John 6:64, commentary and pictures

Jesus knew from the beginning which of his followers did not truly believe and who would betray him, because he read every heart. He said this in the synagogue at Capernaum as part of his teaching that eating his flesh and drinking his blood gives eternal life, resurrection at the last day, and mutual indwelling with him. To believe on him whom God sent is to feed upon the divine Word, taking its truths into the soul and obeying them in daily practice rather than living by human suppositions. Many did not believe because with carnal minds and worldly hopes they followed for temporal favors, earthly rewards, and freedom from the Romans, wanting him made king by force rather than receiving spiritual truth. His plain words tested the quality of faith and exposed unbelief, so that many disciples went back and walked no more with him while the twelve stayed, yet his foreknowledge did not lessen his mercy toward the betrayer whom he still pled with, kept close, and sought to cleanse.

Words and Historical Setting

The saying was spoken in the synagogue at Capernaum after the feeding of the multitude with loaves and fishes and after the walking on the water, as part of the teaching that He is the Bread of life. That teaching declared that eating His flesh and drinking His blood gives eternal life and resurrection at the last day, with mutual indwelling in which the believer dwells in Him and He in the believer and lives by Him as He lives by the Father. To eat and drink in this sense is to feed upon the divine Word of God, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow, and all who are truly converted draw spiritual vitality from Him as the branch draws nourishment from the vine. The declaration that some did not believe and that He knew from the beginning who believed not and who would betray Him exposed the unbelief behind the complaint that this is a hard saying and who can hear it, the murmuring, and the offense taken at His words about the Spirit quickening and about ascending where He was before. Because their limited comprehension lacked spiritual perception to discern His words, many disciples went back after this word about unbelief and that no man can come unless it is given by the Father, and walked no more with Him, while the twelve stayed confessing He has the words of eternal life.

He made no distinct claim to Messiahship and took no position of royal dignity, appearing as a man among men and refusing to be made king after feeding the five thousand, so that swayed by the prejudice leavening the nation His popularity began to wane. He then devoted Himself more earnestly to instructing the twelve and to laying out in clear, decided lines the truths concerning Himself, clearly defining His kingdom as spiritual and discouraging the idea of a temporal reign and the hope that the Jews as a nation would receive Him and be freed from Roman rule. The verse marks the coming separation of those drawn by hopes of an earthly kingdom from those who would follow for spiritual reasons. The worldly-minded among the people and even among those who professed to be His disciples, who followed for temporal favors and hoped-for earthly benefits rather than faith, turned from Him, for coming to Him in faith required the Father's gift with hearts open to God's Spirit, willing to have errors reproved, turn from evil, and live holy lives.

The sixth chapter sets out the conditions of eternal life, and thoroughly understanding it and living by it is connected with a life that measures with the life of God. It contains the mystery of godliness, to be studied and made a part of life with its teachings brought into daily experience, giving the knowledge that enables distinguishing the true from the false in days of peril. It defines the righteousness of Christ, and accepting that righteousness is having on the wedding garment and reaching the standard of character required to be counted a fit guest at the wedding and to enter the marriage of humanity with divinity. Without that acceptance there is only continuing in sin, measuring character by human ideas, and presuming on eternal interests, leaving the soul lost.

Christ's Foreknowledge and Mercy

Jesus knew from the beginning which of his followers and disciples did not believe and who would betray him, reading every heart. His plain words tested those claiming to be disciples, exposing unbelief and bringing the crisis in which many turned back and walked no more with him, so that later apostasy would not take true followers by surprise. He spoke this in the synagogue at Capernaum after teaching that eating his flesh and drinking his blood gives eternal life and mutual indwelling, which means feeding upon the divine Word, and after disciples murmured that it was a hard saying and asked who could hear it. Those who believe not live on doctrines, customs, maxims repeated by rabbis and on useless forms, multitudinous exactions, and man-made ordinances of the Pharisees, exalting them instead of Christ, not receiving his words as spirit and life nor as hungry men eat food, not bringing truth into practical life, so their souls are not strengthened, revived, and conformed to his character and they have no root. Their limited comprehension and lack of spiritual perception could not discern his words, and many today have no greater depth of faith; spiritual things are not received by the natural mind but discerned through faith, while living, growing faith sees and values his holiness and produces decisive action, and those with genuine faith, like Peter and the eleven save Judas, become more fully established.

The betrayer was Judas, one of the twelve, who would betray Jesus. Jesus read Judas's heart and knew that Judas was training himself to become a traitor and did not believe.

His foreknowledge did not prevent patience toward those who would treat him wrongly and did not lessen his mercy. He continued to plead with Judas and give him love, keeping him close among his chosen disciples and laboring to counteract his harmful influence so that no possible saving influence was lacking. He patiently offered him every opportunity to receive him, repent, and be cleansed from sin, even washing his feet and allowing him to share in the sacrament. His example teaches not to carelessly withdraw from people who are erring, because separation can leave them exposed to temptation or drive them toward evil, and while his faulty disciples were washed, all but Judas were brought to repentance.

The same knowledge that reaches every heart assures believers that he knows who will trust and rely on him and be encouraged by his promises. He knows those striving for the immortal crown. Those tempted to turn from truth and righteousness are therefore called to remember his knowledge and cultivate faith that works by love and purifies the soul, since neglecting such faith leads away from him.

Meaning of True Belief

To eat his flesh and drink his blood is to feed upon the divine Word of God, taking its truths into the soul and appropriating them as the living bread that came down from heaven. Those truths are to be made part of the life and obeyed in daily practice, so that men live by God's revealed word rather than by human suppositions, with God revealing what is necessary for salvation though not everything. True belief is proved by thus believing the Word, appropriating it, and taking it into practical life by obedience, and those who so receive and obey have eternal life. How much a person believes is revealed in conversation and character, and the lesson is the same as the union of the vine and its branches. This feeding means comprehending and appreciating the truth as it is in Jesus, as continual growth in grace sought by prayer, bringing truth into daily experience, and being taught daily in the school of Christ, and such receiving and obeying forms a Christlike character.

The work that God requires is to believe on him whom he sent, with belief coming first and then working the works of God. The way to heaven is by faith in Jesus, and students must be taught to believe in Christ and then they will work the works of God, with the Bible standing as the great educating Book. To eat Christ's flesh and drink his blood is to be a doer of the Word of God, taking the eyes off self to behold Jesus the perfect Pattern to learn God's will and striving for the same perfection of character seen in him. It is to look steadfastly to him with sincere self-examination, to cut away from life practice everything unlike Jesus, and to study the Word diligently. True belief means receiving his principles and doing them, refusing to make plans contrary to what he commands, loving God with all heart and soul and strength and mind and neighbor as self, and building character as a house on solid rock by being a doer of the Word in self-denying toil for perishing souls.

His words are spirit and life, and the Spirit gives life, so that eternal life comes through receiving Christ and bringing God's Word into the life. Except one eats the flesh of the Son of man and drinks his blood there is no life, but his flesh and blood give eternal life and mutual indwelling. All who are truly converted draw spiritual vitality from Christ as the branch draws nourishment from the vine, while those who believe not lack that vital union. To receive and obey his words, which are spirit and life, is promised eternal life, while rejecting truth leaves people vulnerable to Satan's deceptions, and faith in the Son of God and the efficacy of his blood is the means of deliverance from Satan's power.

The Word does not address the understanding alone as mathematics addresses the intellect, but aims at the heart, addresses the moral nature, takes possession of the will, casts down imaginations and every high thing exalted against the knowledge of God, and brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This requires submissive learning with the soul emptied of pride for Christ to imprint his image, for the Word of God is the bread of life representing the body and blood of the Son of God.

The living oracles given by Jesus Christ as the invisible Leader of Israel in the Old Testament Scriptures are full of marrow and fatness and nourishment, and no soul who takes those words and eats them will suffer spiritual hunger. They are the flesh and blood of the Son of God although he had not then been crucified among them, because his work as the substitute for all sin was the only hope of ancient Israel. After the plan of God was fulfilled in the death of Christ, the New Testament Scriptures were written by holy men as they were moved by the Spirit of God, not that the Old might be cast aside but that the light of the New Testament might be reflected back into past ages giving significance to the whole Jewish economy. The directions so plainly laid down in reference to practical holiness and practical obedience given to ancient Israel must enter the life of everyone who claims to be a Christian, as a different and more exalted experience for every worker in every phase of God's work, yet one whose value few know.

Roots of Unbelief

Many who followed did not truly believe, holding only an outward place among the disciples and outward enthusiasm without a living connection and vital union with him, for mere outward connection with him or with a church does not save, and only personal faith in a personal Saviour brings spiritual union. The Bread of Life teaching exposed the difference between such outward enthusiasm and genuine faith, showing that outward discipleship does not always mean genuine belief, and when plain searching truth tests them some turn away, just as those who do not live by God's word or build a sure foundation will fall away. Their limited comprehension, superficial faith, and carnal minds lacked spiritual perception and spiritual life, so they misunderstood his words, could not discern them, and would not unite with him in true faith to do God's will. What was plain to true faith became to them a stumbling block, for pure truth was strange and deep to senses corrupted by worldly ideas and maxims, and with only superficial understanding they could not comprehend it and showed disgust in looks and words, the same unbelief meeting truths of momentous importance in the last days. Unless men voluntarily appropriate the truth so that it becomes the very life of the soul as eating from the tree of life, they have no spiritual life, and many today have no greater depth of faith and spiritual perception, needing the Word brought into experience to secure healthy development of all spiritual powers and to give sanctified strength, wisdom, integrity, and moral power.

Their unbelief came from hearts closed to the Holy Spirit, for without the Spirit people cannot receive spiritual truth or discern his glory, while faith beholds that glory when the Holy Spirit kindles faith in the soul. Some were convicted but not converted, with the Holy Spirit working upon mind and heart so that understanding was convinced and conscience aroused, yet they were determined not to yield their will to God's will, framing excuses for not yielding, deceiving their own souls, not loving him and not accepting the terms of salvation. The worldly-minded turned away after the feeding of the five thousand and his refusal to be made king, for he made no distinct claim to Messiahship and took no royal dignity, appearing as a man among men, and the multitude easily swayed by national prejudice let his popularity wane while he devoted himself more earnestly to instructing the twelve and laying out in clear lines the truths concerning himself. When he presented himself as the bread of life and clearly defined his kingdom as spiritual, discouraging a temporal reign and the hope that the Jews as a nation would be freed from Roman rule, the worldly-minded among the people and even among professed disciples turned from him. Those who believed not were insincere and selfish, welcoming his miracle-working power to be freed from disease and suffering, seeking to take him by force to make him king, wanting earthly rewards and freedom from the Romans, seeking material benefits rather than evidence of his divinity, judging his synagogue discourse a confession that he was not the Messiah, and resisting the self-denial and separation from the world that following him required.

Those who believe not live on doctrines, customs, and maxims repeated by rabbis and on useless forms, multitudinous exactions, and man-made ordinances and commandments of the Pharisees, exalting them instead of Christ. They do not receive and eat his words as hungry men eat food, do not drink in the truth that he is the life of the world, and do not bring truth into practical life, so their souls are not strengthened, revived, and conformed to his life and character and they have no root in themselves. When offended they go back and walk no more with him and do not return, choosing the form without the spirit and the husks without the kernel, placing themselves in the army of the great deceiver, as people in every age turn from truth by failing to accept it and make it part of themselves, while those with genuine faith become more fully established. They failed to recognize the Father's love for fallen people drawing them to Christ, for spiritual things are not received by the natural mind but discerned through faith, whereas living, growing faith sees and values his holiness and produces decisive action showing God's power. Their unbelief long entertained grew into habit and became plain when the hard saying tested and exposed the difference between genuine and false disciples, revealing weakness of faith, so they rejected what they could not explain because they were not in vital connection with him, remained fruitless, influenced others toward darkness, became offended, turned away, and joined his enemies.

Testing and Turning Away

His plain teaching about his relation to his followers tested the quality of faith and exposed unbelief, bringing a crisis in which many turned back and stopped following him. That test revealed the difference between genuine and false disciples and separated those drawn by hopes of an earthly kingdom from those who would follow for spiritual reasons. Truth tested people and brought them to decide for or against him, revealing their real convictions and whether they were drawn to Christ. His words tested those claiming to be his disciples before he left, so that their later apostasy would not take his true followers by surprise. Their unbelief, long entertained and grown into habit, became plain when they were offended by his words, reflecting failure to recognize the Father's love for fallen people drawing them to Christ.

They called it a hard saying, murmured at it, and asked who could hear it, because their limited comprehension lacked spiritual perception to discern his words. Their unbelief showed itself in offense and criticism and disbelief, the same criticism and murmuring his servants still meet. They were offended at his words about the Spirit quickening and about ascending where he was before, and plain truth that was strange and deep to them became a stumbling block. They were displeased with his words and thought the way made too strait. They fell when test and trial came because they did not dig deep and make their foundation sure and were not riveted to the Eternal Rock, so they made shipwreck of faith.

Many disciples went back and walked no more with him and did not return, choosing the form without the spirit and the husks without the kernel. Those who called it a hard saying and murmured had listened to him as many listen to the Word today but had never been partakers with Christ and had not eaten the truth as bread from heaven. Those who believe not lack vital union with him, and after his word about unbelief and that no man can come unless given by the Father, many went back while the twelve stayed, confessing he has the words of eternal life. Those with genuine faith, like Peter and the eleven save Judas, became more fully established.

Some who left joined his enemies, and those who were not wholly with him would oppose him at his trial. Some were offended by his sayings and left him, and these exceptional cases became his bitterest persecutors. It was better for their unbelief to become clear before his crucifixion, rather than for them to tempt his disciples to dishonor him in that trial.

Their turning away after receiving the truth is an example of unbelief and apostasy, showing that outward discipleship does not always mean genuine belief and that those who do not live by God's word or build a sure foundation will fall away from Christ. Many rejected truth that exposed their faults and turned away rather than accept reproof and change. When Jesus, the greatest Teacher the world has ever known, spoke the truth, many of his disciples were offended and walked no more with him, and the same happens in the last days and to the close of earth's history when purifying, searching truth is spoken in reproof and warning irrespective of consequences. Those who leave have hearts not in harmony with the truth as it is in Jesus and cherish theories and ideas of their own that are not the truth, and rather than give up their own ideas and sentiments they leave. But truth will bear away the victory, and men who will receive the truth will take the places made vacant by those who became offended and left.

Feeding on the Word Today

The whole sixth chapter is spiritual food given to gain strength and comfort and to sustain hunger for God, and the warning that some do not believe presses the choice between serving God and turning away from him. Its statements are to be read and studied and prayed over for understanding, because spiritual weakness comes from not walking in great light. They are to be read with prayer to God for clearness of understanding, received in good and honest hearts and understood in plain sense under the Holy Spirit. Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God means comprehending and appreciating the truth as it is in Jesus, and this feeding is continual growth in grace sought by prayer, bringing truth into daily experience and being taught daily in the school of Christ. The chapter contains the mystery of godliness and is to be studied and made part of life, with its teachings brought into daily experience, giving the knowledge that enables distinguishing the true from the false in days of peril. Feeding upon his words is feeding upon his very flesh and blood, to be taught to children and youth and to men and women becoming workers together with God, calling youth to be educated about the law of Jehovah and its penalty and that God accepts the ransom made by the Saviour in their behalf when they are obedient.

Many who heard lacked depth of faith and spiritual perception because their limited comprehension could not discern his words, and many today have no greater depth, needing the Word brought into experience as the essence of education to secure healthy development of all spiritual powers and to give sanctified strength, wisdom, integrity, and moral power. The work God requires is to believe on him whom he sent, with belief first and then working the works of God, so that eating his flesh and drinking his blood means being doers of the Word, with the Bible standing as the great educating book. Students in schools must be taught first to believe in Christ and then they will work the works of God, for this answer must be understood or heaven will be missed.

Strength and power and guidance come from Christ alone and not from any human being, for every person is accountable to God and dependent on him by creation and by redemption. No one must depend on human beings or make man his trust, or he will be brought into bondage, and looking to human beings for wisdom instead of looking to Jesus Christ brings spiritual weakness. Men and women are spiritually built up from the food they give the mind, for the Bible contains the bread sent down from heaven, so those ministering in word and doctrine and God's people must not be dull of understanding nor spend time reading books and magazines that lead the mind astray and hinder spiritual growth, but feed the mind on this heavenly bread.

His knowledge that from the beginning he knew who did not believe and who would betray him also assures believers that he knows who will trust and rely on him and be encouraged by his promises. Those tempted to turn from truth and righteousness should remember that knowledge and cultivate faith that works by love and purifies the soul, for neglecting such faith leads away from him. When those who claim to believe receive him by faith, he is to them their sanctification, their righteousness, and their exceeding great reward, giving the light of life instead of darkness. Some who heard his teaching did not believe, and when they found his words hard they turned away, whereas had they believed he would have been the light of life to them.

Receiving and obeying his words, which are spirit and life, promises eternal life, while rejecting truth leaves people vulnerable to Satan's deceptions. Faith in the Son of God and the efficacy of his blood are the means of deliverance from Satan's power. Their turning away after receiving the truth is an example of unbelief and apostasy, showing that those addressed can claim to have great spiritual light while serving Satan.