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.

And {G2532} he said {G3004}, Therefore {G1223}{G5124} said I {G2046} unto you {G5213}, that {G3754} no man {G3762} can {G1410} come {G2064} unto {G4314} me {G3165}, except {G3362} it were {G5600} given {G1325} unto him {G846} of {G1537} my {G3450} Father {G3962}.

“This,” he said, “is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has made it possible for him.”

Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”

And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father.

Commentary

John 6:65 (KJV) is a profound statement by Jesus, clarifying the spiritual inability of humanity to come to Him without divine intervention. It underscores the sovereignty of God the Father in the process of salvation.

Context

This verse comes at a critical juncture in Jesus' "Bread of Life" discourse in John chapter 6. Following His miraculous feeding of the five thousand and walking on water, Jesus began to teach about Himself as the true spiritual nourishment. Many of His followers and disciples found His teaching difficult to accept, particularly His declaration that they must "eat his flesh, and drink his blood" (John 6:53). Their murmuring and internal questioning led Jesus to reiterate and explain a truth He had already spoken (see John 6:44), emphasizing that spiritual understanding and saving faith are not merely matters of human will or intellectual assent, but require a supernatural work of the Father.

Key Themes

  • Divine Initiative and Sovereignty: The verse powerfully highlights that salvation begins with God. It is the Father who must "give" or draw individuals to Jesus. This concept reinforces God's ultimate control and active involvement in bringing people into a relationship with His Son.
  • Human Inability: Jesus states unequivocally that "no man can come unto me," implying a fundamental spiritual incapacity in humanity apart from God's enabling grace. This isn't a physical inability but a spiritual one, rooted in sin and a natural resistance to divine truth.
  • Grace as a Gift: Coming to Christ is presented as a gift from the Father. It is not earned or achieved by human effort, but freely bestowed. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "can come" (Greek: dynatai elthein) expresses a genuine inability or lack of power. It's not that people won't, but that they literally *cannot* come in a saving way without divine enablement. The word "given" (Greek: dedomenon) is a perfect passive participle, which signifies an action completed in the past with continuing results. This implies a settled, divine act of bestowal by the Father, indicating a sovereign and effective drawing.

Practical Application

For believers, this verse offers profound assurance and humility. It reminds us that our faith and ability to come to Christ are not born of our own strength or wisdom, but are a direct result of the Father's gracious work. This should lead to humble gratitude and a deep reliance on God in all matters of faith. For those seeking to share the Gospel, it underscores the need for prayer, recognizing that while we preach and persuade, it is ultimately God who opens hearts and draws individuals to Himself. It also provides comfort, knowing that God is actively at work in the world, bringing His chosen ones to His Son.

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 6:44 (18 votes)

    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.

  • John 6:45 (18 votes)

    It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

  • John 6:37 (16 votes)

    All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

  • John 10:26 (13 votes)

    But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

  • John 10:27 (13 votes)

    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

  • John 3:27 (12 votes)

    John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

  • Ephesians 2:8 (11 votes)

    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: