What does the phrase "this is an hard saying; who can hear it?" mean?

When the disciples say, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” they are reacting to Jesus’ teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. “Hard” here does not just mean difficult to obey, but hard to accept or even to believe. They are stumbling over His words because they are thinking in a very literal, earthly way. Instead of asking for understanding, they murmur and pull back from Him. Their reaction shows hearts that resist what God is saying when it does not fit their expectations or comfort.

Why did Jesus ask, "Doth this offend you?"

Jesus asks, “Doth this offend you?” because He knows His disciples are troubled and complaining inside about what He has said. By asking this, He brings their hidden offense into the open. He is not changing His message to make it easier, but pushing them to see that the problem lies in their own hearts, not in His words. He then points them to an even greater truth, His coming ascension, which would show clearly who He is and help explain that His teaching must be understood spiritually, not in a merely fleshly way.

What does Jesus mean by "the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing"?

When Jesus says, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing,” He is teaching that real life and real understanding come from the Holy Spirit, not from human effort or a merely physical view of His words. “Flesh” here points to trying to grasp His teaching in a crude, literal, earthly way, as if He were speaking about actual eating in a natural sense. That approach brings no benefit. His words are to be received by faith, through the Spirit’s work, and that is why they give life to those who truly believe.

How are Jesus’ words "spirit" and "life" in this passage?

Jesus says, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life,” to show that His teaching carries spiritual power. His words are not empty or just ideas; they come from the Spirit and bring eternal life to those who receive them in faith. They point to who He is, the Son who came from heaven, and to His saving work. When a person hears these words with a humble heart, the Spirit uses them to give new life, to draw that person to Christ, and to sustain them in ongoing faith and obedience.

Why does Jesus say some of His disciples do not believe?

Jesus says, “There are some of you that believe not,” because outwardly many are following Him, but inwardly they do not trust Him. He knows from the beginning who truly believes and who does not, even who will betray Him later. This shows that being called a disciple, listening to sermons, or being around God’s people is not the same as having a heart that rests in Christ. True discipleship is more than outward habit; it is real faith given by God, which keeps holding to Jesus even when His teaching is hard to accept.

What does it mean that no one can come to Jesus unless it is given by the Father?

When Jesus says, “No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father,” He is showing that faith is not produced by human will alone. To “come” to Jesus is to believe in Him and entrust yourself to Him. This coming happens only when the Father gives it, drawing a person by His grace and the work of the Spirit. This humbles our pride, because we see we cannot save ourselves, and it also comforts believers, because their faith rests on God’s gift, not on their own strength or feelings.

Why did many of Jesus’ disciples go back and walk no more with Him?

Many disciples went back and walked no more with Jesus because His teaching exposed their hearts. They liked His miracles and presence, but when He spoke about eating His flesh, drinking His blood, and the need for the Spirit and the Father’s gift, they were offended. They were not willing to accept what did not fit their natural thinking. Instead of asking for help to understand, they turned away. Their leaving shows that they were never truly committed in faith, and it warns us not to follow Jesus only when it feels easy.

What was happening in the synagogue at Capernaum when Jesus spoke these words?

In the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus had just finished teaching that He is the bread from heaven and that people must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have life. This was a public setting where many Jews gathered for worship and teaching. His words confronted their ideas about who the Messiah should be and how God gives life. The crowd, including many who were called His disciples, heard this and began to argue and complain. In that very religious place, a dividing line appeared between those who believed and those who turned away.

How does this passage help us think about true and false disciples today?

This passage shows that not everyone who seems to follow Jesus is a true disciple. Many walked with Him for a time, listened to His teaching, and were called disciples, yet turned back when His words were hard. True disciples keep holding to Him because the Father has drawn them and the Spirit gives life through His words. For us today, this calls for honest self-examination. Do we only like the parts of Jesus’ teaching that are easy, or do we trust Him even when we struggle, asking for understanding instead of walking away?

John.6.59

John 6:59

KJV

These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Turn Back

Words to the Disciples

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Peter’s Confession of Faith

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.