“Doth this offend you?”
The full verse · John 6:61 · KJV
, he unto , Doth ?
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, who knew "in himself" that His disciples murmured at His teaching (John 6:61)
Asked to
Disciples: "his disciples" (John 6:61), the many followers, not only the twelve (John 6:67), who had called His teaching "an hard saying" and murmured at it (John 6:60-61)
The Scene
After many of His disciples say, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?", Jesus speaks to them about it (John 6:60-61).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThe disciples were murmuring among themselves, and Jesus knew it without being told. Gill says He knew "without any intelligence from others, or hearing what was said." Rather than ignore it or rebuke it, He brought it into the open with a question. His question pointed to what was really happening: offense, not confusion. Gill says they looked on His teaching "as absurd, incredible, and contrary to sense and reason." The question invited them to face their own reaction.
The Response
What Scripture recordsNo spoken answer from these disciples is recorded. Jesus went on, "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?" (John 6:62), and said, "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). He also said, "there are some of you that believe not" (John 6:64). Their answer came in action: "many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (John 6:66).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Offend" translates skandalizō. Thayer defines it as "to put a stumbling-block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall." Jesus is asking, in effect, "Does this trip you up?" The KJV "murmured" translates gongyzō, which the BibleHub interlinear glosses "grumbling."
John says Jesus knew "in himself" what they were saying, and adds that He "knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him" (John 6:64).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question shows how Jesus deals with people who are offended by Him. He knows their hearts (John 6:61, 64), yet He asks instead of accusing. He gives them the chance to name what is happening inside them.
He also does not back away from the truth to keep them. He points them higher, to His ascension (John 6:62), and deeper, to the life-giving Spirit and His own words (John 6:63). Some stumbled and left (John 6:66). The question tested them, but it was also an invitation to stay and listen.
Look Closer
How did Jesus know the disciples were murmuring?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, You know what I murmur about even when I do not say it aloud; what in Your words is tripping me up right now?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Jesus asked rather than accused. What might change if you brought your complaints about God to Him instead of keeping them to yourself?
- Tell about a time when something about Jesus or His teaching offended you at first, and what happened next.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Jesus already knows what troubles you about Him, even what you only say under your breath. You do not have to hide it. His question invites honesty: name the stumbling block so He can speak to it.
Being offended is not the end of the road, but walking away is a choice (John 6:66). When something in His word trips you up, keep listening for what He says next. He told these same disciples that His words "are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“This is an hard saying; who can hear it?”
“What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?”
“Will ye also go away?”
“Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?”