Sometimes powerful metaphors compare an animal to a person, an object to a person.
Jesus does this but also adds to it. He also goes the other way and speaks of a person as an animal.
He speaks of himself and of others as animals or plants or even food. He even speaks of people as examples of an abstract idea.
1 Object compared to person or person compared to object
he had no root in himself
he hearest the word and understandeth it and beareth fruit
I am the bread of life
I am the door of the sheep
I am the vine. Ye are the branches
John was a burning and shining light
the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth light unto the world
they hear the word, receive it with gladness and have no root in themselves
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand
ye shall know them by their fruits
2Person compared to animal or animal compared to person
I send you forth as lambs among wolves
do not cast your pearls before swine
false prophets come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves
Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel
go ye and tell that fox
he calleth his own sheep by name
it is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs
other sheep I have which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring
the foxes have holes, the birds have nests, but the son of man hath no where to lay his head
what man having a hundred sheep, if he lose one doth not leave the 90 and 9 and go after the lost?
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers
3 One type of person compared to another type of person
now shall the prince of this world be cast out
one soweth and another reapeth. Other men laboured and ye are entered into their labours.
He sent unto them his son and they said let us kill him and size on his inheritance
he that soweth is the son of man, the tares are children of the wicked on, the reapers are the angels
I will make you to become fishers of men
It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you
little children, yet a little while I am with you
Our Father, which is in heaven
that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven
The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them
4 Person compared to abstract concept
come out of the man, thou unclean spirit
Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil?
let your light shine before men
Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat
Then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts
these things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you and your joy might be full
they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life
this people’s heart is waxed gross, their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes they have closed
when the unclean spirit is gone out of a an he walked through dry places seeking rest
whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin
ye are of your father the devil
You are the light of the world
Speech Style of Jesus 