Some examples of hyperbole in the bible are as follows.
Luke 6:41 "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother 's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?"
Mark 10:25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."
Matthew 6:3 "3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,"
Judges 20:16 "16 Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss."
John 21:25 "25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."
Psalm 18:29: "By my God I can leap over a wall."
Amos 2:9: "The Amorites' height is compared to cedars"
Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. You ought to have done these, without neglecting the others"
Luke 14:26 reads, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple"
God used Simile in many cases, one such case is:
Matthew 23:26-28 "…26 Blind Pharisee! First, clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Were the Pharisees actually blind? NO, Were they sepulchers of stone in a cemetery? No. God was using a simile to describe the deadness of their hearts of stone. He compared the appearance of righteousness as opposed to the actual heart of stone that people did not see when encountering them.
Luke 11:44 "Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
God used examples of simile and hyperbole often in His Word. Telling a story to demonstrate a point more fully can bring proud people to the end of themselves to repent of wrong thinking or they can become irritated and angry, claiming we did something wrong by presenting a hypothetical situation that clarifies the truth.
It is interesting to me that as soon as a stubborn person realizes they have been proven wrong, they will ignore the message entirely and complain about the way the truth was presented. This allows them to place the blame on us for "making trouble" by questioning them or presenting the truth that proves them wrong.
When someone has a stubborn heart and a prideful spirit, they will avoid answering directly, either through silence or by attacking us personally as though we did something wrong in the delivery. These people are intimidated when confronted with the truth. The blame game is their go-to tactic rather than pondering what was said and desiring to know the truth. Preservation of their elevated image is first and foremost in the hearts of those who do not care about the truth; they care only about winning and appearing superior.
My response when I find out someone is unwilling to have an honest discussion and look at all sides of the scriptures to find truth is when I am finished with them. There is no spiritual growth in dishonest conversation based on personal preservation more than the truth of the Bible.
We must keep speaking truth as led by the Holy Spirit, and learn to walk away from those who don't want the truth.
1 Timothy 6:4-5 "He is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain."
