Corruption of the human
heart manifested
"Many therefore of his disciples,
when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can
hear it?" John 6:60
Murmurs and complaints of this
kind are very common. It must never surprise us to hear them.
They have been, they are, they will be as long as the world
stands. To some Christ's sayings appear hard to understand. To
others, as in the present case, they appear hard to believe, and
harder still to obey. It is just one of
the many ways in which the natural corruption of man shows
itself. So long as the heart is naturally proud, worldly,
unbelieving, and fond of self-indulgence, if not of sin, so long
there will never be lacking people who will say of Christian
doctrines and precepts, "These are hard sayings; who can hear
them?"
- J. C. Ryle, The Gospel of John
