Our theology is formed by our beliefs. What we believe about God, the nature of the relationship between God, creation and mankind, and what we believe about human nature itself all goes into shaping our theology. When our beliefs are flawed, our theology will be followed. When our beliefs are totally and completely false, our theology will be false. False theology, even for those who have no awareness that they possess a theology, will result in false, flawed and destructive choices. The theology of the Jews that Jesus is talking to may be very different from my or your theology. However, the same rules apply; the farther a theology is from spiritual truth, the farther the life will be from righteous living.

The crowd’s theology was flawed because it prioritized earthly needs over spiritual needs. Jesus told them that they did not need daily bread nearly as much as they needed the spiritual bread that He brought. Their theology told them that they could earn salvation, so they asked what they must do to have it. Jesus told them that there was nothing they could do, besides believe in Him whom God sent. They believed that because they were Israelites they were God’s chosen people, and therefore they were entitled to salvation. Because of that belief, they told Jesus to always give them the bread of life. Jesus reprimanded them by telling them that they could not receive what they did not believe. They saw Jesus and still they did not believe in Jesus.

All types of bad theology was keeping the Jews from believing in Jesus, but Jesus told them to stop grumbling and listen. Even the Old Testament prophets told them that a day would come that all would be taught by God. For them to believe in Jesus, they would have to allow the teachings of Jesus to renew their minds and transform their faith. Hearing, reading and thinking upon God’s word is the first step to belief. Belief leads to eternal life.