John 6:52

52 At this, the Jews started fighting among themselves: "How can this man serve up his flesh for a meal?"

John 6:52 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:52

The Jews therefore strove among themselves
Fell to cavilling and disputing one among another; some understanding Christ, and others not; some being for him, and vindicated what he said; and others being against him, and who were the majority, objected,

saying how can this man give us his flesh to eat?
which is to be understood, not physically, but as morally impossible and unlawful; since, with the Jews, it was not lawful to eat the flesh of any creature alive, and much less the flesh of man; for the Jews understood Christ of a corporeal eating of his flesh, being strangers to a figurative or spiritual eating of it by faith, in which sense he meant it.

John 6:52 In-Context

50 But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever.
51 I am the Bread - living Bread! - who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live - and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self."
52 At this, the Jews started fighting among themselves: "How can this man serve up his flesh for a meal?"
53 But Jesus didn't give an inch. "Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you.
54 The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.