And the one seated on it was like jasper ¹  and carnelian ²  in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald ³  encircled the throne.

The ¹  first living creature was like a lion, the ²  second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ¹ 

“To what then should I compare the people ¹  of this generation, and what are they like?

Now ¹  the locusts looked like horses equipped for battle. On ²  their heads were something like crowns similar to gold, ³  and their faces looked like men’s ⁴  faces.

Thus Jesus ¹  asked, ²  “What is the kingdom of God ³  like? ⁴  To ⁵  what should I compare it?

It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with ¹  three measures ²  of flour until all the dough had risen.” ³ 

and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. ¹  He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt ²  around his chest.

His feet were like polished bronze ¹  refined ²  in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar ³  of many waters.

and began to shout ¹  when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, ²  “Who is like the great city?”

The city possesses ¹  the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. ² 

The city’s ¹  wall is made ²  of jasper and the city is pure gold, like transparent glass. ³ 

“To ¹  what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, ² 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner ¹  who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

“Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice ¹  – I will show you what he is like:

be like people ¹  waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, ²  so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

Some people said, ¹  “This is the man!” ²  while others said, “No, but he looks like him.” ³  The man himself ⁴  kept insisting, “I am the one!” ⁵ 

So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity ¹  is like gold or silver or stone, an image ²  made by human ³  skill ⁴  and imagination. ⁵