John 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.
Cross-references
In John 6:51, Jesus identifies himself as the living bread that gives eternal life — specifying the enduring food mentioned earlier.
In John 6:54, Jesus specifies that eating his flesh and drinking his blood gives eternal life — the very 'food that endures' promised here.
In John 6:58, the bread from heaven is contrasted with manna, affirming that this food gives eternal life, not just temporal.
In John 6:68, Peter declares that Jesus has 'the words of eternal life' — identifying the enduring food as his teaching.
In John 6:28, the crowd asks what works God requires — a direct response seeking clarification on how to obtain the enduring food.
In John 6:29, Jesus answers: the work of God is to believe in Him — defining the 'food that endures' as faith in the Son.
In John 6:40, Jesus directly explains that the enduring food is believing in him for eternal life — a clear parallel within the same discourse.
In John 17:2, the Father grants Jesus authority to give eternal life, explaining the 'seal of approval' mentioned here.
In John 14:6, Jesus is 'the way... and the life', confirming he is the only path to the eternal life promised here.
In John 11:26, Jesus promises that believers will never die, echoing the eternal life from the food that endures.
John 4:14 promises water springing up to eternal life — directly parallel to the food that endures to eternal life.
In John 11:25, Jesus declares himself 'the resurrection and the life', showing he is the eternal life he gives.
John 4:13 contrasts temporary water with eternal water — exactly parallel to the perishable vs enduring food contrast here.
In John 10:28, Jesus gives eternal life to his sheep, reinforcing that he is the source of the enduring food.
John 8:18 says the Father bears witness with Jesus — echoing the Father's seal of approval in John 6:27.
John 5:40 reveals that people refuse to come to Jesus for life, contrasting with His offer of eternal food in John 6:27.
John 17:3 defines eternal life as knowing God and Jesus, explaining the content of the food Jesus gives in John 6:27.
John 5:36 says the works the Father gave Jesus testify about him — a parallel divine authentication to the seal.
John 1:34 declares Jesus is the Son of God — the same identity implied by the Father's seal in John 6:27.
Matthew 6:31-33 tells not to worry about earthly food but seek God's kingdom—reinforcing the priority of eternal provision.
Matthew 6:19 warns against storing earthly treasures that decay—parallel to avoiding food that spoils, seeking heavenly treasure.
Matthew 3:17 records the Father's voice at Jesus' baptism declaring him as beloved Son — the same approval referenced as God's seal.
Isaiah 55:2 asks why labor for what doesn't satisfy and invites to eat what is good—a direct parallel to seeking eternal food.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 speaks of striving for an imperishable crown—directly paralleling the call to labor for eternal food.
In 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul echoes this same contrast between temporary seen things and eternal unseen realities.
In Colossians 3:2, Paul urges setting minds on things above, not earthly — directly paralleling the call to seek enduring food.
In 2 Peter 3:11-14, the present world perishes but believers look to a new creation — echoing the contrast between perishable and eternal.
1 John 2:25 directly states God's promise of eternal life — which is exactly what Jesus offers in this verse.
Galatians 6:8 contrasts sowing to the flesh (corruption) vs. Spirit (eternal life) — the same enduring outcome Jesus promises here.
Luke 12:31 urges seeking God's kingdom first, which aligns with prioritizing eternal food over earthly food in John 6:27.
Mark 10:17 asks about inheriting eternal life, directly relating to the eternal food Jesus promises in John 6:27.
Matthew 19:16 directly asks about obtaining eternal life, which is the 'food that endures to eternal life' Jesus offers.
Proverbs 10:16 ties righteous labor to life — Jesus promises eternal life from working for the Son.
Proverbs 23:4 warns against exhausting labor for riches — Jesus similarly warns against working for perishable food.
Ecclesiastes 1:3 questions the gain of earthly labor — Jesus answers with eternal food.
In Numbers 11:8, Israel labors to gather manna — a perishable bread contrasting with the eternal food Jesus gives in John 6:27.
Proverbs 9:5 invites to wisdom's feast — Jesus offers eternal food. Both call for spiritual nourishment.
In Hebrews 12:16, Esau trades eternal birthright for a single meal — a typology of choosing perishable food over lasting inheritance.
Ecclesiastes 5:11-16 shows the futility of hoarding earthly wealth, echoing the perishable nature Jesus warns against.
1 Corinthians 6:13 says food and stomach are temporary—pointing to the same perishable vs eternal distinction Jesus makes.
Ecclesiastes 5:16 laments toiling for wind — Jesus redirects to imperishable food.
Matthew 5:6 promises satisfaction to those who hunger for righteousness, parallel to working for food that endures to eternal life.
Matthew 6:33 commands seeking God's kingdom first, echoing the priority of eternal food over earthly food in John 6:27.
Romans 6:23 contrasts death as sin's wage with eternal life as God's gift — the same eternal life Jesus offers in John 6:27.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 calls to live detached from a passing world—supporting Jesus' instruction to work for what endures.
Ecclesiastes 6:7 says earthly labor never satisfies the appetite—reinforcing Jesus' call to seek lasting satisfaction.
Galatians 5:6 expands 'work for food' into faith expressed through love — showing the active nature of saving faith.
In Jeremiah 15:16, the prophet 'eats' God's words, paralleling the metaphor of consuming spiritual food for sustenance.
Philippians 2:13 reveals God works in believers to will and act — complementing Jesus as the giver by showing God's ongoing enablement.
Colossians 1:29 shows Paul laboring with God's power working in him — mirroring the divine work behind human effort for eternal food.
Habakkuk 2:13 declares labor for worldly gain is fuel for fire—echoing the worthlessness of working for perishable food.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 describes 'work of faith and labor of love' — practical outworking of the enduring food Jesus promises.
Luke 14:15 pronounces blessing on those who eat at the kingdom feast, connecting to the enduring food Jesus gives for eternal life.