Sayings of Jesus

Jesus, the teacher

One title given to Jesus in the Scriptures was “Rabbi,” or teacher. His words were originally presented as a path, a way of wisdom to be taken up and followed. Jesus seemed determined to upset common habits of thought. The sayings of Jesus, called aphorisms, reveal Jesus as a teacher about a new idea: the kingdom of God.

His words include hard challenges, paradoxes, reversals and ironies. His message promoted different thinking and a new way of acting.

Critical interpretation

Scripture scholars, using rigorous historical-critical criteria, have concluded that it is possible to identify certain statements of Jesus from the Synoptic tradition as authentic.

The work of Norman Perrin, R. H. Fuller, John Dominic Crossan and members of the Jesus Seminar has described some 'authentic' sayings of Jesus.

See further the Jesus Seminar.

Simple sayings

Jesus spoke to people in the simplest possible way. His message was direct and unambiguous. His sayings were at the same time simple yet profoundly challenging and complex to apply: Love your enemies. Do not be anxious about tomorrow. Don't judge. Be merciful. Forgive seventy times seven. Blessed are the meek.... the pure in heart.... the peacemakers.

The problem with the simple sayings of Jesus is not that they are hard to understand but that most people find them impossible to do. For ordinary people, all too aware of their own frailty, Jesus' words can seem like a call to the heroic.

Jesus’ sayings

Some of the better-known proverbial sayings of Jesus considered authentic by most scholars include:

If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles Mt 5:39b-41
For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it (Mk 8:35)
How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel (rope) to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mk 10:23b, 25)
But many that are first will be last and the last first (Mk 10:31)
Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Lk 14:11)
He who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God (Lk 9:62).
Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child cannot enter it (Lk 10:15.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Mt 5:44).

See further: Authentic sayings of Jesus