VersePhraseExplanation
Mat 8:20Foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nestsJesus answers with this proverb. This means even wild animals have somewhere to rest.
Mat 9:12People who are strong in body do not need a physician, only those who are sickJesus answers with a proverb. He means that he eats with these kinds of people because he has come to help sinners.
Mat 9:37The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are fewJesus uses a proverb to respond to what he is seeing. Jesus means there are a lot of people who are ready to believe God but only few people to teach them God's truth.
Mat 10:24A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a servant above his masterJesus is using a proverb to teach his disciples a general truth. Jesus is emphasizing that the disciples should not expect people to treat them any better than the people treat Jesus.
Mat 10:29Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?Jesus states this proverb as a question to teach his disciples. Alternate Translation: "Think about the sparrows. They have so little value that you can buy two of them for only one small coin."
Mat 10:37He who finds his life will lose it. But he who loses ... will find itJesus uses a proverb to teach his disciples. This should be translated with as few words as possible. Alternate Translation: "Those who find their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives ... will find them" or "If you find your life you will lose it. But if you lose your life ... you will find it"
Mat 10:39He who finds his life will lose it. But he who loses ... will find itJesus uses a proverb to teach his disciples. This should be translated with as few words as possible. Alternate Translation: "Those who find their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives ... will find them" or "If you find your life you will lose it. But if you lose your life ... you will find it"
Mat 11:19But wisdom is justified by her deedsThis is a proverb that Jesus applies to this situation, because the people who rejected both him and John were not being wise. Jesus and John the Baptist are the wise ones, and the results of their deeds prove it.
Mat 12:25Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and every city or house divided against itself will not standJesus uses a proverb to respond to the Pharisees. Both of these statements mean the same thing. They emphasize that it would not make sense for Beelzebul to use his power to fight other demons.
Mat 15:26It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogsJesus responds to the woman with a proverb. The basic meaning is that it is not right to take what is supposed to belong to Jews and give it to non-Jews.
Mat 24:28Wherever a dead animal is, there the vultures will gatherThis is probably a proverb that the people of Jesus' time understood. Possible meanings are 1) when the Son of Man comes, everyone will see him and know that he has come, or 2) wherever spiritually dead people are, false prophets will be there to tell them lies.
Mat 24:48Connecting Statement:Jesus concludes his proverb of a master and servants to illustrate that his disciples should be prepared for his return.
Mrk 2:17People who are strong in body do not need a physician; only people who are sick need oneJesus used this proverb about sick people and doctors to teach them that only people who know that they are sinful realize that they need Jesus.
Luk 4:23Doctor, heal yourselfIf someone claims to be able to heal diseases that he himself has, there is no reason to believe he is really a doctor. People will speak this proverb to Jesus to say that they will only believe he is a prophet if they see him do what they have heard that he did in other places.
Luk 4:24no prophet is received in his own hometownJesus makes this general statement in order to rebuke the people. He means that they are refusing to believe the reports of his miracles in Capernaum. They think they already know all about him.
Luk 5:31People who are well ... sickJesus uses this proverb to begin to tell them that he calls sinners to repentance the way a physician calls sick people to be healed.
Luk 9:58Foxes have holes ... nowhere to lay his headJesus responds with a proverb to teach the man about being Jesus' disciple. Jesus implies that if the man were to follow him, that man too might not have a home. Alternate Translation: "Foxes have holes ... nowhere to lay his head. So do not expect that you will have a home"
Luk 9:62No one ... fit for the kingdom of GodJesus responds with a proverb to teach the man about being his disciple. Jesus means that a person is not suitable for the kingdom to God if he focuses on people in his past instead of following Jesus.
Luk 17:37Where there is a body, there will the vultures also be gathered togetherApparently this is a proverb that means "It will be obvious" or "You will know it when it happens." Alternate Translation: "As vultures gathering shows that there is a dead body, so these things show that the Son of Man is coming"
2Pe 2:22A dog returns to its own vomit, and a washed pig returns to the mudPeter uses two proverbs to illustrate how the false teachers, although they have known "the way of righteousness," have turned back to the things that make them morally and spiritually impure.