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Book of John - Chapter 6 - Verse 32

6:32
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

Meaning

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people who were following him after he had miraculously fed them with five loaves of bread and two fish. He tells them that it was not Moses who provided the bread from heaven in the wilderness, but rather it was God, his Father, who gave them the true bread from heaven. Jesus is using this analogy to teach the people that he himself is the true bread from heaven, the source of eternal life. Through this statement, Jesus is highlighting the difference between physical sustenance, like the manna in the wilderness, and spiritual nourishment, which comes from a relationship with God through him. By emphasizing that God is the one who provides the true bread from heaven, Jesus is pointing to himself as the ultimate source of fulfillment and sustenance for the soul. This verse serves as a reminder to the audience of the importance of seeking spiritual nourishment from God rather than earthly sources.

Theological Overview

In this verse from the Gospel of John, Jesus is addressing a crowd who had witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with bread and fish. The people were marveling at this sign and referred to the bread as the bread that Moses had given them in the wilderness. However, Jesus corrects them by stating that it was not Moses who provided the bread from heaven, but rather it was His Father who gives the true bread from heaven. This statement by Jesus is rich in theological significance. It reveals Jesus as the true bread from heaven, a theme that is further developed later in the Gospel when Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). The comparison between the manna provided by Moses in the wilderness and the true bread from heaven provided by God through Jesus emphasizes the superior and eternal sustenance that comes through belief in Jesus Christ.

American Standard Version

Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.
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