Meaning, commentary and cross references
John 6:37
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
NIV · New International Version
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
WEB · World English Bible
All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.
What does John 6:37 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me,.... The "all" design not the apostles only, who were given to Christ as such; for these did not all, in a spiritual manner, come to him, and believe in him; one of them was a devil, and the son of perdition; much less every individual of mankind: these are, in some sense, given to Christ to subserve some ends of his mediatorial kingdom, and are subject to his power and control, but do not come to him, and believe in him: but the whole body of the elect are here meant, who, when they were chosen by God the Father, were given and put into the hands of Christ, as his seed, his spouse, his sheep, his portion, and inheritance, and to be saved by him with an…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on John 6:28–59
[1.] That the Son will bid all those welcome that come to him (Joh 6:37): Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. How welcome should this word be to our souls which bids us welcome to Christ! Him that cometh; it is in the singular number, denoting favour, not only to the body of believers in general, but to every particular soul that applies itself to Christ.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on John 6:34–40
37. All that the Father giveth me. That their unbelief may not detract anything from his doctrine, he says, that the cause of so great obstinacy is, that they are reprobate, and do not belong to the flock of God. His intention, therefore, in distinguishing here between the elect and the reprobate is, that the authority of his doctrine may remain unimpaired, though there are many who do not believe it.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: John 6:34–40 (WEB)
34They said therefore to him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don’t believe. 37All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. 40This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Cross references
- Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
- John 6:39
This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.
- John 17:24
Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
- John 10:28–29
I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
- John 17:2
even as you gave him authority over all flesh, so he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
- John 17:6
“I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.
- 2 Timothy 2:19
However, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
- Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will freely pardon.