed? To the witnesses of the miracle. Excitement is not religion, and those who to-day cry Hallelujah! may to-morrow cry Crucify!

2. By whom spoken? By one who could search the heart, and whose mercy on the previous day gave Him a right to speak.

3. For what given. Not for seeking Him, but for seeking Him with a bad motive which was —

(1) Sensational — they saw the phenomenon but were blind to its significance.

(2) Sensual — they followed as the ex follows the farmer for a bunch of hay.

II. AN EARNEST EXHORTATION (ver. 27).

1. Labour discommended.

(1) The import: not to discourage the toil for daily bread (Genesis 3:19; 2 Thessalonians 3:10), but to condemn the spirit that attached supreme importance to earthly things (Matthew 6:25).

(2) The reason. These commodities were perishing (Colossians 2:22), and contributed at best to the support of the decaying (1 John 2:16, 17; 2 Peter 3:11).

2. A labour enjoined.

(1) The perfect legitimacy of human effort (Genesis 2:15; Luke 13:24; Luke 16:16; John 9:4).

(2) The proper object of human effort: that which is spiritual, vivifying, permanent (Matthew 6:20).

(3) The absolute necessity of human effort (Matthew 7:15; Luke 13:24; Philippians 2:12; Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 11:6).

III. A CLEAR DIRECTION (vers. 27-29).

1. Whence the abiding meat must be sought.

(1) The accessibility of the source "Son of Man;"(2) The sufficiency of the supply;

(3) The authority of the giver.

2. How the abiding meat may be got.

(1) As a gift (Romans 4:4-6; Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8, 9).

(2) Through the medium of faith merit is excluded (Job 9:2, 3; Isaiah 57:12; Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:11).

(3) Approved by works (Romans 2:13; Romans 3:31; Romans 6:16; Ephesians 2:10: Titus 2:14; James 2:20-26). Lessons:

1. Christ's power of reading the heart of man.

2. The supreme importance of motive in religion.

3. The transcendent value of the salvation of the soul.

4. Christ's clear conviction that faith in Himself would lead to eternal life.

(T. Whitelaw, D. D.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: 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.