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I. THE SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE AND UNBELIEF OF THE NATURAL MAN.

1. When our Lord bade His hearers, "Labour for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, they began to think of works to be done."

2. When He spoke of Himself as one sent of God and the need of faith in them, the response was, "What sign showest Thou?" and this directly after the miracle (Mark 6:6).

3. We should remember all this in our efforts to do good and not be discouraged if our words seem thrown away.

II. THE HIGH HONOUR WHICH CHRIST PUTS ON FAITH IN HIMSELF. Faith and works elsewhere seem contrasted, but here Christ declares that believing on Him is the greatest of all works. Not that He meant that there was anything meritorious in believing; but — That it is the act of the soul which specially pleases God. Without it it is impossible to please Him.

2. That it is the first act that God requires at a sinner's hands.

3. That there is no life in a man till he believes.

III. THE FAR GREATER PRIVILEGES OF CHRIST'S HEARERS THAN OF THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE TIMES OF MOSES. The manna, wonderful as it was, was as nothing compared with the true bread.

1. The one could only feed the body; the other could satisfy the soul.

2. The one was only for the benefit of Israel; the other for the whole world.

3. Those who ate the former died and were buried, and many of them lost for ever; those who ate of the latter would be eternally saved.

(Bp. Ryle.)

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

WEB: They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?"