This started an angry argument among them. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked.

Many of his followers heard this and said, "This teaching is too hard. Who can listen to it?"

He says that we will look for him but will not find him, and that we cannot go where he will be. What does he mean?"

They did not understand that Jesus was talking to them about the Father.

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.

"How ignorant you are! How stupid! You are completely corrupt, and justice has disappeared from the world.

Our ancestors in Egypt did not understand God's wonderful acts; they forgot the many times he showed them his love, and they rebelled against the Almighty at the Red Sea.

Evil people do not know what justice is, but those who worship the LORD understand it well.

So he told me to go and give the people this message: "No matter how much you listen, you will not understand. No matter how much you look, you will not know what is happening."

Then he said to me, "Make the minds of these people dull, their ears deaf, and their eyes blind, so that they cannot see or hear or understand. If they did, they might turn to me and be healed."

They are like greedy dogs that never get enough. These leaders have no understanding. They each do as they please and seek their own advantage.

Many people will be purified. Those who are wicked will not understand but will go on being wicked; only those who are wise will understand.

The reason I use parables in talking to them is that they look, but do not see, and they listen, but do not hear or understand.

So the prophecy of Isaiah applies to them: 'This people will listen and listen, but not understand; they will look and look, but not see,

"Do you understand these things?" Jesus asked them. "Yes," they answered.

Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis.

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God---in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.