John 6:60

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

Many {G4183} therefore {G3767} of {G1537} his {G846} disciples {G3101}, when they had heard {G191} this, said {G2036}, This {G3778} is {G2076} an hard {G4642} saying {G3056}; who {G5101} can {G1410} hear {G191} it {G846}?

On hearing it, many of his talmidim said, “This is a hard word — who can bear to listen to it?”

On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”

Many therefore of his disciples, when they heardthis, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?

Commentary

Commentary on John 6:60 (KJV)

John 6:60 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, revealing the immediate and challenging impact of His profound teachings on His followers. The verse states, "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard [this], said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" It highlights the human struggle to comprehend and accept divine truth, especially when it contradicts conventional understanding or demands a deeper spiritual commitment.

Context of the "Hard Saying"

This verse follows Jesus' extensive discourse in Capernaum, where He declared Himself the "bread of life" and spoke metaphorically about the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:51-59). This teaching, intended to convey the profound spiritual union and reliance required to have eternal life through Him, was interpreted literally by many, leading to confusion and offense. They struggled to reconcile His words with their understanding of Jewish law and common sense, viewing them as cannibalistic or absurd.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Challenging Nature of Divine Truth: Jesus' teachings often demand a paradigm shift, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to a deep, spiritual understanding and personal transformation. Truth, especially spiritual truth, is not always easy or palatable to human reason.
  • Spiritual Discernment vs. Literal Interpretation: The disciples' reaction underscores the difference between approaching Jesus' words with a carnal, literal mindset versus a spiritual one. Jesus later clarifies in John 6:63 that "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." This emphasizes that His message requires faith and spiritual insight, not just intellectual processing.
  • The Cost of Discipleship: This verse highlights that following Jesus is not always comfortable or convenient. True discipleship involves accepting difficult truths and making radical commitments, even when His words are challenging or counter-cultural. It tests the authenticity of one's faith and dedication.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hard saying" translates the Greek skleros logos (σκληρὸς λόγος). The word skleros means "hard," "rough," "harsh," or "difficult to bear." It implies not just intellectual difficulty in understanding, but also a moral or spiritual difficulty in accepting and obeying. The word logos means "word," "speech," or "discourse." Thus, it was a message that was unyielding, offensive, and demanding, making it hard for many to "hear" in the sense of accepting or enduring.

Significance and Practical Application

John 6:60 serves as a powerful reminder that genuine faith often involves wrestling with truths that seem difficult or counter-intuitive. In our own walk with Christ, we may encounter passages or doctrines that challenge our comfort zones, our logic, or our preconceived notions. This verse encourages us to:

  • Seek Deeper Understanding: Rather than dismissing challenging scriptures, we are called to pray for spiritual discernment and a deeper understanding of God's Word, trusting that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).
  • Embrace Humility: Acknowledge that our human understanding is limited, and some truths require faith and revelation rather than pure intellectual grasp.
  • Evaluate Commitment: The reaction of these disciples foreshadows the outcome described in John 6:66, where many of His disciples turned back. This challenges us to consider the depth of our own commitment to Christ, even when His teachings are demanding or unpopular. True faith perseveres through the "hard sayings."
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 6:66 (7 votes)

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

  • John 8:31 (5 votes)

    ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;

  • John 8:43 (5 votes)

    Why do ye not understand my speech? [even] because ye cannot hear my word.

  • Matthew 11:6 (4 votes)

    And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me.

  • John 6:41 (3 votes)

    The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

  • John 6:42 (3 votes)

    And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

  • 2 Peter 3:16 (2 votes)

    As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.