How often does the letter "c" occur in:
In his three and a half year ministry, Jesus often used an effective teaching method, hyperbole. This is an intentionally exaggerated statement or claims not meant to be taken literally but rather to emphasize a point. Yes, we interpret the Bible literally but with figurative language and such passages like hyperbole have to be understood and then once you understand what the author or speaker meant by his use of figurative or hyperbolic language, this is then what you take literally. By Jesus’ use of hyperbole, he was able to create a mental picture that enabled the hearer to retain for life the lesson or point that Jesus was making. Let us take a moment and look at a few examples.
Can you imagine the scene? Think about it, we are talking about one who is very quick to be critical of others says that he is willing to extract a mere “speck” from his brother’s “eye.” The irony is that this person who is very busy criticizing everyone is claiming that the spiritual brother or sister with the alleged “speck” is not able to see matters clearly enough so as to provide fair judgments. However, in the critic’s mind, he or she believes that they are fully able to offer acceptable judgments. Yet, the critic’s own ability to judge is diminished by a “log.” A log is a part of the trunk or a large branch of a tree that might be used to support a roof. This was an extraordinary way to emphasize how absurd it is to criticize the minor faults of our spiritual brothers or sisters when we may have major shortcomings of our own!
On another occasion, Jesus condemned the Pharisees as “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24) This was an especially strong use of hyperbole. Why? We can visually picture the contrast between a tiny gnat and a camel, the camel being one of the largest animals known to Jesus’ hearers, was very striking. It has been estimated that it would take up to seventy million gnats to equal the weight of a camel! In addition, Jesus knew that “the law declared that many winged creatures were unclean (Lev. 11:23, 41), which the rabbis applied by straining wine to keep out small insects that made wine unclean (cf. m. Šabb. 20:2; b. Ḥul. 67a).[1] Those fanatic zealots for rules did that in order to avoid swallowing a gnat and thereby become ceremonially unclean. However, they figuratively gulped the camel down, which also was unclean. (Leviticus 11:4, 21-24) How clear was Jesus’ point? The Pharisees showed the greatest details and interest complied with the smallest of the Law’s requirements, but they neglected the matters that were more important.—“justice and mercy and faithfulness.” (Matthew 23:23) Jesus very clearly exposed them for what they were!
Through Jesus’ three and half year ministry, Jesus often used hyperbole.
I tell you the truth grabbed the disciples’ attention and alerted them that Jesus was about to say something of great importance: It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Note that Jesus did not say such a thing is impossible; merely unlikely, because of the lure of earthly wealth. The rich young ruler had bought into a form of what is today called prosperity theology, which teaches that God blesses those who follow him with material riches.
[2] Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 272–273.
[1] Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 144.

user
There are seventy-six "c"s in the text you provided.
assistant