John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

No man {G3762} can {G1410} come {G2064} to {G4314} me {G3165}, except {G3362} the Father {G3962} which {G3588} hath sent {G3992} me {G3165} draw {G1670} him {G846}: and {G2532} I {G1473} will raise {G450} him {G846} up {G450} at the last {G2078} day {G2250}.

No one can come to me unless the Father — the One who sent me — draws him. And I will raise him up on the Last Day.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.

John 6:44 is a profound statement by Jesus, revealing the divine initiative in salvation. It emphasizes that coming to Christ is not solely a human endeavor but requires the Father's active drawing, culminating in the promise of resurrection.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extensive discourse on the Bread of Life in John chapter 6, delivered in Capernaum after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. The crowd, seeking more physical bread, struggled to grasp the spiritual nourishment Jesus offered. Jesus confronts their natural inability to understand or accept Him without divine intervention, explaining the necessity of God's work in the heart for true faith.

Key Themes

  • Divine Initiative in Salvation: The phrase "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" highlights God's sovereign role in salvation. It teaches that spiritual understanding and genuine faith are not merely products of human will or intellectual assent, but are initiated by a divine call and enablement. This drawing is not coercive but persuasive, a work of grace that opens hearts to respond to Christ.
  • Human Inability: The opening "No man can come to me" underscores humanity's spiritual incapacity. Without the Father's drawing, individuals remain alienated from God and unable to approach Christ in saving faith. This emphasizes the fallen nature of humanity and the absolute necessity of God's grace.
  • The Promise of Resurrection: The assurance "and I will raise him up at the last day" connects the Father's drawing to the ultimate hope of believers. Those drawn by the Father and who come to Jesus are promised eternal life and a bodily resurrection, a central tenet of Christian eschatology. This links the divine work in salvation to the final glorification of believers. See John 5:29 for more on the general resurrection.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "draw" is helkyo (ἑλκύω). This word implies a powerful, compelling, yet not necessarily violent, force. It's used elsewhere in the New Testament for drawing a net (John 21:6, 11), drawing a sword (John 18:10), or even dragging someone (Acts 16:19). In this context, it speaks to the Father's effective and irresistible grace that draws individuals to Christ, overcoming their spiritual resistance without negating their will. It signifies a profound spiritual attraction and enablement.

Practical Application

John 6:44 offers profound comfort and humility for believers. For those who have come to Christ, it assures them that their faith is not accidental but a result of God's gracious work, fostering gratitude and dependence on Him. It reminds us that salvation is fundamentally a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). For those seeking God, it encourages prayer for the Father's drawing and reliance on His divine initiative. It also provides perspective for evangelism, reminding us that while we share the Gospel, it is God who ultimately opens hearts and draws people to Himself, aligning with Jesus' teaching that no one can come unless it is granted by the Father.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 6:65

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

  • John 6:39

    And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

  • John 6:40

    And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

  • Matthew 11:25

    ¶ At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

  • Matthew 11:27

    All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

  • Ephesians 2:4

    ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

  • Ephesians 2:10

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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