John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
The Spirit gives life
The Greek word for "Spirit" here is "πνεῦμα" (pneuma), which can mean breath, wind, or spirit. In the context of this verse, it refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is the source of spiritual life and regeneration. The Holy Spirit is essential for understanding and receiving the truths of God, as He illuminates the mind and heart. This phrase emphasizes the transformative power of the Spirit, contrasting the life-giving nature of the Spirit with the limitations of human effort.

the flesh profits nothing
The term "flesh" in Greek is "σάρξ" (sarx), often used in the New Testament to denote human nature in its fallen state, apart from divine influence. This phrase underscores the futility of relying on human strength or wisdom for spiritual matters. In a historical context, this would have been a radical statement, challenging the Jewish reliance on the law and physical lineage for righteousness. It serves as a reminder that true spiritual benefit and eternal life cannot be achieved through human means but only through the Spirit.

The words I have spoken to you
The Greek word for "words" is "ῥήματα" (rhemata), which refers to spoken words or sayings. Jesus emphasizes the authority and divine origin of His teachings. His words are not mere human instructions but carry the weight and power of divine revelation. In the scriptural context, Jesus' teachings are the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and the embodiment of God's will for humanity.

are spirit and they are life
The phrase "are spirit" indicates that Jesus' words are infused with the Holy Spirit's power, making them alive and active. The Greek word for "life" is "ζωή" (zoe), which refers to eternal life, the divine life that God imparts to believers. This life is not just an extension of physical existence but a new quality of life that begins now and continues into eternity. Jesus' words, therefore, are not just informative but transformative, offering a pathway to eternal life through faith and obedience.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples and followers, explaining the spiritual nature of His teachings.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, struggling to understand the spiritual implications of His words.

3. Capernaum
The location where Jesus delivered this discourse, following the feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water.

4. The Crowd
Many followers who were initially drawn to Jesus because of His miracles and teachings but struggled with His deeper spiritual messages.

5. The Spirit
Refers to the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the divine source of life and understanding beyond the physical realm.
Teaching Points
The Life-Giving Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the source of true life, transcending physical existence. Believers are called to seek life in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.

The Limitations of the Flesh
Human effort and understanding are insufficient for spiritual life. Dependence on the flesh leads to spiritual stagnation.

The Power of Jesus' Words
Jesus' teachings are not mere words but are imbued with spiritual life and power. Engaging with Scripture is essential for spiritual growth.

Spiritual Discernment
Understanding spiritual truths requires the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Believers should pray for discernment and wisdom.

Living by the Spirit
A life led by the Spirit results in spiritual vitality and fruitfulness. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a Spirit-led life through prayer, study, and obedience.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in giving life change your perspective on daily living?

2. In what ways can you identify areas in your life where you are relying on the flesh rather than the Spirit?

3. How can you incorporate the life-giving words of Jesus into your daily routine to enhance your spiritual growth?

4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you are living by the Spirit and not by the flesh, as described in Galatians 5:16-25?

5. How can you encourage others in your community to seek the life that the Spirit gives, especially those who may be struggling with understanding spiritual truths?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 2:7
Connects to the concept of life given by the Spirit, as God breathed life into Adam, illustrating the life-giving power of the Spirit.

Romans 8:11
Highlights the role of the Spirit in giving life, paralleling the life-giving power mentioned in John 6:63.

1 Corinthians 2:14
Discusses the inability of the natural man to understand spiritual things, similar to the "flesh profits nothing" in John 6:63.

Hebrews 4:12
Relates to the power of God's word, which is living and active, akin to Jesus' words being spirit and life.

Galatians 5:16-25
Contrasts living by the Spirit versus living by the flesh, echoing the themes of John 6:63.
The Flesh and the SpiritJ.R. Thomson John 6:63
A Certain TestW. H. Van Doren, D. D.John 6:60-65
Christianity a Vital ForceH. W. Beecher.John 6:60-65
Christ's Great IdeasH. M. Scudder, D. D.John 6:60-65
Hard SayingsW. H. Van Doren, D. D.John 6:60-65
Spirit and LifeBp. M. Simpson.John 6:60-65
The Defection of the DisciplesT. Whitelaw, D. D.John 6:60-65
The Honesty of JesusNewman Smyth, D. D.John 6:60-65
The Influence of the SpiritB. Beddome, M. A.John 6:60-65
The Necessity of the Holy SpiritC. H. Spurgeon.John 6:60-65
The Spirit a QuickenerJ. S. Kennard, D. D.John 6:60-65
The Spirit and LifeC. H. Spurgeon.John 6:60-65
People
Andrew, Jesus, Joseph, Judas, Peter, Philip, Simon
Places
Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Sea of Tiberias, Tiberias
Topics
Anything, Avail, Benefit, Confers, Counts, Flesh, Giver, Gives, Giveth, Giving, Nothing, Profit, Profiteth, Profits, Quickeneth, Quickens, Reviveth, Sayings, Speak, Spirit, Spoken, Value, Whatever
Dictionary of Bible Themes
John 6:63

     2012   Christ, authority
     2221   Christ, Son of Man
     2363   Christ, preaching and teaching
     2428   gospel, descriptions
     3045   Holy Spirit, sovereignty
     3224   Holy Spirit, and preaching
     3230   Holy Spirit, and regeneration
     3236   Holy Spirit, and Scripture
     3290   Holy Spirit, life-giver
     6166   flesh, sinful nature
     6645   eternal life, nature of
     6670   grace, and Holy Spirit
     6728   regeneration

John 6:53-66

     6206   offence

John 6:60-66

     5919   popularity

John 6:63-65

     8025   faith, origins of

John 6:63-68

     5627   word

Library
May 9 Evening
It is I; be not afraid.--JOHN 6:20. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.--I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Woe is me! for I am undone; . . . mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 22 Morning
Your work of faith.--I THES. 1:3. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.--Faith worketh by love.--He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.--We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.--Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

August 8 Evening
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.--ROM. 10:13. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.--Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.--What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. If ye . . . being
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 21 Morning
Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.--JOHN 6:37. It shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.--I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God.--I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 29 Morning
His commandments are not grievous.--I JOHN 5:3. This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.--Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.--If ye love me, keep my commandments.--He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 14 Evening
The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.--JOHN 6:63. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.--The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Christ . . . loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

October 23 Evening
It is the spirit that quickeneth.--JOHN 6:63. The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.--That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.--Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 17 Morning
Quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.--PSA. 80:18. It is the Spirit that quickeneth.--The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.--Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

October 29 Evening
David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.--I SAM. 30:6. Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.--I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

October 14 Evening
Give us this day our daily bread.--MATT. 6:11. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.--His bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.--The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.--Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 8. "He that Eateth Me, Even He Shall Live by Me" (John vi. 57).
"He that eateth Me, even He shall live by Me" (John vi. 57). What the children of God need is not merely a lot of teaching, but the Living Bread. The best wheat is not good food. It needs to be ground and baked before it can be digested and assimilated so as to nourish the system. The purest and the highest truth cannot sanctify or satisfy a living soul. He breathes the New Testament message from His mouth with a kiss of love and a breath of quickening power. It is as we abide in Him, lying upon
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

June 22. "This is that Bread which came Down from Heaven" (John vi. 58).
"This is that bread which came down from heaven" (John vi. 58). We had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead; who delivereth us from so great a death, who doth deliver; in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us. This was the supernatural secret of Paul's life; he drew continually in his body from the strength of Christ, his Risen Head. The body which rose from Joseph's tomb was to him a physical reality and the inexhaustible
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Fourth Miracle in John's Gospel
And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.'--JOHN vi. 11. This narrative of the miraculous feeding of the five thousand is introduced into John's Gospel with singular abruptness. We read in the first verse of the chapter: 'After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee,' i.e. from the western to the eastern side. But the Evangelist does not tell
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'Fragments' or 'Broken Pieces'
'When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.'--JOHN vi. 12. The Revised Version correctly makes a very slight, but a very significant change in the words of this verse. Instead of 'fragments' it reads 'broken pieces.' The change seems very small, but the effect of it is considerable. It helps our picture of the scene by correcting a very common misapprehension as to what it was which the Apostles are bid to gather up. The general notion,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Fifth Miracle in John's Gospel
'So when they had rowed about five-and-twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20. But He said unto them, It is I; be not afraid.'--JOHN vi. 19,20. There are none of our Lord's parables recorded in this Gospel, but all the miracles which it narrates are parables. Moral and religious truth is communicated by the outward event, as in the parable it is communicated by the story. The mere visible fact becomes more than semi-transparent.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

How to Work the Work of God
'Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye, believe on Him whom He hath sent.'--JOHN vi. 28, 29. The feeding of the five thousand was the most 'popular' of Christ's miracles. The Evangelist tells us, with something between a smile and a sigh, that 'when the people saw it, they said, This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world,' and they were so delighted with Him and with
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Manna
'I am that bread of life. 49. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.'--JOHN vi. 48-50. 'This is of a truth that Prophet,' said the Jews, when Christ had fed the five thousand on the five barley loaves and the two small fishes. That was the kind of Teacher for them; they were quite unaffected by the wisdom of His words and the beauty of His deeds, but a miracle that found food precisely
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Redemption (Continued)
"He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath life eternal."--JOHN VI. 54. We were made for holiness, union with God, eternal life. These are but different expressions for one and the same thing. For holiness is the realisation of our manhood, of that Divine Image which is the true self, expressing itself and acting, as it does in us, through the highest of animal forms. That perfect self-realisation is not merely dependent upon, but is union with God, at its beginning, throughout its
J. H. Beibitz—Gloria Crucis

The Study of the Bible Recommended; and a Method of Studying it Described.
Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal Life. IT was probably in that synagogue which the faithful Centurion built at Capernaum [243] that our Saviour had been discoursing. At the end of his discourse, it is related that "many of His Disciples went back, and walked no more with Him." Thereupon, He asked the Twelve, "Will ye also go away?" the very form of His inquiry (Me kai humeis) implying the answer which the Divine Speaker expected and desired. And to this challenge of Love
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

The Attractive Power of God
THE ATTRACTIVE POWER OF GOD St John vi. 44.--"No one can come unto Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him." Our Lord Jesus Christ hath in the Gospel spoken with His own blessed lips these words, which signify, "No man can come to Me unless My Father draw him." In another place He says, "I am in the Father and the Father in Me." Therefore whoever cometh to the Son cometh to the Father. Further, He saith, "I and the Father are One. Therefore whomsoever the Father draweth, the Son draweth
Johannes Eckhart—Meister Eckhart's Sermons

The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful
Luke 10:42 -- "But one thing is needful." It was the amiable character of our blessed Redeemer, that "he went about doing good," this great motive, which animated all his actions, brought him to the house of his friend Lazarus, at Bethany, and directed his behavior there. Though it was a season of recess from public labor, our Lord brought the sentiments and the pious cares of a preacher of righteousness into the parlor of a friend; and there his doctrine dropped as the rain, and distilled as the
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

On the Words of the Gospel, John vi. 53, "Except Ye Eat the Flesh," Etc. , and on the Words of the Apostles. And the Psalms. Against
Delivered at the Table of the Martyr St. Cyprian, the 9th of the Calends of October,--23 Sept., on the Lord's day. 1. We have heard the True Master, the Divine Redeemer, the human Saviour, commending to us our Ransom, His Blood. For He spake to us of His Body and Blood; He called His Body Meat, His Blood Drink. The faithful recognise the Sacrament of the faithful. But the hearers what else do they but hear? When therefore commending such Meat and such Drink He said, "Except ye shall eat My Flesh
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, John vi. 55,"For My Flesh is Meat Indeed, and My Blood is Drink Indeed. He that Eateth My Flesh," Etc.
1. As we heard when the Holy Gospel was being read, the Lord Jesus Christ exhorted us by the promise of eternal life to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood. Ye that heard these words, have not all as yet understood them. For those of you who have been baptized and the faithful do know what He meant. But those among you who are yet called Catechumens, or Hearers, could be hearers, when it was being read, could they be understanders too? Accordingly our discourse is directed to both. Let them who already
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

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