"And I'm a grandfather now. I want to be able to tell my grandson, when I'm in my later years, that I didn't turn away from the evidence that showed that we were doing some serious harm. In my faith tradition, it is written in the book of Matthew, 'Where your heart is, there's your treasure also.' And I believe that we ought to recognize the value to our children and grandchildren of taking steps that preserve the environment in a way that's good for them."
The fact of the matter is that Mr. Gore quoted the verse backwards. The passage from Matthew 6:21 actually says: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” In the context of the passage, Jesus points out that we tend to be concerned about our treasure; Jesus was saying we should be concerned about our eternal treasure in heaven rather than the temporary treasures of earth. In Mr. Gore’s misquote, he gave the impression that Jesus was telling us we should invest our treasure in the things our hearts desire. But Mr. Gore is not alone in misquoting the Bible. I’ve noticed there are many misunderstood verses that have made their way into common vernacular.
Instead of just citing many commonly misquoted verses, I’m going to divide this into three different sections: misquoted verses, out-of-context verses, and things believed to be in the Bible that aren’t really there. Let’s get started:
MISQUOTED VERSES
“Money is the root of all evil.”
People who say this are usually trying to disparage anyone who happens to be rich. It’s as though the money itself is evil and, so, simply being rich is a sin. The passage from 1 Timothy 6:10 actually says, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
We see clearly that it’s the love of money that is a sin. Some people have made money into their idol and err in their faith while pursuing riches but money, by itself, isn’t the root of evil.
"Pride goeth before a fall."
Younger people might not hear this so much anymore but it was a commonly used saying back in my day. I suppose it’s not a terrible misquote but the actual verse in Proverbs 16:18 says, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
“The lion shall lay down with the lamb.”
I don’t know if I should call this a misquote or something else. These words don’t appear in the Bible. Seriously! People are often shocked when I tell them this and furiously flip through their Bible to prove me wrong but I’m not. You can search for yourself and you’ll see it’s not found anywhere.
I’m not exactly sure why this misquote has become so widely believed and has been so enduring. There are two verses that may have given rise to the misquote:
Isaiah 11:6,The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 65:25, The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.
Both of these verses mention a lamb and a lion but neither says they lay down together. Of course, Jesus is referred to as both the Lion and the Lamb so maybe people lump them together.
Whatever the source of the confusion, the commonly used phrase is a misquote of the Bible.
“Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
I believe this isn’t intended to be a quote from the Bible but is meant as a paraphrase of a biblical principle. Proverbs 13:24 says, He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
I suppose the paraphrase isn’t terrible but it seems to change the meaning slightly. The Bible tells us that loving parents will discipline their children when it’s necessary. The paraphrase almost makes it sound as though we should raise our kids by beating them.
OUT OF CONTEXT VERSES
Sometimes people will correctly quote a verse from the Bible, but will ignore the context and attempt to use the verse to mean something other than the intended meaning.
Matthew 7:1, Judge not, that ye be not judged.
People who cite this verse want us to believe that the Bible forbids us from judging anyone. From the context, however, we can see that Jesus is clearly talking about being a hypocrite. Read the entire context of verses 1-5:
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
You can see that the passage condemns judging somebody for something while, at the same time, you’re doing the same things or even worse. Put simply, you are drawing attention to a speck in a brother’s eye while ignoring the beam in your own eye.
Matthew 7:12, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Many times, people who quote this verse are trying to justify treating someone poorly because the other person has already treated them poorly. In other words, they want to make the verse mean, “Do unto others as they do unto you.”
Sometimes, this verse is interpreted in a way that is closer to the intended meaning but still misses the mark. It’s as though the command is to not do anything bad to someone because we wouldn’t want them to do something bad to us. They make the verse mean something like, “Don’t do anything to others that you wouldn’t want done to you.”
The Bible sets a higher standard for Christians. We are expected to treat people in the way we would like to be treated, without regard to how they might actually treat us. We are commanded to show kindness, grace, mercy, and forgiveness even to those who hate us. We should never be vengeful nor indifferent.
Matthew 18:20, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Be honest with yourself. Every time you’ve heard this verse, you envision a Bible study or prayer meeting with a handful of people confident that the Lord is with them in spite of their small number. Am I right? Certainly, Jesus promised us that He would be with us always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20) but Matthew 18:20 isn’t referring to that.
Here is the context of the verse: Matthew 18:15-20, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The passage needs little explanation. It’s talking about church discipline and confronting sin in the church. It’s hardly appropriate to use it as a description of a Bible fellowship!
THINGS NOT IN THE BIBLE
Adam ate an apple.
Some commentators say the fruit Adam ate was never identified but I disagree. The Bible says Adam and Eve were judged for eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Nowhere does the Bible say it was an apple.
There were three Wise Men
The Bible only says that wise men came from the east to worship Jesus. It doesn’t say how many. Perhaps three is assumed because they gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I believe the Bible merely describes what kinds of gifts were given but many men could have given the same gifts. For example, two men could have given Christ gold, two given frankincense, and two given myrrh.
This too shall pass
This is a proverb believed to have come from ancient Persia but many people think it’s a verse from the Bible. It’s not. We do have an assurance from the Bible that Christ has delivered us from death and can trust that He will always deliver us (2 Corinthians 1:10).
The Lord helps those that help themselves
While many adages are meant to convey biblical principles, some are closer to Scripture than others. This is one of those “others” that really has no basis in Scripture. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” To believe that we can work in the flesh and God will bless us, is to commit the sin of pride. To think that we can do anything is to rob God of His glory!
The Lord works in mysterious ways
People say this about God but it’s not a verse found anywhere in the Bible. It’s most likely a paraphrase from a 1774 hymn by William Cowper:
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
and rides upon the storm.
CONCLUSION
There are more things I could include but this post has gone on long enough. Maybe I’ll do a ‘part 2’ sometime but hopefully these examples are enough to demonstrate the ignorance many people have about the Bible - even many professing Christians. 2 Timothy 2:15 commands us to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” If we have to study to show ourselves approved to God, what does it mean if we don’t study? I guess it would mean God doesn’t approve, we should be ashamed, and we can’t rightly divide the word of truth!
So the next time you’re in a conversation with someone who quotes a favorite verse to you, I suggest you not simply take his word for it. Go to the Bible and read the passage for yourself. The Truth might surprise you!
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