From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
After He fed the multitude and taught in the synagogue at Capernaum that He is the bread of life from heaven whose flesh must be eaten and whose blood must be drunk for eternal life, many of His disciples called it a hard saying, were offended, went back and walked no more with Him. To eat His flesh and drink His blood is not literal but spiritual, receiving His words into the life, believing on Him, and being united to Him as a branch to the vine until His truth shapes character and daily obedience. They turned away because they had no genuine faith and no root, understood carnally and took the figure literally, clung to forms and rabbinical doctrines instead of Christ, and followed for temporal benefit and earthly ambition until self-denial and a spiritual kingdom disappointed them. Their departure was a final test that separated chaff from wheat, grieved His love and mercy, and placed them on the side of outward religion and the great deceiver as bitter opposers, while the twelve except Judas were established and confessed Him as the Christ with words of eternal life. What happened then pictures all in every age who are offended by plain reproof and practical truth and walk away from those who obey it, and therefore calls for holding faith, dying to self, and making His words part of daily experience in order to distinguish true from false.
Setting in John's Gospel
The setting is the sixth chapter of John, where the same compassionate Saviour who did not overlook the physical needs of the hungry multitude fed about five thousand men besides women and children from five barley loaves and two small fishes by creative power and then commanded the fragments to be gathered that nothing be lost. After that miracle and after walking on the water, He taught in the synagogue at Capernaum that He is the bread of life and the true bread from heaven given by God through Christ alone, urging men to labor chiefly for the meat which endures unto everlasting life which the Son of man gives. In that discourse He taught that people must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life and have life in them, to be raised at the last day, to dwell in Him, and to live by Him as He lives by the Father. That eating and drinking was set forth under the similitude of heavenly bread, with evidence heaped upon evidence sufficient for any open mind, while the thoughtful who had witnessed the feeding took exalted views of His character and office.
He had refused the crowd's attempt to make Him king, made no distinct claim to Messiahship in the form they wanted, took no position of royal dignity, and appeared as a man among men. Many had followed for the temporal benefits of the loaves rather than recognizing the miracle's meaning, drawn by worldly rewards and hope of national freedom, earthly freedom, and ruling others. When He clearly defined a spiritual kingdom, discouraged the idea of a temporal reign, offered no earthly kingdom, and spoke spiritual, life-giving words requiring a self-sacrificing life, meekness, and the narrow path, their hopes were disappointed and the worldly-minded turned. Even His brothers turned from Him, unwilling to acknowledge from His works that He was sent by God, disappointed that He did not seek a temporal throne and rejecting the cross involved in recognizing Him.
Many disciples called this teaching a hard saying, murmured among themselves, were offended at His sayings, found the saying insufferable for lack of spiritual perception, and could not hear it. They heard only with ears while understanding was closed, and had they believed He would have been their light of life. Jesus already knew their unbelief from the beginning, including the unbelief of the one who would betray Him, and knew His words would lead some who had followed Him to turn away. No one can come to Him unless it is given by the Father, and those not worked by the Holy Spirit do not understand the meaning of His words.
From that time many went back and walked no more with Him, never returned from that offense, stopped publicly identifying with Him, and in leaving Him followed another leader. Some joined the Pharisees, watching His movements and actions in hopes of finding grounds to condemn Him to death, becoming bitter persecutors to wound Him and please the Pharisees. The twelve except Judas were by that last test more fully established, in contrast to half-hearted believers who first received truth enthusiastically. Peter confessed that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life and is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and on that steadfast confession of His divinity the church stands and will endure.
Meaning of Bread Language
To eat his flesh and drink his blood is not literal but spiritual and figurative, for his words are spirit and life and must be received into the life and taken in as hungry men eat food. Received and assimilated until they shape daily life, they are to be brought into practical life so the soul is strengthened, revived, and conformed to his life and character, forming a character like his and giving a life measured by the life of God. To continue with him rather than turn back is to hold to revealed precepts and make them part of daily life, studying his Word and obeying its precepts instead of departing from them. That receiving means living by what God has revealed and refusing to replace his Word with human suppositions, since God has revealed what is necessary for salvation.
It means continuing to believe on him with true earnest belief, accepting his atonement for eternal life, and drawing spiritual vitality from him by true conversion and vital union with him as a branch draws nourishment from the vine. It means living by him as he lives by the Father, being truly converted and born again, having tasted that the Lord is gracious as part of actual experience. The mind is to be opened to the entrance of God's word with determination to practice it, so that light comes and understanding is given to the simple, changing the frivolous life, transforming character, forsaking the common level, and mounting step by step heavenward with Christ revealed in spirit, words, and actions. True discipleship is therefore inward and personal, hearing his teaching not merely with the ear but accepting it, believing in him as Redeemer, receiving his words as spiritual life and nourishment, and practicing them in obedience.
It means as newborn babes desiring the sincere milk of the word and feeding upon the divine Word of God, which is the divine element the soul needs for healthful development of all its spiritual powers. That feeding secures sanctified strength, wisdom, integrity, and moral power when brought into experience, and makes the Word the real essence of education. The truths of God's Word are to be studied, taken into the mind, understood, and practiced, shaping the whole life and bringing continual growth in grace through daily teaching in the school of Christ. The whole chapter is very instructive yet only faintly understood, holding the most precious and important lessons for all being educated in schools, teaching what Jesus is to each person and what individual advantage comes from eating his words, since he himself is the great center of life whose words are spirit and life.
It means being doers of God's Word, reading and practicing its truths, taking it as stronghold and defense, and receiving its principles into daily life into connection with Christ who knew no sin. By that connection believers have his life in them and are united with him now and throughout eternity. Studying his Word and obeying its precepts forms a character like his, and true discipleship involves receiving his words and practicing them in obedience rather than merely hearing without accepting.
The living oracles are the flesh and blood of the Son of God even though he had not then been crucified, and his work as substitute for all sin was the only hope of ancient Israel. The directions given by Christ as the invisible Leader of Israel in the Old Testament Scriptures are full of marrow and nourishment, so no soul who takes those words and eats them will suffer spiritual hunger, yet not one in a hundred knows the value of eating the bread of life. After God's plan was fulfilled in Christ's death, holy men moved by the Spirit wrote the New Testament, not that the Old might be cast aside but that the light of the New might be reflected back into past ages giving significance to the whole Jewish economy. The plain directions for practical holiness and the terms and conditions of practical obedience given to ancient Israel must therefore enter the life of everyone who claims to be Christian.
The chapter thus sets out the conditions of eternal life and entrance into God's kingdom, teaching what must be understood and lived to obtain eternal life and a life measured by the life of God. God's work is to believe on him whom he sent, with believing first and working afterward, so that those taught to believe in Christ will then work the works of God. Its truth cherished in the heart works by love and purifies the soul, calling for thorough conversion, a new life, humility instead of self-esteem and boasting, and fruit-bearing as a good tree bears fruit. It defines the righteousness of Christ that must be accepted to have on the wedding garment and be counted a fit guest, showing the marriage of humanity with divinity and the standard of character each must reach, which requires taking a firm stand for Christ, surrendering to God what is already his own, and not continuing in sin.
Mere outward connection with any church will not save; salvation requires personal faith in a personal Saviour that brings the soul into spiritual union with Christ. God's Word as the bread of life represents the body and blood of the Son of God, addressing the heart and moral nature, taking possession of the will, and calling for thoughts to be brought into obedience to Christ.
Why Many Turned Away
They had no genuine faith and no root in themselves, for unbelief allowed to grow into habit was exposed when the teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood tested them and offended them. Hearing did not mean accepting, for although they had professed to follow Him they objected to His words, bore no fruit as branches not vitally connected to the living Vine, and spoke against Him when they rejected Him. Their departure followed unbelief which He already knew from the beginning, including the unbelief of the one who would betray Him, and it shows how those who have known the truth can turn and become agents of Satan while claiming great light and the Holy Spirit. Their limited comprehension and earthliness of mind could not discern spiritual things, for with carnal minds, selfish unbelieving minds, and gross understanding they took the figure literally, misconstrued it, and found the saying hard and insufferable. They heard only with ears while understanding was closed, murmured among themselves, and were offended because they lacked depth of faith and spiritual perception to grasp that His words were spirit and life-giving. Those not worked by the Holy Spirit do not understand the meaning of His words, and only those who serve Him from pure loving hearts and receive in faith the eternal life He gives can receive His Word. Many still forsake Him for the same lack, having no greater depth of spiritual perception than those disciples. They lived on the doctrines, customs, maxims, forms, exactions and man-made ordinances of the rabbis instead of receiving Christ as hungry men eat food, drinking in the truth that He is the life of the world and bringing it into practical life so the soul is strengthened, revived and conformed to His life and character. They chose the form without the spirit and the husks without the kernel, and with spiritual senses corrupted by worldly ideas and maxims they found pure deep unadulterated truth strange, unable to comprehend it with superficial understanding, and turned from it with disgust seen in looks and words. Truth must be voluntarily appropriated and made the very life of the soul, to the believing soul as eating from the tree of life, but without that appropriation there is no spiritual life. They had followed for the temporal benefits of the loaves and for earthly ambition rather than to do God's will, without recognizing the meaning of the miracle and without uniting with Him in true faith. When truth required unreserved consecration instead of fulfilling ambitions to rule others, they called His words hard sayings, rejected the call, and left rather than accept its demands. Following Him required becoming like Him — meek, lowly, self-denying and self-sacrificing — and walking the narrow path He walked, but with superficial faith and no spiritual life they were offended by gospel requirements, refused restraint, would not yield the will, and framed excuses. Had they believed He would have been their light of life, and had they received His word to do God's will they would have had understanding. Offended pride was central, for His plain words, public rebuke and close practical truth exposed unbelief, cherished sin, self-righteousness and defects of character, demanding change, humility, dying to self, leaving sin and living humbly. Displeased they left disdainfully, choosing outward religion without its spirit and darkness rather than light, because pride, self-righteousness and worldliness kept them from accepting rebuke and a humble life. They rejected truth and rebuke, willingly misunderstood Christ, preferred human praise to God's admonition, found the self-denial needed to reform too humiliating, wanted to wound Him and please the Pharisees, and chose darkness over light. The same response occurs when those professing faith reject truth because it exposes wrongdoing. Some first received truth enthusiastically but as half-hearted believers stopped publicly identifying with Him when the Word brought convictions needed to purify the soul, especially when pride was offended. They illustrate those who receive truth eagerly but abandon it when it requires self-denial, brings reproach, or exposes them to trial. Their leaving reveals a spirit convicted but not converted, determined not to yield the will to God's will, framing excuses for not yielding, deceiving its own soul, not loving Jesus and not accepting the terms of salvation, while Satan's hellish shadow wraps about such false disciples. They did not build faith on a deep sure foundation or dig deep to be fastened and riveted to the eternal Rock, and without depth of faith and spiritual perception they grew displeased when plain truth seemed too demanding and murmured that the way was made too strait. Those thought to be disciples may reject truth when presented and turn away, and when test and trial come traitors headstrong, proud, heady, highminded and self-sufficient wreck faith and make shipwreck of it. The same leaving is repeated when the words of the Lord brought through His chosen messengers are rejected. Other influences hastened the break, for Judas gave His words a mystical meaning that stripped them of true significance, promoted his own ideas, and turned people who had little of the evidence he had received against Christ. Some wanted a sign and sought something outside the Word to make them feel, rather than receiving His Word as spirit and life, though the living bread He spoke of is His Word which He has given. Some fed minds on worldly entertainments instead of receiving heavenly instruction until hunger for Him faded and they were led away from God. Some depended on human beings and made man their trust instead of looking to Jesus alone who owns each person by creation and redemption for strength, wisdom, power and guidance, which brings bondage and spiritual weakness, and mere admiration for a preacher or impressive message without receiving saving truth and being convicted by it left them not truly bound to Him. They clung to pet ideas, fanciful interpretations of Scripture, dangerous heresies and theories of their own rather than accept truth, and resisted testimony borne to correct errors because it conflicted with wishes or public opinion. They heard only with ears while understanding was closed, had no faith though evidence had been heaped upon evidence sufficient to convince any mind open to evidence, and offered plausible excuses rather than accept its claims of faith and self-denial. In self-will and pride of opinion they rejected light from heaven and went away displeased, unwilling to yield pride, subdue the carnal nature and become learners in the school of Christ. Sufficient evidence convinces all who honestly desire to know the truth, but God never removes all opportunity for doubt, so all who desire to question and cavil will find occasion and no amount of evidence will convince them while unwilling.
Result of Their Departure
Their going back was the outcome of a final test in the Capernaum synagogue over eating his flesh and drinking his blood, which is continuing to believe on him and accepting his atonement for eternal life, for his words are spirit and life. The hard saying came at the best time to force the unbelieving and murmuring to show themselves, exposing unbelief allowed to grow into habit and revealing that they had no genuine faith and no root in themselves. With carnal minds and gross understanding they took the figure literally, heard only with the ears while the understanding was closed, and, not vitally united to do God's will, found the demand to become meek, lowly, self-denying and self-sacrificing and to walk the narrow path insufferable. The separation illustrates the abiding mixture of wheat among tares and tares among wheat in every age, to be known by fruits, while the thoughtful and candid who had witnessed the feeding of the five thousand were led to take exalted views of his character and office. Those who rejected him also spoke against him, living on rabbinical doctrines, customs, maxims, forms, exactions and man-made ordinances instead of receiving his words as hungry men eat food and bringing them into practical life so the soul is strengthened, revived and conformed to his life and character.
The test was meant to save them from fatal deception, but by rejecting plain truth and rebuke they willingly misunderstood, preferred human praise to God's admonition, and slighted his compassion, love, mercy and offered salvation. In displeasure and self-righteousness they chose darkness rather than light because pride and unwillingness to accept a humble life kept them from accepting counsel. Their course grieved him profoundly because they turned from his kindness and mercy.
In leaving they took their side and never returned, choosing the form without the spirit and the husks without the kernel, and placing themselves in the army of the great deceiver by failing to accept truth and make it part of themselves. While claiming great light and the Holy Spirit, those who had known the truth and turned through unbelief could become agents of Satan, and some who left became his bitterest persecutors. Wanting to wound him and to please the Pharisees, they revealed that when he faced his trial they would stand against him and could tempt others to dishonor him. Jesus spoke truths that exposed true feeling and compelled decision for or against him, so the departure of those not wholly with him made their position manifest.
Their turning away before he left made their apostasy known in advance and helped protect his future work from being led in wrong paths. His earlier words later became a stay to the hearts of the followers who remained.
Those who remained could not go back to the religious teachers and leaders they had left, who were bound to formal rites, divided by contention, marked by ambition, and had scorned and persecuted Jesus and his followers. With Jesus they had found greater peace and joy and had recognized him as the long-awaited Messiah. They feared losing him as their anchor, lest without a Saviour they drift adrift amid unbelief and the wickedness of the world.
Warning for Later Believers
Their turning away pictures all in every age who turn from truth in the same way, placing themselves in the army of the great deceiver by failing to accept truth and make it part of themselves. What happened then has happened since and will continue to happen to the close of this earth's history, for the same turning away from Christ happens when test and trial comes to every soul. Just such turning away will come in the last days when truths of momentous importance are presented, and when great light shines as men choose sides at the end. Their departure was a separation of chaff from wheat, showing traitors, heady, highminded and self-sufficient men making shipwreck of faith because they did not dig deep and make their foundation sure and were not riveted to the eternal Rock.
When Christ, the greatest Teacher the world has ever known, spoke the truth, many became offended and walked no more with Him, and the same happens when reproof and warning truth must be spoken irrespective of consequences. Those whose hearts are not in harmony with the truth as it is in Jesus cherish theories of their own that are not the truth, and rather than give up their own ideas they murmur that the way is made too narrow and walk away from those who obey the truth. Truth will still bear away the victory, and others will receive the truth and take the places made vacant by those who became offended and leave. At the same time those supposed to be heathen and hardened sinners, and men with meager opportunities who walked in error for lack of better knowledge, receive beams of light with tenderness of heart like a child, choose the side of Christ, consecrate ability and means, declare the whole counsel of God, and come in as eleventh-hour laborers to occupy the empty places and take the crowns left behind.
The same departure is repeated when people reject the words of the Lord brought through His chosen human messengers, and even long-standing believers in the third angel's message may leave, so this response should not be surprising. It occurs when a special requirement calling for self-denial and self-sacrifice, such as tithing and missionary work, is presented and people become offended by the teaching and no longer walk with those who believe and love the truth. It is also applied to those who reject warnings from God's appointed servant and then work against truth, and to people who while still only partly converted on meat-eating may leave God's people. Such leaving happens because they were displeased with His requirements and would not bear the restraint His Word imposes, throwing off the yoke, refusing covenant relation, doing as they please, and making void the law of God.
Going away proves the seed of truth fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up and choked it, for the thorns are cares, riches, and pleasures that Satan uses to play the game of life for souls. It proves they were not truly converted but received the truth by halves, for if they had been truly convicted of sin and had let truth cleanse the soul-temple from defilement the thorns could not have germinated. The light of truth in them was not strengthened by practice and is soon quenched, leaving them in greater darkness than before, and the fault is not in the gospel. Unless briars are dug out of the heart and every briar and thistle uprooted as soon as it appears through diligent searching of the heart as with a lighted candle in the light of the law of God, men, women, and youth will sell their birthright for worldly advantage.
Taking offense at plain truth and leaving does not bring happiness but leaves one spiritually endangered, confused, unsatisfied in spiritual hunger, vulnerable to deception, and choosing darkness instead of light until swept away and destroyed. Those who constantly cherish unbelief become offended at the plain words of truth, and when swept away by temptation give up the faith and leave Christ and stop following Him, thereby destroying themselves. When God's people fail to remain distinct from the world in all things they become confused and may abandon Christ, seeking worldly good or relying on their own plans and wisdom instead of receiving Christ so that spiritual hunger remains unsatisfied.
The verse therefore calls followers to hold faith and obey truth even when doing so brings suffering or other consequences, receiving Christ's heavenly instruction rather than keeping a divided heart that cannot serve God. Eating His flesh and drinking His blood means studying His Word and obeying its precepts until they shape daily life, dying to self and practicing self-denial, and this study alone gives knowledge to distinguish true from false in perilous days. Each person is accountable to God and must depend on Him who owns them by creation and by redemption, looking to Jesus Christ alone for strength, power, wisdom and guidance rather than following his own way or making man his trust, which brings bondage and spiritual weakness. John 5 studied together with John 6 contains instruction that is indeed the mystery of godliness which must be made part of life and brought into daily experience, and John 6 is named among chapters that plainly express God's will as a means of correcting dissension and leading to unity with Christ and with one another.
The whole sixth chapter of John holds the most precious and important lessons for all being educated in schools, teaching what Jesus is to each person and what advantage comes individually from eating His words, realizing He Himself is the great center of life whose words are spirit and life. The whole chapter is very instructive yet only faintly understood, and its wonderful truths are to be brought into practical life by all who want an education that will endure through time and eternity, above all other books as the great educating Book. When the crucified Saviour is lifted before sinners and they are pointed to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, some will look upon Him in faith and live, while others will not persevere in overcoming but will fall back as some did in the days of Christ. What happened then in enthusiastic reception followed by abandonment when the Word brought convictions needed to purify the soul strengthens the ranks of true professors when met by practical godliness with firm purpose of heart and public testimony in His name.
Discarding its truth for deceptive theories and human suppositions rejects what leads to eternal life, for God has revealed what is necessary for salvation and His Word is not to be replaced by human suppositions. Receiving Christ's words means taking them in and living by them, holding to God's revealed precepts and making them part of daily life rather than departing from them. Many turned back and stopped following Him after they criticized and disbelieved His teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, having listened but not received the truth as spiritual nourishment, which illustrates how misunderstanding and unbelief led them to abandon Him.
After He fed the multitude and taught in the synagogue at Capernaum that He is the bread of life from heaven whose flesh must be eaten and whose blood must be drunk for eternal life, many of His disciples called it a hard saying, were offended, went back and walked no more with Him. To eat His flesh and drink His blood is not literal but spiritual, receiving His words into the life, believing on Him, and being united to Him as a branch to the vine until His truth shapes character and daily obedience. They turned away because they had no genuine faith and no root, understood carnally and took the figure literally, clung to forms and rabbinical doctrines instead of Christ, and followed for temporal benefit and earthly ambition until self-denial and a spiritual kingdom disappointed them. Their departure was a final test that separated chaff from wheat, grieved His love and mercy, and placed them on the side of outward religion and the great deceiver as bitter opposers, while the twelve except Judas were established and confessed Him as the Christ with words of eternal life. What happened then pictures all in every age who are offended by plain reproof and practical truth and walk away from those who obey it, and therefore calls for holding faith, dying to self, and making His words part of daily experience in order to distinguish true from false.
Setting in John's Gospel
The setting is the sixth chapter of John, where the same compassionate Saviour who did not overlook the physical needs of the hungry multitude fed about five thousand men besides women and children from five barley loaves and two small fishes by creative power and then commanded the fragments to be gathered that nothing be lost. After that miracle and after walking on the water, He taught in the synagogue at Capernaum that He is the bread of life and the true bread from heaven given by God through Christ alone, urging men to labor chiefly for the meat which endures unto everlasting life which the Son of man gives. In that discourse He taught that people must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life and have life in them, to be raised at the last day, to dwell in Him, and to live by Him as He lives by the Father. That eating and drinking was set forth under the similitude of heavenly bread, with evidence heaped upon evidence sufficient for any open mind, while the thoughtful who had witnessed the feeding took exalted views of His character and office.
He had refused the crowd's attempt to make Him king, made no distinct claim to Messiahship in the form they wanted, took no position of royal dignity, and appeared as a man among men. Many had followed for the temporal benefits of the loaves rather than recognizing the miracle's meaning, drawn by worldly rewards and hope of national freedom, earthly freedom, and ruling others. When He clearly defined a spiritual kingdom, discouraged the idea of a temporal reign, offered no earthly kingdom, and spoke spiritual, life-giving words requiring a self-sacrificing life, meekness, and the narrow path, their hopes were disappointed and the worldly-minded turned. Even His brothers turned from Him, unwilling to acknowledge from His works that He was sent by God, disappointed that He did not seek a temporal throne and rejecting the cross involved in recognizing Him.
Many disciples called this teaching a hard saying, murmured among themselves, were offended at His sayings, found the saying insufferable for lack of spiritual perception, and could not hear it. They heard only with ears while understanding was closed, and had they believed He would have been their light of life. Jesus already knew their unbelief from the beginning, including the unbelief of the one who would betray Him, and knew His words would lead some who had followed Him to turn away. No one can come to Him unless it is given by the Father, and those not worked by the Holy Spirit do not understand the meaning of His words.
From that time many went back and walked no more with Him, never returned from that offense, stopped publicly identifying with Him, and in leaving Him followed another leader. Some joined the Pharisees, watching His movements and actions in hopes of finding grounds to condemn Him to death, becoming bitter persecutors to wound Him and please the Pharisees. The twelve except Judas were by that last test more fully established, in contrast to half-hearted believers who first received truth enthusiastically. Peter confessed that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life and is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and on that steadfast confession of His divinity the church stands and will endure.
Meaning of Bread Language
To eat his flesh and drink his blood is not literal but spiritual and figurative, for his words are spirit and life and must be received into the life and taken in as hungry men eat food. Received and assimilated until they shape daily life, they are to be brought into practical life so the soul is strengthened, revived, and conformed to his life and character, forming a character like his and giving a life measured by the life of God. To continue with him rather than turn back is to hold to revealed precepts and make them part of daily life, studying his Word and obeying its precepts instead of departing from them. That receiving means living by what God has revealed and refusing to replace his Word with human suppositions, since God has revealed what is necessary for salvation.
It means continuing to believe on him with true earnest belief, accepting his atonement for eternal life, and drawing spiritual vitality from him by true conversion and vital union with him as a branch draws nourishment from the vine. It means living by him as he lives by the Father, being truly converted and born again, having tasted that the Lord is gracious as part of actual experience. The mind is to be opened to the entrance of God's word with determination to practice it, so that light comes and understanding is given to the simple, changing the frivolous life, transforming character, forsaking the common level, and mounting step by step heavenward with Christ revealed in spirit, words, and actions. True discipleship is therefore inward and personal, hearing his teaching not merely with the ear but accepting it, believing in him as Redeemer, receiving his words as spiritual life and nourishment, and practicing them in obedience.
It means as newborn babes desiring the sincere milk of the word and feeding upon the divine Word of God, which is the divine element the soul needs for healthful development of all its spiritual powers. That feeding secures sanctified strength, wisdom, integrity, and moral power when brought into experience, and makes the Word the real essence of education. The truths of God's Word are to be studied, taken into the mind, understood, and practiced, shaping the whole life and bringing continual growth in grace through daily teaching in the school of Christ. The whole chapter is very instructive yet only faintly understood, holding the most precious and important lessons for all being educated in schools, teaching what Jesus is to each person and what individual advantage comes from eating his words, since he himself is the great center of life whose words are spirit and life.
It means being doers of God's Word, reading and practicing its truths, taking it as stronghold and defense, and receiving its principles into daily life into connection with Christ who knew no sin. By that connection believers have his life in them and are united with him now and throughout eternity. Studying his Word and obeying its precepts forms a character like his, and true discipleship involves receiving his words and practicing them in obedience rather than merely hearing without accepting.
The living oracles are the flesh and blood of the Son of God even though he had not then been crucified, and his work as substitute for all sin was the only hope of ancient Israel. The directions given by Christ as the invisible Leader of Israel in the Old Testament Scriptures are full of marrow and nourishment, so no soul who takes those words and eats them will suffer spiritual hunger, yet not one in a hundred knows the value of eating the bread of life. After God's plan was fulfilled in Christ's death, holy men moved by the Spirit wrote the New Testament, not that the Old might be cast aside but that the light of the New might be reflected back into past ages giving significance to the whole Jewish economy. The plain directions for practical holiness and the terms and conditions of practical obedience given to ancient Israel must therefore enter the life of everyone who claims to be Christian.
The chapter thus sets out the conditions of eternal life and entrance into God's kingdom, teaching what must be understood and lived to obtain eternal life and a life measured by the life of God. God's work is to believe on him whom he sent, with believing first and working afterward, so that those taught to believe in Christ will then work the works of God. Its truth cherished in the heart works by love and purifies the soul, calling for thorough conversion, a new life, humility instead of self-esteem and boasting, and fruit-bearing as a good tree bears fruit. It defines the righteousness of Christ that must be accepted to have on the wedding garment and be counted a fit guest, showing the marriage of humanity with divinity and the standard of character each must reach, which requires taking a firm stand for Christ, surrendering to God what is already his own, and not continuing in sin.
Mere outward connection with any church will not save; salvation requires personal faith in a personal Saviour that brings the soul into spiritual union with Christ. God's Word as the bread of life represents the body and blood of the Son of God, addressing the heart and moral nature, taking possession of the will, and calling for thoughts to be brought into obedience to Christ.
Why Many Turned Away
They had no genuine faith and no root in themselves, for unbelief allowed to grow into habit was exposed when the teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood tested them and offended them. Hearing did not mean accepting, for although they had professed to follow Him they objected to His words, bore no fruit as branches not vitally connected to the living Vine, and spoke against Him when they rejected Him. Their departure followed unbelief which He already knew from the beginning, including the unbelief of the one who would betray Him, and it shows how those who have known the truth can turn and become agents of Satan while claiming great light and the Holy Spirit.
Their limited comprehension and earthliness of mind could not discern spiritual things, for with carnal minds, selfish unbelieving minds, and gross understanding they took the figure literally, misconstrued it, and found the saying hard and insufferable. They heard only with ears while understanding was closed, murmured among themselves, and were offended because they lacked depth of faith and spiritual perception to grasp that His words were spirit and life-giving. Those not worked by the Holy Spirit do not understand the meaning of His words, and only those who serve Him from pure loving hearts and receive in faith the eternal life He gives can receive His Word. Many still forsake Him for the same lack, having no greater depth of spiritual perception than those disciples.
They lived on the doctrines, customs, maxims, forms, exactions and man-made ordinances of the rabbis instead of receiving Christ as hungry men eat food, drinking in the truth that He is the life of the world and bringing it into practical life so the soul is strengthened, revived and conformed to His life and character. They chose the form without the spirit and the husks without the kernel, and with spiritual senses corrupted by worldly ideas and maxims they found pure deep unadulterated truth strange, unable to comprehend it with superficial understanding, and turned from it with disgust seen in looks and words. Truth must be voluntarily appropriated and made the very life of the soul, to the believing soul as eating from the tree of life, but without that appropriation there is no spiritual life.
They had followed for the temporal benefits of the loaves and for earthly ambition rather than to do God's will, without recognizing the meaning of the miracle and without uniting with Him in true faith. When truth required unreserved consecration instead of fulfilling ambitions to rule others, they called His words hard sayings, rejected the call, and left rather than accept its demands. Following Him required becoming like Him — meek, lowly, self-denying and self-sacrificing — and walking the narrow path He walked, but with superficial faith and no spiritual life they were offended by gospel requirements, refused restraint, would not yield the will, and framed excuses. Had they believed He would have been their light of life, and had they received His word to do God's will they would have had understanding.
Offended pride was central, for His plain words, public rebuke and close practical truth exposed unbelief, cherished sin, self-righteousness and defects of character, demanding change, humility, dying to self, leaving sin and living humbly. Displeased they left disdainfully, choosing outward religion without its spirit and darkness rather than light, because pride, self-righteousness and worldliness kept them from accepting rebuke and a humble life. They rejected truth and rebuke, willingly misunderstood Christ, preferred human praise to God's admonition, found the self-denial needed to reform too humiliating, wanted to wound Him and please the Pharisees, and chose darkness over light. The same response occurs when those professing faith reject truth because it exposes wrongdoing.
Some first received truth enthusiastically but as half-hearted believers stopped publicly identifying with Him when the Word brought convictions needed to purify the soul, especially when pride was offended. They illustrate those who receive truth eagerly but abandon it when it requires self-denial, brings reproach, or exposes them to trial. Their leaving reveals a spirit convicted but not converted, determined not to yield the will to God's will, framing excuses for not yielding, deceiving its own soul, not loving Jesus and not accepting the terms of salvation, while Satan's hellish shadow wraps about such false disciples.
They did not build faith on a deep sure foundation or dig deep to be fastened and riveted to the eternal Rock, and without depth of faith and spiritual perception they grew displeased when plain truth seemed too demanding and murmured that the way was made too strait. Those thought to be disciples may reject truth when presented and turn away, and when test and trial come traitors headstrong, proud, heady, highminded and self-sufficient wreck faith and make shipwreck of it. The same leaving is repeated when the words of the Lord brought through His chosen messengers are rejected.
Other influences hastened the break, for Judas gave His words a mystical meaning that stripped them of true significance, promoted his own ideas, and turned people who had little of the evidence he had received against Christ. Some wanted a sign and sought something outside the Word to make them feel, rather than receiving His Word as spirit and life, though the living bread He spoke of is His Word which He has given. Some fed minds on worldly entertainments instead of receiving heavenly instruction until hunger for Him faded and they were led away from God. Some depended on human beings and made man their trust instead of looking to Jesus alone who owns each person by creation and redemption for strength, wisdom, power and guidance, which brings bondage and spiritual weakness, and mere admiration for a preacher or impressive message without receiving saving truth and being convicted by it left them not truly bound to Him.
They clung to pet ideas, fanciful interpretations of Scripture, dangerous heresies and theories of their own rather than accept truth, and resisted testimony borne to correct errors because it conflicted with wishes or public opinion. They heard only with ears while understanding was closed, had no faith though evidence had been heaped upon evidence sufficient to convince any mind open to evidence, and offered plausible excuses rather than accept its claims of faith and self-denial. In self-will and pride of opinion they rejected light from heaven and went away displeased, unwilling to yield pride, subdue the carnal nature and become learners in the school of Christ. Sufficient evidence convinces all who honestly desire to know the truth, but God never removes all opportunity for doubt, so all who desire to question and cavil will find occasion and no amount of evidence will convince them while unwilling.
Result of Their Departure
Their going back was the outcome of a final test in the Capernaum synagogue over eating his flesh and drinking his blood, which is continuing to believe on him and accepting his atonement for eternal life, for his words are spirit and life. The hard saying came at the best time to force the unbelieving and murmuring to show themselves, exposing unbelief allowed to grow into habit and revealing that they had no genuine faith and no root in themselves. With carnal minds and gross understanding they took the figure literally, heard only with the ears while the understanding was closed, and, not vitally united to do God's will, found the demand to become meek, lowly, self-denying and self-sacrificing and to walk the narrow path insufferable. The separation illustrates the abiding mixture of wheat among tares and tares among wheat in every age, to be known by fruits, while the thoughtful and candid who had witnessed the feeding of the five thousand were led to take exalted views of his character and office. Those who rejected him also spoke against him, living on rabbinical doctrines, customs, maxims, forms, exactions and man-made ordinances instead of receiving his words as hungry men eat food and bringing them into practical life so the soul is strengthened, revived and conformed to his life and character.
The test was meant to save them from fatal deception, but by rejecting plain truth and rebuke they willingly misunderstood, preferred human praise to God's admonition, and slighted his compassion, love, mercy and offered salvation. In displeasure and self-righteousness they chose darkness rather than light because pride and unwillingness to accept a humble life kept them from accepting counsel. Their course grieved him profoundly because they turned from his kindness and mercy.
In leaving they took their side and never returned, choosing the form without the spirit and the husks without the kernel, and placing themselves in the army of the great deceiver by failing to accept truth and make it part of themselves. While claiming great light and the Holy Spirit, those who had known the truth and turned through unbelief could become agents of Satan, and some who left became his bitterest persecutors. Wanting to wound him and to please the Pharisees, they revealed that when he faced his trial they would stand against him and could tempt others to dishonor him. Jesus spoke truths that exposed true feeling and compelled decision for or against him, so the departure of those not wholly with him made their position manifest.
Their turning away before he left made their apostasy known in advance and helped protect his future work from being led in wrong paths. His earlier words later became a stay to the hearts of the followers who remained.
Those who remained could not go back to the religious teachers and leaders they had left, who were bound to formal rites, divided by contention, marked by ambition, and had scorned and persecuted Jesus and his followers. With Jesus they had found greater peace and joy and had recognized him as the long-awaited Messiah. They feared losing him as their anchor, lest without a Saviour they drift adrift amid unbelief and the wickedness of the world.
Warning for Later Believers
Their turning away pictures all in every age who turn from truth in the same way, placing themselves in the army of the great deceiver by failing to accept truth and make it part of themselves. What happened then has happened since and will continue to happen to the close of this earth's history, for the same turning away from Christ happens when test and trial comes to every soul. Just such turning away will come in the last days when truths of momentous importance are presented, and when great light shines as men choose sides at the end. Their departure was a separation of chaff from wheat, showing traitors, heady, highminded and self-sufficient men making shipwreck of faith because they did not dig deep and make their foundation sure and were not riveted to the eternal Rock.
When Christ, the greatest Teacher the world has ever known, spoke the truth, many became offended and walked no more with Him, and the same happens when reproof and warning truth must be spoken irrespective of consequences. Those whose hearts are not in harmony with the truth as it is in Jesus cherish theories of their own that are not the truth, and rather than give up their own ideas they murmur that the way is made too narrow and walk away from those who obey the truth. Truth will still bear away the victory, and others will receive the truth and take the places made vacant by those who became offended and leave. At the same time those supposed to be heathen and hardened sinners, and men with meager opportunities who walked in error for lack of better knowledge, receive beams of light with tenderness of heart like a child, choose the side of Christ, consecrate ability and means, declare the whole counsel of God, and come in as eleventh-hour laborers to occupy the empty places and take the crowns left behind.
The same departure is repeated when people reject the words of the Lord brought through His chosen human messengers, and even long-standing believers in the third angel's message may leave, so this response should not be surprising. It occurs when a special requirement calling for self-denial and self-sacrifice, such as tithing and missionary work, is presented and people become offended by the teaching and no longer walk with those who believe and love the truth. It is also applied to those who reject warnings from God's appointed servant and then work against truth, and to people who while still only partly converted on meat-eating may leave God's people. Such leaving happens because they were displeased with His requirements and would not bear the restraint His Word imposes, throwing off the yoke, refusing covenant relation, doing as they please, and making void the law of God.
Going away proves the seed of truth fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up and choked it, for the thorns are cares, riches, and pleasures that Satan uses to play the game of life for souls. It proves they were not truly converted but received the truth by halves, for if they had been truly convicted of sin and had let truth cleanse the soul-temple from defilement the thorns could not have germinated. The light of truth in them was not strengthened by practice and is soon quenched, leaving them in greater darkness than before, and the fault is not in the gospel. Unless briars are dug out of the heart and every briar and thistle uprooted as soon as it appears through diligent searching of the heart as with a lighted candle in the light of the law of God, men, women, and youth will sell their birthright for worldly advantage.
Taking offense at plain truth and leaving does not bring happiness but leaves one spiritually endangered, confused, unsatisfied in spiritual hunger, vulnerable to deception, and choosing darkness instead of light until swept away and destroyed. Those who constantly cherish unbelief become offended at the plain words of truth, and when swept away by temptation give up the faith and leave Christ and stop following Him, thereby destroying themselves. When God's people fail to remain distinct from the world in all things they become confused and may abandon Christ, seeking worldly good or relying on their own plans and wisdom instead of receiving Christ so that spiritual hunger remains unsatisfied.
The verse therefore calls followers to hold faith and obey truth even when doing so brings suffering or other consequences, receiving Christ's heavenly instruction rather than keeping a divided heart that cannot serve God. Eating His flesh and drinking His blood means studying His Word and obeying its precepts until they shape daily life, dying to self and practicing self-denial, and this study alone gives knowledge to distinguish true from false in perilous days. Each person is accountable to God and must depend on Him who owns them by creation and by redemption, looking to Jesus Christ alone for strength, power, wisdom and guidance rather than following his own way or making man his trust, which brings bondage and spiritual weakness. John 5 studied together with John 6 contains instruction that is indeed the mystery of godliness which must be made part of life and brought into daily experience, and John 6 is named among chapters that plainly express God's will as a means of correcting dissension and leading to unity with Christ and with one another.
The whole sixth chapter of John holds the most precious and important lessons for all being educated in schools, teaching what Jesus is to each person and what advantage comes individually from eating His words, realizing He Himself is the great center of life whose words are spirit and life. The whole chapter is very instructive yet only faintly understood, and its wonderful truths are to be brought into practical life by all who want an education that will endure through time and eternity, above all other books as the great educating Book. When the crucified Saviour is lifted before sinners and they are pointed to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, some will look upon Him in faith and live, while others will not persevere in overcoming but will fall back as some did in the days of Christ. What happened then in enthusiastic reception followed by abandonment when the Word brought convictions needed to purify the soul strengthens the ranks of true professors when met by practical godliness with firm purpose of heart and public testimony in His name.
Discarding its truth for deceptive theories and human suppositions rejects what leads to eternal life, for God has revealed what is necessary for salvation and His Word is not to be replaced by human suppositions. Receiving Christ's words means taking them in and living by them, holding to God's revealed precepts and making them part of daily life rather than departing from them. Many turned back and stopped following Him after they criticized and disbelieved His teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, having listened but not received the truth as spiritual nourishment, which illustrates how misunderstanding and unbelief led them to abandon Him.