What exactly is an "Unexpected Bible Verse"?  The dictionary defines "unexpected" as unforeseen, surprising, coming without warning, and not anticipated.  A person reading the Bible for the first time might find most verses to be unexpected.  With increasing familiarity, reading, and study, it is possible that a person might eventually find very few unexpected verses.

However, the Bible has a way of catching people off guard.  A familiar verse or passage, read many times in the past, suddenly gains new meaning, seen in a light that was never noticed before.  Or, it is possible that the real significance of a verse was never fully appreciated, and then it dawns on us.  In some cases, there is a twist to the outcome of a passage that is unexpected, or people in the Bible say or do things that seem out of character.  Of course, the reality is that we have not fully understood that particular person in the Bible until we have read this "unexpected" occurrence.  Finally, some "unexpected" verses are simply profound and absolute, countering the "me-first" expectations of the world today.

Below are a few Bible verses that I have found to be "unexpected", with an explanation of why I feel that way.  Undoubtedly, there are many more cases of this throughout the Bible.

1. “'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'"
        -  Isaiah 1:18
   
   Isaiah 1:1-17 talks about the rebellious nation of Israel, who has turned its back on the Lord.  The Lord finds their offerings detestable and meaningless.  He cannot bear their evil assemblies.  He compares Israel to Sodom and Gomorrah, only with survivors.  The Lord will not hear their prayers, as their deeds are evil.  But then comes Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord.
   
   I am like Israel, and the Lord should find my sins detestable as well.  But the Lord Almighty, Creator of the Universe, sovereign and omnipotent, is willing to come down to my level - a despised sinner - and actually reason together with me.  And not only that, but He also offers forgiveness of my personal sins through the death of his son Jesus on the cross!  This is very unexpected, until the meaning of grace is understood.  Thank you Lord!
    

2. "Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'"
        -  Mark 2:4-5
   
   The story "Jesus Heals a Paralytic" appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  I like the version in Mark the best.  I can picture the scene in my mind, with people massively crowding inside and around the house where Jesus was preaching.  As he continues to speak, debris begins to fall from the ceiling where men are creating a hole to lower the paralyzed man through on a mat.  I can imagine the tension build, and the anticipation rise in the crowd that Jesus will perform a miracle, and heal the man of his paralysis.  And then the unexpected occurs: "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'"
   
   This was actually doubly unexpected.  The crowd was expecting a physical miracle, that the paralyzed man would walk.  At the same time, teachers in the crowd questioned Jesus' ability to forgive sins, since they did not believe that Jesus was God.  Jesus, of course, was aware of what everyone was thinking in their hearts, and He addressed the issue of forgiving sins to the crowd.  Finally, to prove that He had the authority to forgive sins on earth, Jesus physically healed the paralytic, who took up his mat and walked home.  In the end, the man was both physically healed, and spiritually healed, through his faith in Jesus.
    

3. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
        -  Romans 5:3-4
   
   Something is not right here.  Christians are supposed to be blessed.  If we believe in Jesus, all of our needs will be met; we will have no pain or suffering.  Jesus will take care of everything, right?  What is this talk of suffering and perseverance?
   
   Unfortunately, there is a cost to being a follower of Jesus.  Jesus himself said in John 16:33 that in this world we will have trouble.  Overall, the world is against Jesus and Christianity.  In the United States, persecution of Christians may be subtle, but it is definitely present.  In other countries, people die for expressing faith in Jesus.  However, the Bible says that followers of Christ do have an eternal reward (salvation), and in this world the Holy Spirit will give us peace and perseverance to endure persecution.  If we follow Jesus, and not the ways of the world, we will be eternally blessed.
    

4. "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
        -  Matthew 5:28
   
   Jesus definitely lowered the bar when it comes to sin.  I haven't murdered anyone.  I haven't haven't committed adultery.  I haven't stolen anything, or at least anything very valuable.  I try to not use the Lord's name in vain.  So, I am not really a sinner, and I don't really need a Savior or salvation, right?
   
   Wrong.  According to Jesus, one sin is bad as another, in God's eyes.  While most men have not physically committed adultery, most men have probably looked upon women lustfully, thus committing the sin in their hearts.  It is impossible to be completely without sin.  Everyone needs Jesus as Savior.
    

5. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
        -  Acts 4:12
   
   Are there many ways to get into Heaven?  Is Christianity just one of many religions that provides Salvation to its believers?  Is a Christian "intolerant" if he believes that Christianity is the only means for obtaining Salvation and eternal life in Heaven?  Is it unexpected that the Bible would say that Jesus is the only way?
   
   From the standpoint of non-believers, this verse is unexpected.  The world today preaches religious freedom and tolerance.  Bumper stickers preach "Tolerate" and "Coexist", with each letter representing a different religion including wicca.  In his inaugural address, President Obama stated, "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers."
   
   President Obama is correct.  The United States, and the world, is composed of people espousing innumerable religions.  Does that mean that all of these religions are correct?  According to the Bible, no.  The only way to Salvation and eternal life is through faith in Jesus Christ.  If I tell that fact to a person of a different religion, does that make me intolerant?  No.  If you were with a group of people who were parachuting from an airplane, and you knew that all of the blue parachutes were defective, would you be intolerant toward the people who like the color blue if you told them that fact about their parachutes?