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Selected Verse: John 6:60 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Joh 6:60 |
King James |
Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Many . . . of his disciples--His pretty constant followers, though an outer circle of them.
hard saying--not merely harsh, but insufferable, as the word often means in the Old Testament.
who can hear--submit to listen to it. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
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 Mat 17:16; Mar 2:18; Joh 9:28; Mat 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, λόγος 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 Joh 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. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Hard (σκληρός)
See on Mat 25:24; see on Jde 1:14. According to the Greek order, hard is this saying.
Hear it (αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν)
Αὐτοῦ may be rendered Him, but this is not probable. Hear means a docile hearing, with a view to receiving what is heard. Compare Joh 10:3, Joh 10:16, Joh 10:27; Joh 12:47; Joh 18:37. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
This is a hard saying - Hard to the children of the world, but sweet to the children of God. Scarce ever did our Lord speak more sublimely, even to the apostles in private. Who can hear - Endure it? |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Many therefore of his disciples - So it appears that he had many more than the twelve, who constantly accompanied him.
This is a hard saying; who can hear it? - Who can digest such doctrine as this? It is intolerable: it is impracticable. There is a similar saving in Euripides, to the σκληρος λογος of the evangelist. Ποτερα θελεις σοι μαλθακα ψευδη λεγω, η σκληρ' αληθη, φραζε; Tell me whether thou wouldst that I should speak unto thee, a Soft Lie, or the Harsh Truth? The wicked word of a lying world is in general better received than the holy word of the God of truth! |
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: