many of His disciples
The term "disciples" here, from the Greek "μαθητής" (mathētēs), refers to more than just the Twelve Apostles. It includes a broader group of followers who were learning from Jesus. Historically, a disciple was a student or learner, someone who adhered to a teacher's instruction. The use of "many" suggests that this teaching was a turning point, causing a significant number of followers to question their commitment.

said
The Greek word "λέγω" (legō) is used here, which means to speak or say. This indicates a verbal expression of doubt or confusion. In the cultural context, speaking out was a way to express communal concerns or seek clarification. The disciples' verbal response highlights their struggle to reconcile Jesus' teachings with their existing beliefs.

This is a difficult teaching
The word "difficult" is translated from the Greek "σκληρός" (sklēros), meaning hard, harsh, or stern. This suggests that the teaching was not just intellectually challenging but also hard to accept emotionally and spiritually. The "teaching" refers to Jesus' discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which was a radical departure from Jewish dietary laws and expectations of the Messiah. This phrase captures the tension between Jesus' revolutionary message and the traditional beliefs of His followers.

Who can accept it?
The Greek word for "accept" is "ἀκούω" (akouo), which in this context means to embrace or follow. This rhetorical question underscores the disciples' struggle with faith and understanding. It reflects a broader theme in the Gospel of John: the challenge of true belief and the cost of discipleship. Historically, this question echoes the broader Jewish expectation of the Messiah and the difficulty of accepting a suffering servant rather than a conquering king.

This is an hard saying; who can hear it?--i.e., not hard to be understood, but hard to hear, a stumbling-block in the way of their faith. For the word itself, comp. Matthew 25:24. His meaning was, indeed, not read by them, but the literal meaning was painfully clear, and one to which they will not listen. (Comp. John 10:20.) They do not raise any formal objection to Him, but friends and companions who had talked together of the Teacher and His teaching before, talk again now, and many of them who have followed Him up to this point can follow Him no more.

(4) The twofold effect of these instructions. Verses 60-66.-

(a) The unbelief of some, which led him to predict the ascension of his humanity to where HE was before. Verse 60. - Many therefore of his disciples. This word is used in a wider sense than of the twelve. The synoptists tell us of much labour already done in this neighbourhood, and a considerable harvest of souls reaped, so far as a general acknowledgement of his claims and an expectation that he was the Messiah was involved: When they heard it (i.e. the entire instruction given in open synagogue), said, This is a hard saying (λόγος cannot or need not be confined to any one of these ῤήματα, but may easily embrace them all). The discourse was σχληρός, harsh, the opposite of μαλακός, a word used by the unprofitable servant of his master (Matthew 25:24). It does not mean "hard to be understood," but difficult to accept or be content with. Luthardt here reiterates his conviction that there is no reference in it to the death of Christ, and that the disciples were simply unwilling to accept the idea of his supreme claims and his constant return to the. eating and drinking of his flesh and blood and identification of this eternal life with participation in his corporality. But surely Meyer and Wcstcott, etc., are far nearer to the truth in referring the expression to their unwillingness to accept the bloody death of their Messiah, or to entrust themselves to a Divine Personality whose most distinctive act would be his sacrifice. This was the gross and terrible offence which made the cross a stumbling block to the Jew (see John 12:34; 1 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 5:11; Matthew 16:2l, etc.). Who is able to listen to him? This seems not only to be the possible, but most probable, translation of the genitive with ἀκούω. It was the language, not of "the Jews," but of "the disciples."

Parallel Commentaries ...