When the fish story is exaggerated; and the white-tail buck scores bigger in the narrative than on the tape, that's a lie. But not all exaggerations are lies. Some exaggerations are called hyperboles. A hyperbole is a means of speaking that is intended to make a strong impression. It is never to be taken literally. An hyper, hyperbole is immediately recognized by that reality. A hyperbole is an overstatement as compared to a situation that is understated. When you are stuck in the mud, up to the floor boards and say, "I think I'm in trouble here;" that is understated. To bring in the groceries for your wife and say, "This bag weighs a ton;" is overstated.
"Jesus used a hyperbole to impress His listeners with the gravity of sin. It would be better to sever a member of the body than to keep it and go to hell." [1]
““Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” (Mark 9:42–48, ESV)
Overstatements are not intended to minimize the situation, but to show its severity. People who deny eternal suffering claiming that the Bible is just using metaphors fail to understand the role of the hyperbole. But we who are Christians might also make a similar error. Understanding grace and forgiveness may lead us to minimize the severity of sin. "Jesus is not demanding the excision of our bodily members; he is demanding the cessation of the sinful activities of these members. Radical spiritual surgery is demanded. Nothing less is at stake than life, eternal life (cf. v. 47, where "kingdom of God" stands in parallel to "life" in vv. 43, 45)." (Expositor's Bible Commentary).
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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (1988). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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