7 Common Misquotes of Jesus We Should Avoid

But what if they’re wrong?  For instance, a former generation used to say, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Usually, parents say this to get their kids to clean their rooms. And while there’s value to the discipline of keeping things orderly, this statement can’t be found in the Bible. Nowhere in the authoritative written Word of God does it equate cleanliness with being like God. To place a common or cultural phrase with biblical wisdom carries a certain amount of danger, whether an unrealistic standard or even leading people into deception.  Western culture has a number of such phrases, said with religious fervor, and we use these statements in conversation, counsel, movies, songs, and more. Yet the Bible expresses a different, contrary truth. And since the biblical truth leads us to Christ, who is life, we should correct our thinking and speech to align with what is good.