Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds with parables. He did not say anything to them without using a parable.
John 10:6 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Jesus told them this parable [i.e., a brief story to illustrate his teaching] but they did not understand what it meant. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about. American Standard Version (1901) This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Common English Bible Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying. Catholic Public Domain Version Jesus spoke this proverb to them. But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them. |
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds with parables. He did not say anything to them without using a parable.
“Have you understood all these things?” [Jesus asked]. “Yes,” they said to Him.
And He did not speak to them [i.e., concerning the kingdom] without using a parable, but He explained everything to His own disciples privately.
“I have spoken these things to you in figurative language. [However], the time will come when I will not speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
[Then] Jesus’ disciples said [to Him], “Look, you are speaking plainly now, and not in figurative language.
Then the Jews [who were assembled in the synagogue. See verse 59] began arguing bitterly with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his physical body to eat?”
So, when they heard [these things], many of Jesus’ disciples said, “This is difficult teaching. Who can listen to it [i.e., and accept it]?”
What did he mean by saying, ‘You people will be looking for me, but will not find me; and you will not be able to go where I will be?’”
The people [who heard this] did not understand that Jesus was speaking to them about the Father.
Why do you people not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot [bear to] listen to my message.
Now the natural person [Note: Since this person is contrasted with the spiritual person of verse 15, it is taken here to mean the person without the Holy Spirit] does not receive the things [i.e., truths] revealed by the Holy Spirit of God, because they are [considered] foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them because they must be discerned by using spiritual judgment [i.e., judgment aided by the Holy Spirit].
It has happened to them like the true proverb [Prov. 26:11 says], “The dog [throws up, and then] goes back and eats its own vomit,” and “The hog that was all cleaned up [goes back] to wallowing in the mud.”
And [in addition], we know that the Son of God has come [in a physical body, See 4:2] and has given us understanding, so that we can know the True One [i.e., God], and that we are in [fellowship with] the True One, even His Son Jesus Christ. This Son is the true God and eternal life.