Even if you’re not a Christian, there are many things Jesus said that have become well-known worldwide. But did he really say them? It turns out that some of the things we think he said simply aren’t true. Here are 18 of these apparent quotes from Jesus and the truth behind who really said them.
A Team Effort
“All things work together for good” sounds like something Jesus would say to encourage us. Although this statement is in the Bible, it’s actually the Apostle Paul who said it in Romans 8:28. He was talking to early Christians about how, spiritually speaking, things work out when you love God.
Walking By Grace
Even though “There but for the grace of God go I” sounds like Jesus, it’s neither from the Bible nor from Christ himself. John Bradford, a 16th-century preacher, created these phrases because he was big on humility and tried to encourage people to do the same. Although Jesus did preach the same ideas, he didn’t say this exact phrase.
Misunderstood Mercy
“A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just,” could be something straight from the Sermon on the Mount, but it’s not. Pope Francis actually said this phrase during his first address in 2013. While it’s got some of Jesus’s ideas in it, it actually came from one of his followers instead.
Self-Help Guru
You’ve probably seen the statement, “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle,” all over inspirational posters and self-help books. Although it’s certainly great advice, it didn’t actually come from Jesus. This quote about inner strength and self-belief is from 20th-century writer Christian D. Larson.
Preaching Peach
One of Jesus’s biggest teachings was about peace, which is why the quote “peace begins with a smile” sounds like it could be from him. In reality, this proverb comes from Mother Teresa instead of Jesus, and it’s not even the Bible. Even so, we can definitely imagine Him saying something similar.
Fighting for Freedom
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor. It must be demanded by the oppressed” is a pretty powerful quote. Jesus did speak about spiritual freedom and liberation, but he didn’t say this quote. It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said it during the fight for civil rights, and it came many thousands of years after Jesus’s time.
The Romantic
It’s no surprise that some people think that the quote “Love is all you need” is from Jesus, as he taught a lot about the power of love. But this is actually a Beatle lyric, and it’s never even mentioned in the Bible. Jesus’s messages about love went beyond the simple slogans of a pop song.
Food, Glorious, Food
Jesus performed his fair share of miracles with food, and some people think he said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” But actually, this quote comes from the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. Jesus never really spoke about following a specific healthy diet, as he was often just trying to show his divine powers.
Money Isn’t Important
Jesus always talked about the environment, and “Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money” sounds like one of his own. The truth is, it’s a Cree prophecy, but it does fit with Jesus’s ideas. Many of his lessons were about taking care of what we’ve been given, including our planet.
Pushing for Peace
“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” These are some more inspiring words that are actually from Martin Luther King Jr., not Jesus. He did have a lot to say about peace and making it with other people through forgiveness and love, but he didn’t really say anything about politics.
Two Mistakes
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” are some nice words to live by, and some people think that Gandhi said them. But it wasn’t him, and it wasn’t even Jesus. He did encourage us to change, although that was more about changing our hearts and the things we do to reflect God’s love.
Being Optimistic
The idea that “every cloud has a silver living” can be pretty comforting when you’re going through a rough patch. While Jesus taught us about hope, he didn’t actually say this quote. His teachings were focused more on enduring those difficult times by thinking about eternal happiness rather than everyday problems.
Planning Ahead
“A goal without a plan is just a wish” is a good piece of advice from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, but not Jesus. He did encourage people to have goals, especially when they’re spiritual, but he didn’t get into detail about planning out our earthly lives. Instead, he wanted us to know that we should live according to God’s will and trust that path.
Never Too Much
“God won’t give you more than you can handle” is from the Bible, although Jesus didn’t say it himself. It’s actually a misinterpretation of something Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13. In it, he spoke about God giving us an escape from temptation. Jesus and Paul were trying to teach us about relying on God’s strength and not handling everything on our own.
Facing the Consequences
Jesus certainly loved his agricultural parables, and “You reap what you sow” sounds like it could come from him. While it is in the Bible, it comes from Paul’s letter in Galatians 6:7 instead of Jesus. Paul was talking about the moral consequences of our actions, which is something Jesus also taught, but in his own words.
Shadow of Death
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” comes straight from Psalm 23. But, like a lot of the Psalms, he didn’t actually say this, no matter how beautiful it is. These words come from David, the shepherd king, although we’ve got a feeling Jesus would’ve supported the meaning of this one.
Too Much Pride
People misquote “pride comes before the fall” in a number of different ways, mostly because they think it’s Jesus who said it. In fact, the quote comes from Proverbs 16:18, and the words themselves are also wrong. The actual scripture teaches us to keep our egos in check, and it says,” Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Clean Slate
“Turn over a new leaf” could fit right into Jesus’s messages about forgiveness and new beginnings. After all, he was pretty big on repentance. But the truth is, this phrase comes from an old English expression about changing the page, or leaf, of a book, not from anything Jesus actually said.
19 Grim Realities of Dating After 50 That Are Often Overlooked
19 Grim Realities of Dating After 50 That Are Often Overlooked
26 Things That Will Be Extinct Because Millennials Refuse to Buy Them
26 Things That Will Be Extinct Because Millennials Refuse to Buy Them
24 Outdated Slang Terms You Absolutely Shouldn’t Be Using Anymore
24 Outdated Slang Terms You Absolutely Shouldn’t Be Using Anymore
25 Hardest Parts About Getting Older That No One Ever Talks About
25 Hardest Parts About Getting Older That No One Ever Talks About
