Jesus' use of exaggeration

Jesus often used exaggeration to illustrate a point. The literary term for this method is hyperbole, which Wiki defines as "a rhetorical device in which statements are exaggerated. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally."

Wikipedia knows it. Some of us readers may know it. But the disciples often miss the point.

One example: To illustrate the seriousness of the hour, Jesus says in Luke 22:

35 "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing."

36 And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.

The disciples' response:

38 They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." (i.e. they didn't get it, so He dismisses the issue. But, as we are later to find out, they still didn't get it.)

Change scene to Gethsemane, where Judas comes with people to arrest Him. The disciples, armed and ready for action, said:

49 "Lord, shall we strike with the sword ?"

50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered and said, "Stop ! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him.

They just didn't get it. He was using hyperbole, exaggeration, to illustrate the seriousness of the the times. But His disciples took it literally, and He had to intervene and heal the poor man whose ear was cut off. (Btw, there's hope for all of us here. We may make our mistakes, but our Lord is sovereign, and can cover our mistakes. Note though, that the man's ear was healed -- not replaced).

I feel sorry for those poor, earnest souls in China and elsewhere, who took the Lord's words literally and plucked out their eye, or cut off their hand, because they thought they were obeying His commands. May we pray that we have wisdom and discernment in reading His Word, that we may apply it judiciously.

When we read the Word -- the whole Word, from cover to cover, and within context -- have in the back of our minds that God is Love, and Love isn't destructive. Love heals, and Love warns, in order that we may avoid destruction. Let us interpret His Word accordingly, and if anything sounds unloving, leave that on the shelf until He reveals more in time.