My Food Is To Do The Will Of Him Who Sent Me.

That the reason why his work was his meat and drink was because it was his Father's work, his Father's will: My meat is to do the will of him that sent me. First, The salvation of sinners is the will of God, and the instruction of them in order thereunto is his work. See 1 Timothy 2:4. There is a chosen remnant whose salvation is in a particular manner his will. Secondly, Christ was sent into the world on this errand, to bring people to God, to know him and to be happy in him. Thirdly, He made this work his business and delight. When his body needed food, his mind was so taken up with this that he forgot both hunger and thirst, both meat and drink. Nothing could be more grateful to him than doing good; when he was invited to meat he went, that he might do good, for that was his meat always. Fourthly, He was not only ready upon all occasions to go to his work, but he was earnest and in care to go through it, and to finish his work in all the parts of it. He resolved never to quit it, nor lay it down, till he could say, It is finished. Many have zeal to carry them out at first, but not zeal to carry them on to the last; but our Lord Jesus was intent upon finishing his work. Our Master has herein left us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God as he did; With diligence and close application, as those that make a business of it. With delight and pleasure in it, as in our element. With constancy and perseverance; not only minding to do, but aiming to finish, our work.

Christ, having expressed his delight in his work, excites his disciples to diligence in their work; they were workers with him, and therefore should be workers like him, and make their work their meat, as he did. The work they had to do was to preach the gospel, and to set up the kingdom of the Messiah. - Matthew Henry