John 6:60

“Many therefore of his disciples, etc.] Not of the twelve, nor of the seventy, but of the multitude of the disciples, who followed him from place to place, attended on his ministry, and might be baptized in his name; (see <430401>John 4:1); when they had heard [this]; that his flesh and blood were truly and really meat and drink, and that none had life in them, or should have eternal life, but such as eat and drink the same: said, this is an hard saying; or it is to be objected to; so ayçq, “an hard thing”, the word here used in the Syriac version, and yl[ awh hçq, “it is to me a hard thing”, are phrases used to express an objection in the Talmudic writings, where they are often met with: or…”

“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.”

“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 Matthew 17:16; Mark 2:18; John 9:28; Matthew 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…”

“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? John 6:62”

“6:60-61 Jesus’ language (6:53-58) was shocking, offensive (see Gen 9:4-5), and hard to understand for his disciples, just as it was to the crowd. Were they to take him literally? How would they eat his flesh? Jesus’ answer is in John 6:63.”

“of his: Joh 6:66, Joh 8:31 This: Joh 6:41, Joh 6:42, Joh 8:43; Mat 11:6; Heb 5:11; Pe2 3:16 John 6:61”