Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus contrasts two kinds of "food" – one that perishes and one that lasts forever. What's often missed is that the reason for the lasting food is that God the Father has "sealed" the Son. This "sealing" signifies authentication, marking Jesus as the divinely appointed, trustworthy source of this eternal nourishment.
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just miraculously fed thousands with loaves and fish, and the crowd is now searching for Him. Jesus confronts their superficial pursuit, revealing they followed Him not for the spiritual truth He offered, but for the free meal. He challenges them to redirect their efforts from temporary physical sustenance to the eternal nourishment that leads to life with God, a sustenance only He can provide.
Jesus challenges the crowd's focus on immediate physical needs. What kind of 'work' truly matters in the grand scheme?
Jesus draws a stark contrast between two types of 'food' and the effort we expend on them.
Food That Perishes
This refers to the physical sustenance that keeps our bodies alive day-to-day – the bread we eat, the resources we gather. This food is temporary; it's digested, used up, and eventually spoils. While necessary for life on earth, Jesus tells us not to primarily 'work for' or 'strive to obtain' this kind of food. It's not that we shouldn't work for a living (Paul later says, 'if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat!'), but that our ultimate pursuit shouldn't be solely for that which is temporary.
Food That Endures
This is the 'food' that nourishes our souls, the spiritual sustenance that leads to eternal life. It's not something we can manufacture or earn solely through our own effort, but something that 'endures to eternal life.' This is the divine provision that sustains us eternally, connecting us to God's unending life. Jesus presents Himself as the source of this enduring nourishment.
Jesus points to Himself as the source of eternal life. How do we know He is qualified to give it?
Jesus states that this enduring food comes from 'the Son of Man.' But He immediately validates this claim by saying, 'For on him God the Father has set his seal.'
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The Seal of Authentication
Think of a seal in ancient times – it was a mark of authority, a confirmation that something was genuine, official, and sanctioned. When the Father 'sealed' Jesus, it was a divine declaration.
This sealing wasn't just a one-time event but was evident throughout Jesus' ministry – through His words, His miracles, and ultimately, His sacrifice and resurrection. It assures us that when Jesus offers the food that endures to eternal life, it is a reliable and authoritative gift directly from God.
Understand the original words
brōsis · Greek Noun
Food that does not decay; metaphorically, it refers to the spiritual sustenance, grace, and life that Christ provides, which remains forever.
aiōnios zōē · Greek Noun phrase
The life that is eternal in quality and duration, beginning now through faith and continuing forever in the presence of God; it is the gift of God through Christ.
huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun phrase
A messianic title derived from Daniel 7:13-14, referring to the heavenly figure who has authority, glory, and sovereign power from God to judge and rule. Jesus uses this title to identify Himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
sphragis · Greek Noun
A mark of authentication, ownership, or authority. To have God's seal indicates that God the Father has approved, validated, and bestowed His divine authority upon Jesus.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' instruction here, urging us to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness, which are eternal, rather than focusing on earthly needs that perish.
John 4:14Jesus draws a parallel between the 'food that endures' and 'living water,' highlighting that both are spiritual provisions from Him that lead to eternal life, contrasting with temporary satisfaction.
1 Corinthians 6:13This verse explains how physical 'food for the stomach' perishes, reinforcing Jesus' point that our physical nourishment is temporary and distinct from the eternal sustenance He offers.
John 3:33This passage explains that accepting God's message is like 'setting a seal that God is true,' which directly relates to Jesus being 'sealed' by the Father as His authentic representative and the giver of eternal life.
Philippians 2:12-13This text illuminates the 'work' Jesus calls us to; it's about working out our own salvation with awe and trembling, empowered by God who works in us, aligning with the idea of striving for eternal food through His divine enablement.
vincentJohn 6:27: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."
Meat (βρῶσιν)See on John 4:32. In Matthew 6:19, Matthew 6:20, and there only, it is used in the sense of rust, that which eats or corrodes. Similarly, corrode is from rodo, to gnaw.Him hath God the Father sealedThe Rev. makes the sentence culminate properly in God: "for Him the Father, even God, hath sealed."…
cambridgeJohn 6:27: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."
27 . Labour not for , &c.] Better, Work not for , &c. The translation in the margin is preferable, to keep up the connexion with John 6:28-30 . The people keep harping on the word ‘work.’ the meat which perisheth ] Better (to avoid all ambiguity), the food that perisheth: ‘meat’ in the sense of ‘flesh-meat’ is…
Jesus contrasts two kinds of "food" – one that perishes and one that lasts forever. What's often missed is that the reason for the lasting food is that God the Father has "sealed" the Son. This "sealing" signifies authentication, marking Jesus as the divinely appointed, trustworthy source of this eternal nourishment.
Jesus has just miraculously fed thousands with loaves and fish, and the crowd is now searching for Him. Jesus confronts their superficial pursuit, revealing they followed Him not for the spiritual truth He offered, but for the free meal. He challenges them to redirect their efforts from temporary physical sustenance to the eternal nourishment that leads to life with God, a sustenance only He can provide.
Jesus has just miraculously fed thousands with loaves and fish, and the crowd is now searching for Him. Jesus confronts their superficial pursuit, revealing they followed Him not for the spiritual truth He offered, but for the free meal. He challenges them to redirect their efforts from temporary physical sustenance to the eternal nourishment that leads to life with God, a sustenance only He can provide.
"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”" — Jesus contrasts two kinds of "food" – one that perishes and one that lasts forever. What's often missed is that the reason for the lasting food is that God the Father has "sealed" the Son. This "seal…
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Last reviewed October 2026