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36 quotations

Jesus Quotes: Sources, Meanings & Themes

Browse quotations by Jesus with named works, context notes, meanings and recurring themes.

About the author

Context for this collection

Historical/religious figure represented through Gospel source text

Common themes

Love, forgiveness, peace, truth, compassion, relationship and religious teaching.

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Focused topic collections for Jesus

Every publication-ready author-and-topic collection is linked here so the complete focused guide set remains directly discoverable from this author page.

Source identified1
It is more blessed to give than to receive.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus, quoted by Paul

The remembered saying shifts attention from acquisition to contribution, presenting generosity as a source of value for the giver as well as the recipient.

Source details

Acts 20:35 in the King James Version; Paul recalls the saying while urging support for the weak.

Source identified2
Jesus wept.

“Jesus wept.”

Voice: Narrator voice · Gospel narrator

The shortest sentence records grief without explanation or denial, showing sorrow as compatible with love, presence, and compassion in the face of death.

Source details

John 11:35, King James Version; Jesus weeps shortly before the raising of Lazarus, within a scene of mourning and bereavement.

Source identified4
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The line offers peace as something deeper than favorable circumstances and distinct from the reassurance the world ordinarily gives.

Source details

John 14:27 in the King James Version; opening clauses.

Source identified5
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The promise distinguishes inward peace from security based only on changing external circumstances, placing calm within a spiritual relationship rather than worldly control.

Source details

John 14:27 in the King James Version; the verse continues, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Source identified6
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

Joy is presented as something that can remain and become full through a sustained relationship rather than a passing mood.

Source details

John 15:11 in the King James Version.

Source identified7
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The verse defines love through costly action, making willingness to sacrifice for friends a measure of devotion rather than merely affectionate language.

Source details

John 15:13 in the King James Version.

Source identified8
I have called you friends.

“I have called you friends.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The brief phrase reframes the relationship from mere obedience toward disclosed trust and personal closeness.

Source details

John 15:15 in the King James Version; Jesus contrasts servants with friends who have been told what he has heard.

Source identified9
Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

“Ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The line does not deny sorrow; it frames grief as an experience that can be transformed rather than the final state of a life.

Source details

John 16:20 in the King James Version.

Source identified10
Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

“Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The promise describes a joy durable enough to survive separation and difficulty rather than one controlled entirely by other people.

Source details

John 16:22 in the King James Version; Jesus speaks about sorrow being turned into joy.

Source identified11
Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

“Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

Full joy is connected with asking and receiving inside a relationship of trust, rather than with passive wishfulness.

Source details

John 16:24 in the King James Version; concluding clause of the verse.

Source identified12
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The line acknowledges hardship directly before calling for courage, so cheer is not based on pretending that trouble does not exist.

Source details

John 16:33 in the King James Version; excerpt from Jesus’s closing words to the disciples.

Source identified15
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

Greater resources, knowledge, or authority create greater obligations rather than simply greater privilege.

Source details

Luke 12:48 in the King James Version; this excerpt keeps the central responsibility clause.

Source identified16
If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

“If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

This passage does not equate forgiveness with silence about harm: it places honest confrontation and forgiveness in the same sequence when repentance follows.

Source details

Luke 17:3 in the King James Version.

Source identified17
If he trespass against thee seven times in a day ... thou shalt forgive him.

“If he trespass against thee seven times in a day ... thou shalt forgive him.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

Repeated offence makes forgiveness harder, which is exactly the point of the passage: the moral demand is not limited to the first easy opportunity to forgive.

Source details

Luke 17:4 in the King James Version; the middle repetition is shortened with an ellipsis while preserving the verse’s instruction.

Source identified18
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The request for forgiveness is made in the middle of injury rather than after conditions become comfortable, giving the line its unusually demanding moral force.

Source details

Luke 23:34 in the King James Version.

Source identified19
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The line places human flourishing inside mutual care: strength, resources, attention, or opportunity become responsibilities toward other people.

Source details

Luke 6:31 in the King James Version.

Source identified20
Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The short instruction treats forgiveness as a practice rather than merely a feeling: release is something a person does in response to another person’s fault.

Source details

Luke 6:37 in the King James Version; excerpt from the verse’s instruction about judgment and forgiveness.

Source identified21
Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.

“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The line links forgiveness with a transformed response of love, emphasizing that mercy changes the meaning of a person’s past rather than denying it.

Source details

Luke 7:47 in the King James Version; Jesus explains the woman’s actions during the meal at the Pharisee’s house.

Source identified22
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The instruction makes unresolved resentment relevant even in a private act of prayer: a grievance cannot simply be separated from the way a person approaches reconciliation and mercy.

Source details

Mark 11:25 in the King James Version; excerpt from the verse.

Source identified24
I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

“I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The answer rejects a small numerical limit on forgiveness, making repeated mercy the point rather than merely reaching a quota.

Source details

Matthew 18:22 in the King James Version; Jesus answers Peter’s question about how often a brother should be forgiven.

Source identified25
If ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

“If ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The emphasis falls on forgiveness that is more than outward compliance: the teaching demands a response rooted in the heart rather than merely performed.

Source details

Matthew 18:35, King James Version; the sentence concludes the parable of the unforgiving servant and returns to forgiveness between people.

Source identified26
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The command uses care for oneself as the measure for care toward another person, linking healthy self-regard with outward responsibility rather than selfishness.

Source details

Matthew 22:39 in the King James Version.

Source identified27
Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

“Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

Self-promotion and genuine worth are distinguished: the saying reverses ordinary status-seeking by making humility a condition of lasting honour.

Source details

Matthew 23:12 in the King James Version.

Source identified28
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The teaching gives ordinary acts of care moral weight by identifying service to overlooked people with service to something larger than oneself.

Source details

Matthew 25:40 in the King James Version; the king explains why acts of practical care toward “the least” mattered.

Source identified29
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

“Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The line places human flourishing inside mutual care: strength, resources, attention, or opportunity become responsibilities toward other people.

Source details

Matthew 5:42 in the King James Version.

Source identified30
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The teaching moves beyond merely withholding retaliation and asks for active goodwill toward opponents, making forgiveness part of a transformed response to hostility.

Source details

Matthew 5:44, King James Version; Jesus commands love, blessing, and good action toward enemies within the Sermon on the Mount.

Source identified33
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The prayer links asking for mercy with practicing mercy toward other people, making forgiveness a reciprocal moral discipline rather than a one-sided demand.

Source details

Matthew 6:12 in the King James Version.

Source identified34
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

Forgiveness is framed as conduct expected from people who themselves depend on mercy, tying belief to the way injury is answered.

Source details

Matthew 6:14 in the King James Version.

Source identified35
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

Attention is directed to ordinary flowers as a corrective to anxious preoccupation, making observation itself part of the teaching about worry.

Source details

Matthew 6:28, King James Version; Jesus points listeners to the lilies while discussing anxiety about clothing and material provision.

Source identified36
Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”

Voice: Reported speaker · Jesus

The line places human flourishing inside mutual care: strength, resources, attention, or opportunity become responsibilities toward other people.

Source details

Matthew 7:12 in the King James Version.