What are some of the most famous sayings of Jesus?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Though the words Jesus spoke while on this earth are only a fraction of God's words recorded in the Bible, they are arguably the ones that have had the greatest impact on humanity. Some of Jesus' sayings have become ingrained into the fabric of culture. An example is what society calls the “golden rule” about treating others as we would treat ourselves (Matthew 22:39). Jesus’ words are also often taken out of context and misused, such as the passage about not judging others (Matthew 7:1-5); that passage is about not judging hypocritically, not about completely suspending our discernment skills to accept behavior that the Bible clearly condemns. Some of Jesus’ words cause an outcry, standing in stark contrast to the ways of the world. For example, His words in John 14:16 about Him being the only way to salvation bother the world who would like to think that all are saved regardless of their beliefs (an unbiblical idea). Regardless of how certain sayings of Jesus are accepted, the words of Jesus are unlike those of any other man.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The famous sayings of Jesus are not found in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Some of Jesus’ well-known sayings of Jesus are expounded upon below.
• "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior (John 3:16–18; Acts 4:12). He is fully human and fully God (Philippians 2:5–11). He experienced the same suffering and temptations of humanity and yet did not sin (Hebrews 4:14–16). Jesus died on the cross, an innocent and perfect sacrifice, to atone for the sins of the world. He rose to life on the third day, victorious over sin and death and proving He is who He claims to be. It is only through faith in Him that we are forgiven for our sins and gifted eternal salvation. See also John 4:13–14 and John 10:10–11, 27–30.
• "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37–39). Our first priority in life is to love God. He alone is worthy of our worship and everything we do should be to glorify Him. Second only to God, we are to love others as ourselves. Through loving them we demonstrate the love of Christ and point them in His direction. See also Luke 6:31 and Matthew 5:44.
• "But many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Matthew 19:30).
• Believers are continually being made new as their character becomes more like Christ's. They are encouraged to be humble, to serve others, to love their enemies, and to forgive.
• "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:34–35). Just as Jesus called the disciples to leave their fishing nets and follow Him, He calls us to leave behind the ways of this world and put our trust in Him. He warns the journey will not be easy, but that the reward of following Him is far greater than any riches this world can offer. See also Matthew 4:19, Matthew 7:7, and John 8:12.
• "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19–20). Christians are to actively live out our faith and guide others to Christ. We are tasked with spreading the good news of the gospel to the ends of the earth. We are to help others follow Jesus. See also Matthew 5:14–16.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Jesus’ words should be our anchor in every season of life, guiding and strengthening us amid challenges and uncertainties. His teachings reveal the heart of God and call us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind and to extend that same sacrificial love to others. As we meditate on His words, we will find comfort in His promises and clarity in His commands, helping us navigate life’s complexities with faith and courage.

However, we must also remain vigilant against those who distort or misuse Jesus’ message to serve their own agendas. The world is full of voices that claim to speak truth but twist God’s Word, leading many astray. That’s why it’s essential that we test every teaching against the whole of Scripture, grounding ourselves in the Bible to gain true understanding and discernment. This spiritual discipline equips us to recognize deception, hold fast to genuine truth, and grow deeper in our relationship with Christ.

Embracing Jesus’ words means more than just admiring them; it encourages us to respond to who Jesus is and to find forgiveness from sin and a transformed life marked by obedience, humility, and love. Jesus calls us to follow Him, not just to admire Him as a prophet or a good teacher. Responding to Jesus challenges us to deny our selfish desires, take up our cross daily, and to live as a reflection of His grace in a broken world. As we live out the ways of Jesus, we can become a light to others, sharing the hope of the gospel and drawing people toward our Savior, who redeems and restores all who trust Him.

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus’ sayings reveal His identity as Savior and call us to trust Him for salvation.
• Jesus teaches us to love God and others.
• Jesus’ sayings compel us to respond to who He is, not just to see Him as a prophet or good teacher.

REFLECT

• How do Jesus’ words challenge you in the way you love God and others?
• How are you actively following Jesus’ call to deny yourself and take up your cross?
• How do Jesus’ promises and teachings give you hope and strength when you face difficulties?

ENGAGE

• How do Jesus’ teachings contrast with the values we often see in society today?
• What does it mean for us as followers to truly “make disciples” in our communities and beyond?
• How can we discern and guard against distortions of Jesus’ message in the world around us?