The unbelieving Jews refused to see any except the most literal meaning in the Saviour's words. By the ritual law they were forbidden to taste blood, and they now construed Christ's language into a sacrilegious speech, and disputed over it among themselves. Many even of the disciples said, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"

De vantro jøder nægtede at se andet end den mest bogstavelige betydning i Frelserens ord. Efter ritualloven var det dem forbudt at smage blod, og nu fortolkede de Kristi tale som gudsbespottelige ord og skændtes indbyrdes om den. Selv mange af disciplene sagde: "Det er en hård tale; hvem kan holde ud at høre på den?"