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Obama Quotes Nonexistent Bible Verse in Immigration Speech

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Dec 11, 2014

President Obama delivered a speech on immigration Tuesday (Dec. 9) where he quoted the “good book.” However, part of what the President said is not in scripture. 

"The good book says don't throw stones at glass houses, or make sure we're looking at the log in our eye before we are pointing out the mote in other folks eyes," Obama said in the speech. 

The Washington Post reports that the expression “they that live in glass houses should not throw stones” is not a Bible verse, but a proverb of unknown origin. 

The second part of Obama’s statement is taken from Matthew 7:1-3 which says, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye."

Also in the speech, Obama compared immigration to the Christmas story saying, "If we're serious about the Christmas season, now is the time to reflect on those who are strangers in our midst and remember what it was like to be a stranger."

This statement was criticised by some because Mary and Joseph were travelling to Joseph’s native land when there was no room at the inn; they were not illegal immigrants. Also, the reason Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem was to follow the law and return to Joseph’s homeland for a census. 

Publication date: December 11, 2014