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FIGURES OF SPEECH
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT FIGURES OF SPEECH.
The Bible is literally filled with figures of Speech. All languages have them. A figure of speech is a symbol used to explain something else or to show the comparison of one thing to another. They add color and excitement to any language. We don’t take them literally – they are not given to be taken literally.
Examples in our Language:
"I slept like a log"
"You were really sawing logs"
"She is a real fox"
"Jesus referred to a wicked king as an old fox.
"Elvis told us of "A hunka, hunka of burning love"
"He is really hard nose".
"It is scarce as hen teeth."
"She is cold as ice."
These things (while being very expressive) are not said to be literal.
We see these used through the book of the Revelation:
The Lamb - The seven spirits - The whore that rides the back of the beast. - The new city is filled with Figures of Speech.
What I would like for us to consider in this study"
THERE ARE SEVEN FIGURES OF SPEECH THAT THE WORD OF GOD USES TO SHOW THE RELATIONSHIP OF JESUS TO HIS CHURCH. They are not literal. Most of them we could not possible understand as literal but not of them are.
1. The Shepherd and the Sheep
2. The Body and its members
3. The Temple and the stones
4. The Bread and those eating it.
5. The Vine and the Vinedresser
6. The oil and the Lamp.
7. The Bride and the Bridegroom.
They are not literal - They are figures of speech. If you try to make them walk on all four - it will break down. Each has one central truth - beyond that we can learn lessons but not draw doctrinal lines.
1. The Shepherd and the Sheep
(Psa 23: 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
2. The Body and it’s members
1 Cor 12: 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
3. The Temple and its stones.
1 Pet. 2:3 (NIV) now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
4. The Bread and the eater
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
5. The vine and the Vinedresser
15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
6. The oil and the lamp.
Matt. 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
7. The Bride and the Bridegroom
John 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
