18 <\/sup>I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 <\/sup>And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.<\/p>\nRevelation 22:18-19<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Yet, as many people as there are that have read the Bible, so many interpretations of it exist. Even if we read the Bible literally, that is still a way to interpret it. In fact, the same is true with any piece of literature. When we read something, we draw conclusions about it whether we do so intentionally or not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the gospel of Matthew, after Jesus explains to the disciples why he uses parables, it says something interesting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 34 <\/sup>Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.<\/p>\nMatthew 13:34<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This scripture states that Jesus did not say anything<\/em> without using a parable. But is that really true? If so, we must take every word that Jesus spoke not literally, but as a parable. This, of course, has profound implications for how we interpret not only Jesus’ words, but the entire Bible. In this post, let’s look at some of the interesting language God and Jesus use in the Old and New Testament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the things that is mentioned a lot in the Bible is nature. There are many mentions of things like trees and mountains, sometimes in strange contexts. In the New Testament, there is a weird encounter between Jesus and a fig tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18 <\/sup>Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 <\/sup>Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, \u201cMay you never bear fruit again!\u201d Immediately the tree withered.<\/p>\nMatthew 21:18-19.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The encounter of the same event is recorded slightly differently in the gospel of Mark:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12 <\/sup>The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 <\/sup>Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 <\/sup>Then he said to the tree, \u201cMay no one ever eat fruit from you again.\u201d And his disciples heard him say it.<\/p>\nMark 11:12-14<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This scripture is confusing for various reasons. Some might say that this was recorded in the Bible to show that Jesus wielded power over nature. Indeed, the disciples are shocked after they see this, even though the account in Mark does not record their shock:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 20 <\/sup>When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. \u201cHow did the fig tree wither so quickly?\u201d they asked.<\/p>\nMatthew 21:20<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n But does Jesus need to make a fig tree wither in order to impress his disciples? The account in Mark says that the tree only had leaves “because it was not the season for figs”. So why should the tree be cursed and never bear fruit again simply because it was out of season? Moreover, Jesus’ rebuke even seems harsh and uncalled for; why was Jesus so upset about a fig tree without fruit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the disciples’ response, Jesus continues with one of the most famous scriptures in the New Testament:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 21 <\/sup>Jesus replied, \u201cTruly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, \u2018Go, throw yourself into the sea,\u2019 and it will be done. 22 <\/sup>If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.\u201d<\/p>\nMatthew 21:21-22<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Despite being an oft-quoted scripture, this scripture is even more confusing than the fig tree. In the history of humankind, there has not been one person that has thrown a mountain into the sea with their faith. Not even Jesus prayed and moved a mountain while he was alive. Does that mean that no-one on earth has enough faith to move a mountain? Earlier, Jesus also speaks about mountains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 20 <\/sup>He replied, \u201cBecause you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, \u2018Move from here to there,\u2019 and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.\u201d<\/p>\nMatthew 17:20<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n A mustard seed is miniscule, yet no faithful person on earth has ever moved a mountain with their faith. There is no record in the Bible of prophets, Kings, or even Jesus himself, moving mountains. Still, Jesus says it can be done. If we think back to Matthew 13:34, we might find some answers. If everything Jesus said is a parable, perhaps these words are parables that we must interpret too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to images of trees and mountains, the Bible also mentions many animals. Like the scriptures about the fig tree and moving mountains, the scriptures that talk about animals can be pretty confusing too. One of the famous prophecies for the Lord’s coming in Isaiah mentions that all animals will get along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 <\/sup>The wolf will live with the lamb,\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/unlockthebible.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AdobeStock_303841680-scaled-e1787062439761-1024x440.jpeg\" "\\"Silent")
Images of nature<\/h2><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Moving Mountains<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/unlockthebible.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AdobeStock_178591590-scaled-e1787065176940-1024x440.jpeg\" "\\"Wild")
Images of Animals<\/h2><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a<\/a>]<\/sup> together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 <\/sup>The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.<\/p>\nIsaiah 11:6-7<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/unlockthebible.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AdobeStock_2050725467-scaled-e1787066928133-1024x440.jpeg\" "\\"White")