The Four Gospels abound in numerous similes. Similes are employed to compare two things of different categories because of the point or points of resemblance and because the association emphasizes, clarifies or in someway enhances the original. There are similes common to the four Gospels. Matthew in his comparison is elaborate:
You are like salt to the earth. If the salt loses its taste, there is no way to make it salty again. It has become worthless and so it is thrown away and people walk on it. (Mt. 5:13).
What Matthew means is that useless salt is good for nothing. In the same way man will be good for nothing if he loses his good quality and virtue etc.
The Gospel of Mark has very few similes when compared to Matthew and Luke. In Mk. 1v10 the baptism of Jesus is narrated as –
And straight away coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens open, and the spirit like a dove descending upon him.”
The Gospel of Luke consists of some remarkable similes though some of them are similar in nature to the similes in other Gospels. The comparison of the Holy Ghost to dove is common to that of the other Gospels.
And the Holy ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, ‘Thou’ art my beloved son in thee. I am well pleased (Lk 1:12).
The Gospel of John has only two similes one of which is found in John 15:6:
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
Here Jesus makes clear the identification of the branches and brings out the principle of the utter dependence of the disciples upon him.John has brought out this truth through his forceful language which is natural and pleasing in its style.
A Writer's Exposé 