In this tough saying regarding Jesus' teaching on His being the bread of life from heaven, Jesus clearly touches on the inability of men to come to Him apart from divine intervention and on the necessity to take part in Christ.

The life of God's people is marked by a history of God's work on their behalf. They are called to obey God's commands because of His history with them; a history of training, discipline and provision as a Father to a son.

There is no denying that believers are a gift from the Father to the Son and that left to our own will, none of us will believe in Jesus. The good news is that the Father sent the Son to save some - of whom He will not reject - and will give those eternal life!

Moses is inspired to give the people a look at the ideal Promised Land: filled with blessings while the people joyfully trust in and follow the LORD.

The crowd's understanding of religion as performance-based, proof-based, or prosperity-based is addressed by Jesus in this teaching as He claims to be the "Bread of Life."

This text is bookended by the demand to keep the commandment(s). The point is that Israel (as are we) is to do so because of what the LORD has done for us and how much He has loved us. As His personal property, we gladly obey the law because He has chosen and loved us.

When Jesus fed the 5000, the crowd was there because they were attracted to Jesus' signs. The disciples failed the test of faith as they failed to understand what Jesus was capable of doing. And even after this fabulous miracle, the people misinterpreted the offices of prophet and king that this miracle revealed. Are you, too, attracted to the signs or to the Sign Maker? Jesus (not the signs) is the object of our faith!

In the midst of enemies seeking His life in their accusations of blasphemy, Jesus brings the evidence of His identity including men, works, the Father and Scripture. He has the testimony to show that He was sent by the Father and is the Christ, the Son of God.

You would think that receiving tremendous blessings from the LORD would make a people grateful and faithful but the heart of men is deceitful. Moses warns the people of the promise not to forget the LORD of the covenant.