Bentence then might be paraphrased in either of the following ways : — (1.) " The words that I speak to you, received into your hearts and beheved, are the Spirit's influence, the ministration of the Spirit, and the Spirit's means of giving you hfe." This ia RoUock's view. Or else, (2.) " The words that I speak unto you, are to be taken m a spiritual sense ; or, are spiritual words, and, taken in that sense, are Ufe-giving to the soul." — Tiiis is Augus- tine's view.
I must honestly confess that neither of these explanations ia quite satisfactory ; but they are the nearest approach I can see to a satisfactory interpretation. The sentence is evidently a con- cise elliptical one, and it seems impossible to convey it in English, without a paraphrase.
Alford paraphrases the sentence thus : " The words that I have spoken, viz., the words 'my flesh and blood,' are spirit and life, • — spirit, not flesh only, — living food, not carnal and perishable." I venture to think, that this explanation is not more precise, or satisfactory, than either of those I have suggested.
The expression "the words that I speak unto you," must pro- bably be confined to the words our Lord had spoken about eat- ing His flesh and drinking His blood, and not referred to the whole discourse.
After all, however difficult and elhptical the sentence before us may be, there is a truth which throws light on it, with which every true Christian must be familiar. It is the words of Christ brought home to the hearts of men by the Spirit, which are the great agents employed in quickening and giving spiritual life to men. The Spirit impresses Christ's words on a man's conscience. These words become the parent of thoughts and convictions in the man's mind. From these thoughts springs all the man's spiritual life. The soul is not benefited by bodily actions, such as eating or drinking, but by spiritual impressions, which the Holy Spirit alone can produce. In producing these spiritual impressions the Spirit specially employs the agency of Christ's " words," and hence comes the great principle, that '' His words are spirit and life."
64. — [I here are some of you that believe not.] The connection of this sentence with the preceding verses seems to be this: — " The true account of your murmuring and thinking my sayings 'hard' is your want of faith. You do not reaUy believe me to be the Messiah, though you have followed me and professed your- selves my disciples. And not really believing in me, you are ofiended at the idea of eating my flesh and drinking my blood."
[Jesus knew from the beginning who...beIieved not] This is one of the many places which declare our Lord's Divine knowledge
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