Hyperbole in the Bible

pastorables · Postby **pastorables** » March 19th, 2013, 5:59 pm

I recently preached on the subject of Hyperbole in the Bible. Anyone who has studied this knows that there are certainly instances of Hyperbole in the scriptures, Old and New Testament.

My specific question is regarding:

Matthew 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

I initially used this one as an example of Hyperbole, but upon further reflection, I'm not really sure. This is regarding the hand part and not the hell part. I believe the hell statement to be literal. Any thoughts?

Pastor Bill · Postby **Pastor Bill** » March 20th, 2013, 2:45 am

Yes and no, I don't believe this scripture is saying literally that people should cut their hands off, but at the same time I know a pastor who lost his arm when he was younger. It is my understanding after that happened, he turned his life around, got more serious about his relationship with God, began to minister, and is now a leader among pastors in our community.

Would his life be the same had that accident not happened? Did God use that to bring him to where he needed to be? I can't say, but regardless, the statement in scripture is true, it is better to lose something in this life but gain eternity that to stay whole here and lose eternity. The example may be extreme, but still accurate.

RaceRunner · Postby **RaceRunner** » March 20th, 2013, 6:15 am

Nope...changed my mind...decided I didn't want to get involved. delete.

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » March 20th, 2013, 1:17 pm

One thing that struck me a long time ago was how you never see an instance in Scripture of anyone losing a limb or an eye in order to keep from falling and keep to following.

I don't know how we could launch an amputation ministry. :lol:

I have, however, thought I would be willing to volunteer for a millstone ministry for those who offend or hurt children.

Both of those passages, by the way, have the same caution....that you would be better off to lose the limb, the eye, have the millstone draped onto you, etc. ....than to sin and come under the judgment of God, IF it were possible to remove guilt from yourself by that mutilation or punishment. Since it is not possible to remove the guilt of a thieving heart, a lustful or coveting heart, or to rehabilitate by drowning, it is hyperbole. Effective hyperbole at that.

Pastor Bill · Postby **Pastor Bill** » March 21st, 2013, 12:31 pm

I think in many ways it is more than hyperbole because it is saying "it would be better if ...."

It is not suggesting these things, but it is pointing out the severity. As my example above gave, sometimes things happen and we question God, but I always go back to these verses and realize this may be better than what God used this to prevent.

My daughter is going through some hurtful things at school, some parts she brought on herself, some parts are typical middle school drama, and some are just girls being mean. It's hard to see her go through it, but it has also caused her to look at some of her choices, opened up some good spiritual conversation and may become a turning point in her walk with God.

Do I want to see this happen, no, but it's better than her walking away from God, or he poor choices taking her down a path away from Him.

Just how much is reasonable to prevent Hell, yes losing a limb is probably worth it, but while I'm glad it didn't come to that for me (at least not yet) I am thankful that we serve a God who knows that and will allow us to suffer even those extremes if it would mean our salvation.

Full Quiver · Postby **Full Quiver** » March 25th, 2013, 3:21 am

I wonder if at any time someone dismembered themselves in accordance with this verse and then later a "faith healer" prayed for them and their body part was miraculously restored ONLY to become an offense to the person once again? :lol:

My pastor knows a guy that exercised this verse in regards to his manhood. :shock:

beckrl · Postby **beckrl** » May 2nd, 2013, 2:02 pm

pastorables wrote:I recently preached on the subject of Hyperbole in the Bible. Anyone who has studied this knows that there are certainly instances of Hyperbole in the scriptures, Old and New Testament.

My specific question is regarding:

Matthew 5:30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

I initially used this one as an example of Hyperbole, but upon further reflection, I'm not really sure. This is regarding the hand part and not the hell part. I believe the hell statement to be literal. Any thoughts?

I'm late to offer my thoughts but here goes.

In regards to this verse I do consider it to be hyperbole. Jesus is given the extreme in that a man to cut off his hand to save his body. The point is that it is written not to steal. Now to steal a man would use his hand also Jesus pointed out his right hand. Now there are a number of reasons but the first is the right hand of an agreement or covenant that a man would break and not keep his part of the agreement.

I would not take 'hell' to be literal, but figurative of death and the place of the died. Those dead was placed in the grave and their bodies would decay. Jesus was using hyperbole and figurative langauge about spiritual death.

Jude 2