📖 Biblical Definition
In John 6:60-66, after Christ's extended bread-of-life discourse (John 6:25-59) culminating in he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, many of His disciples murmured: This is an hard saying; who can hear it? Christ did not soften the teaching. From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. He turned to the twelve: Will ye also go away? Peter answered: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
HARD SAYING, n.
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A scriptural moment; many disciples turning back from Christ over a hard saying.
📖 Key Scripture
John 6:60 — "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"
John 6:66 — "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
John 6:67 — "Will ye also go away?"
John 6:68 — "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity soft-pedals hard sayings; Christ let crowds walk away rather than soften them.
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John 6:66 is one of the most striking verses in the Gospels. Christ delivered a hard teaching, many of His disciples found it offensive, and they walked away. Christ did not chase them. He turned to the twelve and offered them the same exit: will ye also go away? The willingness to lose disciples over hard sayings is one of the most pastorally instructive features of Christ's ministry.
Modern Christianity often soft-pedals hard sayings to keep crowds. Christ refused. Sexual ethics, hell, judgment, exclusivity, eschatology — the modern church is tempted to round off the edges. Round them off and you lose the gospel; keep them sharp and you may lose the crowd. Christ chose the latter. So must faithful pastors. So must faithful saints.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G4642 — skleros — hard, harsh
G3056 — logos — word
Usage
"Modern Christianity soft-pedals hard sayings; Christ let crowds walk away."
"Round off the hard sayings and you lose the gospel; keep them sharp and you may lose the crowd."
"Christ chose the latter; so must faithful pastors and saints."