All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus shifts from a general idea of "all that the Father gives" (neuter, impersonal whole) to "him that comes" (masculine, individual person). This highlights that while God sovereignly ensures His chosen will come, their arrival is also personal and voluntary, not a mechanical process.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Jesus' challenging declaration that He is the Bread of Life, many disciples turn away because His words are too difficult to accept. In the face of this dwindling crowd, Jesus turns to His closest followers, asserting that while many reject Him, all those appointed by the Father will inevitably come to Him. He then offers a profound assurance: anyone who comes to Him will be welcomed and never turned away.
Jesus says the Father 'gives' people to Him. What does this 'giving' mean? Is it a one-time event or something ongoing?
Jesus declares a profound truth: 'All that the Father gives me will come to me.' This 'giving' isn't about us earning our way to God. It's the Father's initiative, a deliberate act of love. The original language here uses a neuter gender for 'all that the Father gives,' treating it as a collective whole—a gift from the Father to the Son. This isn't about us forcing our way in; it's about being drawn by a divine purpose. The Father entrusts people to Jesus, not as a foregone conclusion, but as a present, active grace. It means God's plan is secure; those He intends for Christ will inevitably come to Him.
If it's the Father's gift, does that mean we have no part in coming to Jesus?
Jesus doesn't stop with the Father's giving; He adds, 'and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.' Here, the language shifts. While the gift is a collective whole (neuter gender), the 'whoever comes' is individual (masculine gender). This shows that divine initiative doesn't negate human responsibility. Those given by the Father will come, but they come through a personal act of approaching Jesus. The certainty isn't that people are passively swept along, but that God's work in them—His drawing, His teaching—will lead them to actively seek and 'arrive' at Christ. The promise is that anyone who takes that step of coming will be welcomed, without exception.
Ask a follow-up
What does Jesus mean by 'I will never cast out'? Is there any condition for His acceptance?
The phrase 'I will never cast out' is incredibly emphatic in the original language. It's a double negative, powerfully assuring that Jesus will absolutely not reject anyone who comes to Him. This isn't just about initial acceptance; it's about lasting preservation. Think of it like a nobleman welcoming a poor, distressed person into his home, not just for a moment, but to supply all their needs. Jesus' welcome is complete and enduring. It reassures the believer that once they've come to Him, they are safe, secure, and eternally kept by His power. Their past sins, their present weaknesses – none of it leads to rejection. He is the gracious host who provides eternal security.
Understand the original words
patēr · Greek Noun
The First Person of the Trinity, the Creator, and the One who orchestrates the plan of redemption by drawing individuals to the Son.
This passage echoes John 6:37 by emphasizing Jesus' commitment to protecting and preserving those who belong to Him, stating 'I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.'
Romans 8:29-30This passage highlights the divine orchestration of salvation, aligning with the idea that those given to Christ by the Father are predestined to be conformed to His image and called, which ultimately leads to their glorification.
Philippians 1:6This verse offers a powerful assurance for believers, mirroring the promise in John 6:37 that God will complete the good work He has begun in them, ensuring their perseverance until the day of Christ Jesus.
Acts 13:48This verse shows the response of the Gentiles to the Gospel, illustrating the principle that 'as many as were appointed to eternal life believed,' which connects to Jesus' statement that 'all that the Father gives me will come to me.'
calvinJohn 6:34-40: "Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread."
- They said therefore to him, Lord, give us always this bread. 35. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth in me shall never thirst. 36. But I have told you that you have also seen me and do not believe. 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will not cast out; 38. For I came down from heaven, not to do my own w…
expositorsJohn 6:37: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
NOTE ON CHAP. VI., Vers. 37, 44, 45. Three terms are used in these verses which call for examination,-“giving,” “drawing,” “teaching.” The two latter are used in a connection which leaves little room for doubt as to their meaning. “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him.... It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man,…
Jesus shifts from a general idea of "all that the Father gives" (neuter, impersonal whole) to "him that comes" (masculine, individual person). This highlights that while God sovereignly ensures His chosen will come, their arrival is also personal and voluntary, not a mechanical process.
Following Jesus' challenging declaration that He is the Bread of Life, many disciples turn away because His words are too difficult to accept. In the face of this dwindling crowd, Jesus turns to His closest followers, asserting that while many reject Him, all those appointed by the Father will inevitably come to Him. He then offers a profound assurance: anyone who comes to Him will be welcomed and never turned away.
Following Jesus' challenging declaration that He is the Bread of Life, many disciples turn away because His words are too difficult to accept. In the face of this dwindling crowd, Jesus turns to His closest followers, asserting that while many reject Him, all those appointed by the Father will inevitably come to Him. He then offers a profound assurance: anyone who comes to Him will be welcomed and never turned away.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." — Jesus shifts from a general idea of "all that the Father gives" (neuter, impersonal whole) to "him that comes" (masculine, individual person). This highlights that while God sovereignly ensures His c…
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Last reviewed October 2026