{Strove} (emachonto). Imperfect (inchoative) middle of
machomai, to fight in armed combat ( Ac 7:26 ), then to wage a
war of words as here and  2Ti 2:24 . They were already murmuring
( 41 ), now they began bitter strife with one another over the
last words of Jesus ( 43-51 ), some probably seeing a spiritual
meaning in them. There was division of opinion about Jesus in
Jerusalem also later ( 7:12,40  9:16  10:19 ). {How can?} (P(9373)
dunatai;). The very idiom used by Nicodemus in  3:4,9 . Here
scornful disbelief. {This man} (houtos). Contemptuous use
pictured in verse  42 . {His flesh to eat} (	(886e) sarka autou
phagein). As if we were cannibals! Some MSS. do not have
autou, but the meaning is clear. The mystical appropriation of
Christ by the believer ( Ga 2:20  Eph 3:17 ) they could not
comprehend, though some apparently were against this literal
interpretation of "flesh" (sarx).