Often to register what something is, it is useful to show what it is not. The listener sees the comparison, registers the shocking difference there is in the two items. Jesus often spoke of extremes, surprised people by parallels and contrasts.
- Same construction
People don’t need to know formal grammar to notice when a statement has as lovely balance to it, where the halves match, where they fit in a pattern that either confirms or makes a surprising contrast.
that where I am, you may be also
they say to me “Have we not prophesied in thy name, cast out evils, done wonderful works?
whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven
A Samaritan saw him, had compassion, went to him, bound up his wounds, set him on his beast
as I said unto the Jews, so now I say to you
ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you
Either he will hate the one and love the other, or hold to the one, despise the other
for my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed
I am the way, the truth and the life
I know him. I am from him, and he hath sent me
I know whence I came and whither I go. But ye cannot tell when I come and whither I go
I was an hungered and yet gave me meat, thirsty and ye gave me drink, naked and ye clothed me
if God so clothe the grass how much more will he clothe you
No man putteth new cloth on an old garment ..or new wine into old bottles
some of them ye shall kill and crucify; some of them shall ye scourge
the life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment
they shall mock him and scourge him and spit upon him and kill him
thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, all thy soul, all thy mind, all thy strength
when men shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name
when thou prayest enter thy closet, shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret
woe unto you that are rich.. woe unto you that are full.. woe unto you that laugh
using opposites
No man knoweth who the son is but the Father , and who the Father is but the Son
what measure you mete, it shall be measure to you
a good man out of good treasure bringeth forth good things, an evil man of evil treasure evil things
Capernaum which art exalted to heaven shall be thrust down to hell
except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God
He that is not with me is against me
he would have given thee living water
heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away
If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out?
In my Father’s house are many mansions
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the last of these, ye did it not to me
Judge not, that ye be not judged
Let the dead bury their dead
My head with oil thou didst not anoint but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment
many are called but few are chosen
no man can serve two masters.
no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven
not as I will but as Thou wilt
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man but that which cometh out of the mouth
render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s and to God the things that are God’s
that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit
The last state of the man is worse than the first
the sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath
The servant is not above his master. It is enough that the servant be as his master
the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister
the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them
The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak
these ought yet to have done and not to leave the other undone
They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick
thou art careful and troubled about many things but one thing is needful
Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee ruler over many things
thy father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly
what I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light
what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder
Whatsoever though shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven
whosoever shall be ashamed of me, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed
with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible
Ye have made the commandment of God of none effect
Speech Style of Jesus 