I was driving down the street the other day, when a bumper sticker caught my eye – “All things are possible.” Hmm, nice try but WRONG. That got me thinking, there are SO MANY quotes we think are the actual quote. So what is the actual quote? Let’s dig into some of the most common misquotes from the Bible.
Wrong: “All things are Possible”
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Actual quote: “WITH GOD all things are possible” – Matthew 19:26
The misquote makes it sound like WE can do anything, which is actually true, but only with God is that possible. Jesus proved that to his disciples by sending them out to preach and perform miracles, which they couldn’t do before they were with Him. But With God, it was possible.
Nope: “I can do all things”
Actual quote: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13
Like the previous misquote, this one also removes Christ, and makes it sound like “I” have the power, when in reality, our power is only through Jesus.
Try again: “Ask and you shall receive” or “Seek and you shall find”
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Actual quote: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened…” – Matthew 7:7
Asking or seeking isn’t a guarantee that you will receive what you are asking for. Again, removing the context of the full quote as it goes on to explain, is that we don’t know how to ask or seek properly, but the Father will give us the good things to those who are in relationship with Him, not just asking when you need something.
Just no: “Judge not”
Actual quote: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.” – Matthew 7:1
Another one that removes the full context as to why we are not to judge. Judging others while not looking at our own hearts and faults only makes us the fool. If we are to judge, make sure we are righteous first, and correct the person making the wrong choices the right way.
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Out of context: “Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
Actually reading Psalm 46, it talks about war and uproar and desolation, not really the peaceful flowery meadow that we often will think of when reading this passage.
Out of context: “Turn the other cheek” – Matthew 5:39
We are not to disregard our own personal safety to follow Jesus. But if someone is evil to you or harms you, don’t do evil back to them. Remove them from your life, forgive them and continue on.
Oops: “Money is the root of all evil”
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Actual quote: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” – 1 Timothy 6:10
Money is not inherently evil. We need it in our society for food, housing and clothing, to do works of charity and good works with. But when the love of money outweighs our love for God, it is evil. When we use money for evil purposes that cause death or harm, it is evil.
Oh boy: “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden?'” – Genesis 3:1
Actual quote: “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die” – Genesis 2:16-17
And the first and most famous misquote of them all – the quote that the serpent quoted which engaged Eve to look at the tree that God did not want them to eat from. She too misquoted God in response, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” So, misquotes are nothing new, but the next time someone tries to quote the Bible or you read a bumper sticker in traffic that just doesn’t sound quite right, be sure to follow up and pick up the Bible to get the full context.