Everyday sayings of Jesus
On the straight and narrow
Keeping on the straight and narrow is about resisting the temptation to do something wrong, or making sure you don’t fall into bad habits.
The saying is a slight mistranslation from the words of Jesus as they appeared in the old King James version of the Bible (first published in 1611). There, Jesus says, “strait is the gate and narrow the way” which leads to life. “Strait” is an old English word which means “narrow”, but it’s become “straight” in the modern saying. Here’s the full saying of Jesus from the King James Bible…
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
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About this module
The salt of the earth… on the straight and narrow… a baptism of fire… many everyday sayings started with Jesus. Here are 30 of them. We’ve gathered the best known modern sayings and included some notes on what they mean and where you can find them in the accounts of Jesus’ life.
Module contents
Index of sayings
A baptism of fire
The blind leading the blind
Casting your pearls before swine
Coming back from the dead
Counting the cost
A crown of thorns
A den of thieves
Do to others as you would have them do to you
Doubting Thomas
Falling on stony ground
Going the extra mile
A good samaritan
Having a cross to bear
Hiding your light under a bushel
Jesus wept!
Killing the fatted calf
The kiss of Judas
Left hand doesn't know what right hand is doing
Man cannot live by bread alone
A millstone around your neck
Moving mountains
On the straight and narrow
The prodigal returns
The salt of the earth
Separating the sheep from the goats
Sweating blood
Thirty pieces of silver
Turning the other cheek
Until kingdom come
A wolf in sheep's clothing
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