Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”
Parallel translations
- WEB They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?”
- KJV Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
- NKJV Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
- NASB Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?”
- NLT They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The crowd asks what works they must do to do the works of God. Their question reveals a works-based mindset that Jesus will correct.
Overview
Hearing Jesus speak of laboring, the people assume there is a set of deeds to perform to earn God's favor. Their question is sincere but rooted in self-effort. Jesus's answer will redefine 'the work of God' as faith, pointing toward the gospel of grace received by believing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Acts 16:30Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- Luke 10:25One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Acts 9:6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
- Matt 19:16Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”
- Deut 5:27Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then you can tell us everything the LORD our God tells you; we will listen and obey.”
- Acts 2:37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- Mic 6:7–8Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
- Jer 42:3–6Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”
- Jer 42:20For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 6:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.