These phrases are often attributed to Jesus by Christians, but many aren’t found in the Bible. Some have an ancient origin, and others come from poets in the past few hundred years, but Jesus didn’t say these 18 things.
“God helps those who help themselves”
This quote is commonly attributed to Jesus but doesn’t appear in the Bible. Christianity.com explains that the quote has ancient origins and has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Today’s English version “was first penned by Algernon Sydney, an English politician who lived in the 1600s.”
“This too shall pass”
“This too shall pass” is a medieval Persian phrase about the temporary nature of the human condition, saying that nothing good or bad will last forever. It was popularized in the West by the English poet Edward FitzGerald and was used in a speech by Abraham Lincoln.
“God won’t give you more than you can handle”
There’s no direct biblical source for “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” but it may be based on 1 Corinthians 10:13. In the passage, Paul explains that God will help people resist and overcome temptation.
“To thine own self be true”
Jesus didn’t say, “To thine own self be true.” It’s a line from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. In Act 1, Scene 3, King Claudius’s chief minister, Polonius, delivers the line as part of a speech he’s giving to his son Laertes on how to behave at university.
“Judge not, lest ye be judged”
“Judge not, lest ye be judged” simplifies Matthew 7:1 and loses its nuanced context. Jesus isn’t saying, “Never judge others” in his Sermon on the Mount, but is warning that judgment has consequences. Later in the Sermon, Jesus instructs Christians on the proper way to use judgment.
“Charity begins at home”
Jesus didn’t say this phrase, and while its exact origin is debated, it’s often attributed to Sir Thomas Browne. The English author and polymath uses the phrase in his 1642 publication Religio Medici.
“Money is the root of all evil”
“Money is the root of all evil” is a popular warning about money’s corrupting nature, but it’s incomplete. Jesus didn’t say it; Paul did. JW.org explains that the popular phrase “is an incomplete and misleading Bible quotation” and that 1 Timothy 6:10 actually says, “The love of money is the root of all evil.”
“The eyes are the window to the soul”
This popular proverb isn’t a quote from Jesus and doesn’t appear in the Bible. Its exact origins remain obscure because several sources have used a similar phrase, including the Bible, Cicero, and William Shakespeare. However, the closest source is the French poet Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas.
“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”
This well-known adage warns about the consequences of lazy, unproductive behavior and has biblical origins. However, despite some believing it originates from Proverbs 16:27, it doesn’t appear verbatim in the Bible, instead appearing in a 1971 translation of the Living Bible.
“Spare the rod, spoil the child”
Jesus isn’t the origin of this phrase. It’s adapted from Proverbs 13:24, which really says, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” According to Bible Ref, “the primary purpose of this statement is to endorse loving discipline.”
“Prayer changes things”
The phrase “Prayer changes things” isn’t a direct biblical quote. Jesus didn’t say it, but it reflects a common Christian belief. Prayer is an important part of life for Christians of all denominations.
“The seven deadly sins”
The concept of “the seven deadly sins” doesn’t appear in the Bible but is an important part of Roman Catholic theology. Pope Gregory I first enumerated them in the 6th century, and St. Thomas Aquinas elaborated on them in the 13th century.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness”
Learn Religions explains that John Wesley, the co-founder of Methodism, “often emphasized cleanliness in his preaching” and may have invented this phrase. However, the principle of the phrase dates back “to the worship rituals laid out in the book of Leviticus.”
“Do unto others before they do unto you”
“Do unto others before they do unto you” is a corruption of the Golden Rule found in Matthew 7:12. Jesus actually says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
“Preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary”
“Preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary” is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, the Franciscan Order’s founder. St. Francis never said it, but the Franciscan Order’s Rule of 1221, Chapter XII, is similar.
“Hate the sin, love the sinner”
This phrase is often attributed to Jesus by Christians but doesn’t appear in the Bible. Christianity.com notes that many attribute it to Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography and to “pastor and author Adam Hamilton” within the Christian church.
“Ask, and you shall receive”
“Ask, and you shall receive” is an oversimplification of Matthew 7:7 that removes its conditional and contextual elements. Jesus says that God listens to prayer and answers it, but clarifies that it can’t be used to manipulate Him.
“Let go and let God”
“Let go and let God” is a relatively modern phrase not found in the Bible. Christians who use it acknowledge that God directs their paths and that they should let go of their lingering doubts and submit their lives to Him.
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