John 6:60

John 6:60

58 ^aThis is the bread which came down from heaven—not ^bas your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Turn Away

60 ^aTherefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a¹ hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples¹ complained about this, He said to them, “Does this² offend you?

62 ^aWhat then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?

63 ^aIt is the Spirit who gives life; the ^bflesh profits nothing. The ^cwords that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

64 But ^athere are some of you who do not believe.” For ^bJesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.

65 And He said, “Therefore ^aI have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 ^aFrom that time many of His disciples went¹ back and walked with Him no more.

67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have ^athe words of eternal life.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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Many of his disciples - The word "disciple" means "learner." It was applied to the followers of Christ because they were taught by him. It does not imply, of necessity, that those to whom it was given were real Christians, but simply that they were under his teaching, and were professed learners in his school. See Matthew 17:16; Mark 2:18; John 9:28; Matthew 10:24. It is doubtless used in this sense here. It is, however, often applied to those who are real Christians.

This is an hard saying - The word "hard" here means "offensive, disagreeable" - that which they could not bear. Some have understood it to mean "difficult to be understood," but this meaning does not suit the connection. The doctrine which he delivered was opposed to their prejudices; it seemed to be absurd, and they therefore rejected it.

Saying - Rather doctrine or speech - Greek, ́ logos . It does not refer to any particular part of the discourse, but includes the whole.

Who can hear it? - That is, who can hear it patiently - who can stay and listen to such doctrine or believe it. The effect of this is stated in John 6:66. The doctrines which Jesus taught that were so offensive appear to have been:

1.That he was superior to Moses.

2.That God would save all that he had chosen and those only.

3.That he said he was the bread that came from heaven.

4.That it was necessary to partake of that; that it was necessary that an atonement should be made, and that they should be saved by that.

These doctrines have always been among the most offensive that men have been called on to believe, and many, rather than trust in them, have chosen to draw back to perdition.

**Other Barnes' Notes entries containing John 6:60:**

John 6:66
John 8:43
John 12:39

<< John 6:59

John 6:61 >>

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