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The Gospel of Thomas

Dennis Bratcher

The Gospel of Thomas is a manuscript containing a collection of sayings of Jesus that was discovered among a hoard of ancient manuscripts at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945. There are references to the work in early Christian writings, but historians assumed it had been lost. The writing is not a "gospel" in the strictest sense, because there is no connecting narrative about the life of Jesus, no summaries of his teachings, and no theological interpretations and commentary, as for example in the Gospel of John. Thomas is simply a list of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus (called logoi, "words") not arranged in any chronological or topical order. Some of the sayings closely parallel sayings that appear in the Gospels, some are similar, and nearly half appear nowhere in Scripture.

The writing is attributed to Didymos Judas Thomas or "Thomas the Twin." In the Gospel accounts, Didymos Thomas was one of the disciples of Jesus, better know as "Doubting Thomas" (Jn 20:24-25). In some early church traditions, especially in the Syrian church, Thomas was considered to be the twin brother of Jesus. Historically, that is unlikely since it is never mentioned in the Gospel accounts. It seems incredulous that the tradition would leave out that detail.

Whether Thomas was the actual collector of the sayings is unknown.  It was common in that era to assign names of well-known or respected people to literary works as a way to carry on the tradition of that person.  Such works are called pseudepigrapha, and there are many examples from the three or four centuries surrounding the birth of Jesus (for example, The Testament of Abraham, Enoch, The Assumption of Moses, etc.).  While our modern culture of copyrights and plagiarism concerns might consider that dishonest, it is an eastern custom that holds ancestors and predecessors in high regard, and that sees shared communal ideas as more valuable than individual ones.

There are various opinions about the date of the writing. The manuscript itself dates to about the fourth century AD. However, some scholars place the actual date of composition of Thomas somewhere between AD 70 and 150, which would make it nearly contemporary with the canonical Gospels. In this case, the sayings of Jesus could be from the same tradition that was used to compile the Gospels. Because of the close relationship between the Gospels, especially the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) many New Testament scholars have posited some common sources for the materials that are shared among the gospels (see The Synoptic Problem). If accurate, this suggests that there was a Jesus tradition in either oral or written form, or perhaps both, that circulated among followers of Jesus before the Gospels were actually written in the last half of the first century. Among these sources, scholars supposed that there was a collection of sayings of Jesus preserved from which the New Testament writers drew in writing the Gospels. They gave this posited "sayings source" the designation Q, an abbreviation for the German word Quelle, "source" (see A Proposed Reconstruction of "Q").

Because of the close parallel between many of the sayings in Thomas and the Gospels, some scholars have suggested that Thomas is also based on the Q source or is actually Q itself. Of course, these remain only hypotheses since there is no conclusive proof that a Q source ever existed. Still, the existence of a collection of sayings of Jesus as early as the dates proposed for Thomas suggests that there did exist such a collection in the early church. That gives the hypotheses more credibility

However, other scholars date Thomas much later, as late as the fourth century. This would mean that composition of the work dates very close to the time the manuscript was written. They point to the similarities between Thomas and the Gospels as evidence that Thomas was built from the Gospel narratives themselves with other material added from that later time period. The similarity of Thomas to some of the unique material that only appears in either Matthew or Luke suggests that either Thomas was composed from those Gospels, or had access to some of the same traditions that were used by the Gospel writers (see Synoptic Problem). If this later date is accurate, then Thomas is little more than a rewriting and reinterpretation of the earlier Gospel accounts.

We simply do not know the answers to these questions of date and origin. It is entirely possible that Thomas represents a very early authentic tradition of the sayings of Jesus, although processed through the concerns of a particular community. But we have no solid evidence for that.

The manuscript itself is written in Coptic, a form of writing used in Egypt in which the Egyptian language was written with modified Greek characters, just as ancient Hebrew had come to be written in Aramaic characters. Thomas actually exists in two versions, the complete Egyptian Coptic version and a fragmentary Greek version. The Greek version is among a group of manuscripts and fragments know as the Oxyrhynchus Papyri. These date to about the beginning of the third century AD. The Oxyrhynchus Papyri were discovered in the 1800’s, but since Thomas was only in fragments scholars were not aware of what it was until after the discovery of the Coptic version. The Greek version contains about 16 of the 114 sayings in the Coptic version, plus one not found there. There are some minor variations in the sayings but they are essentially the same.

The cache of Coptic manuscripts discovered at Nag Hammadi represented a particular version of Christianity know as Gnosticism, derived from the Greek word gnosis, "knowledge." Gnosticism blended Christianity with a form of philosophically based mysticism in which followers sought internal enlightenment or gnosis. This was secret knowledge imparted only to those who had sought to purify themselves to receive this enlightenment. It became little more than a religious philosophy based on platonic dualism in which there was a distinction between the physical and spiritual planes of existence. The goal in Gnosticism was to shed the limits of the physical plane of existence, and try to reach the spiritual level through gnosis. Gnostic Christianity took many forms, but most were condemned as heresy for denying many of the basic tenets of the Christian Faith, such as the Incarnation.

There is debate whether Thomas was actually a Gnostic writing, or was simply valued by the Gnostics and adapted into their belief system. While most of Thomas presents little that most early Christians would find objectionable, there are some parts that reflect a more clearly Gnostic perspective (for example, the Preamble and saying 114). Yet, scholars who see the writing as an authentic Jesus tradition understand those places to be later additions by the Gnostic community in Egypt to adapt the writing to their own views. That is entirely possible, although there is no direct evidence either way. However, the basic perspective of Jesus as presented in Thomas, that the Kingdom of God is not a future expectation but something that can be achieved in the present time, could easily be accepted by the Gnostics. That view is also presented in the canonical Gospels, although there it is much more directly tied to ethics than to the spiritual and esoteric quest for enlightenment that the Gnostics promoted.

In any case, as it stands, Thomas seems to be Gnostic. The introduction mentions the "secret sayings," suggesting that this writing is only for those who are seeking or have attained the gnosis. The conclusion to the Coptic version could be seen as simply a radically sexist perspective.

114 Simon Peter said to them, "Make Mary leave us, for females don't deserve life." Jesus said, "Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven."

However, if it is understood as a metaphor drawn from the culture of the day, it fits well with the Gnostic world view. There, "female" may refer to those Christians who are not seeking the way of gnosis. The "male" represents the Gnostic Christians who are seeking to "know" the secret things, attempting to fulfill the first saying in Thomas: "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death." This becomes, then, a concise metaphorical expression of the Gnostic approach, to abandon the "female" (orthodox Christianity) and seek to become "male" (seeking the secret gnosis).

Following is a comparison chart of the two versions of the Gospel of Thomas, with references to parallels in the canonical Gospels.  Cross references in Green are close parallels, those in Blue are variations of the Thomas sayings, while those in Red share only general ideas.

Coptic Thomas

Greek Thomas

Gospels

Parallels

These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded.

These are the secret sayings which were spoken by Jesus the Living One, and which Judas, who is called Thomas, wrote down"

   

1 And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."

1 He said to them: "Whoever discovers [the interpretation] of these words shall never taste death."

Jn 8:51 Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death."

Jn 8:51

2 Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will be disturbed. When he is disturbed, he will marvel, and will reign over all.

2 [Jesus said]: "Let him who seeks not cease until he finds, and when he finds he shall wonder; wondering he shall reign, and reigning shall rest."

   

3 Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the  kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is within you and it is outside you.
 

When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."

3 Jesus said, "If your leaders say to, 'See, the Kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is under the earth,' then the fish of the sea will precede you. Rather, the Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside of you.
 

[Those who] become acquainted with [themselves] will find it; [and when you] become acquainted with yourselves, [you will understand that] it is you who are the sons of the living Father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

Lk 17:20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

Lk 17:20-21

4 Jesus said, "The man old in days won't hesitate to ask a little child seven days old about the place of life, and that man will live. For many of the first will be last, and will become a single one."

4 Jesus said: "Let the old man who is full of days not hesitate to ask the child of seven days about the place of life; then he will live. For many that are first will be last, and last, first, and they will become a single one."

Mk 9:35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

Mt 19:30, 20:16; Mk 9:35-37, 10:31; Lk 13:31

5 Jesus said, "Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you.

5 Jesus said: "Know what is before your face and what is hidden from you will be revealed to you.

   

For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.

For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest, nor buried which shall not be raised."

Mt 10:26 "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.

Mt 10:26, Lk 10:2

6 His disciples asked him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How should we pray? Should we give alms? What diet should we observe?"

6 His disciples asked him and said to him, "How do you want us to fast? And how shall we pray? And how [shall we] give alms? And what kind of diet shall we follow?"

Lk 11:1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."

Lk 11:1

Jesus said, "Don't lie, and don't do what you hate, because all things are disclosed before heaven. After all, there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing covered up that will remain undisclosed."

Jesus said, "Do not lie, and do not do what you hate, for all things are disclosed before truth. For there is nothing hidden which shall not be shown forth."

 

See Thomas 5

7 Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion that the man will eat, so that the lion becomes a man. And cursed is the man that the lion will eat, and the lion still will become a man."

7 [. . . ] is [. . .] will become [. . .] that [. . . ]. 

   

8 And he said, A man is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of little fish. Among them the wise fisherman discovered a fine large fish. He threw all the little fish back into the sea, and chose the large fish without difficulty. Whoever has ears to hear let him hear.

 

Mt 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 13:48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.

Mt 13:47-48

9 Jesus said, Look, the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them. Some fell on the road, and the birds came and gathered them. Others fell on rock, and they didn't take root in the soil and didn't produce heads of grain. Others fell on thorns, and they choked the seed(s) and worms ate them. And others fell on good soil, and produced a good crop: it yielded sixty per measure and one hundred twenty per measure.

 

Mt 13:3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Mt 13:3-8, Mk 4:3-8, Lk 8:5-8

10 Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and look, I'm guarding it until it blazes."

 

Lk 12:49 "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

Lk 12:49

11 Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away.

The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. During the days when you ate what is dead, you made it come alive. When you dwell in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one, you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?"

 

24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Mt 25:35; Mk 13:31, Lk 16:17, 21:33; 2 Pet 3:10

12 The disciples said to Jesus, "We know that you are going to leave us. Who will be our leader?" Jesus said to them, "No matter where you are you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."

     

13 Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to something and tell me what I am like." Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a just messenger." Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher." Thomas said to him, "Teacher, my mouth is utterly unable to say what you are like." Jesus said, "I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring that I have tended."
 

And he took him, and withdrew, and spoke three sayings to him. When Thomas came back to his friends they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the sayings he spoke to me, you will pick up rocks and stone me, and fire will come from the rocks and devour you."

 

Mk 8:27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Mk 8:27-30

14 Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give alms, you will harm your spirits.

When you go into any region and walk about in the countryside, when people take you in, eat what they serve you and heal the sick among them.

     

After all, what goes into your mouth will not defile you; rather, it's what comes out of your mouth that will defile you."

 

Lk 10:8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
 

Mk 7:15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile."

Lk 10:8-9

 

 


Mt 15:11, Mk 7:15

15 Jesus said, "When you see one who was not born of woman, fall on your faces and worship. That one is your Father."

     

16 Jesus said, "Perhaps people think that I have come to bring peace upon the world. They do not know that I have come to cast conflicts upon the earth: fire, sword, war. For there will be five in a house: there will be three against two and two against three, father against son and son against father, and they will stand alone.

 

Mt 10:34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one's foes will be members of one's own household.

Mt 10:34-36, Lk 12:51-53

17 Jesus said, "I will give you what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no hand has touched, what has not arisen in the human heart."

 

1 Cor 2:9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him"

1Cor 2:9; Isaiah 64:4

18 The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us, how will our end come?" Jesus said, "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is. Blessed is the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."

     

19 Jesus said, "Blessed is the one who came into being before coming into being.

If you become my disciples and pay attention to my sayings, these stones will serve you. For there are five trees in Paradise for you; they do not change, summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will not taste death."

     

20 The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what Heaven's kingdom is like." He said to them, It's like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on prepared soil, it produces a large plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky.

 

Mk 4:30 He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 4:32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

Mt 13:31-32, Mk 4:30-32, Lk 13:18-19

21 Mary said to Jesus, "What are your disciples like?" He said, They are like little children living in a field that is not theirs. when the owners of the field come, they will say, "Give us back our field." They take off their clothes in front of them in order to give it back to them, and they return their field to them.

For this reason I say, if the owner of a house knows that a thief is coming, he will be on guard before the thief arrives and will not let the thief break into his house of his domain and steal his possessions.

     

As for you, then, be on guard against the world. Prepare yourselves with great strength, so the robbers can't find a way to get to you, for the trouble you expect will come. Let there be among you a person who understands. When the crop ripened, he came quickly carrying a sickle and harvested it. Anyone who has ear to hear, let him hear.

 

Mt 24:43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
 

Mk 4:26 He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 4:27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 4:28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 4:29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come."

Mt 24:43, Lk 12:39

 

 

Mk 4:26-29

22 Jesus saw some babies nursing. He said to his disciples, "These nursing babies are like those who enter the kingdom." They said to him, "Then shall we enter the kingdom as babies?"

 

Lk 18:16 But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."

Mt 18:3, Lk 18:16-17

Jesus said to them, "When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom]."

 

Mk 9:43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

Mt 5:29-30, Mk 9:43-48

23 Jesus said, "I shall choose you, one from a thousand and two from ten thousand, and they will stand as a single one."

     

24 His disciples said, "Show us the place where you are, for we must seek it."

24 [. . .] 

Jn 13:36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward."

Jn 13:36

He said to them, "Whoever has ears. let him hear! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, it is dark."

 


There is [. . .] of light [. . .] world.  [. . .] it is [. . .].

6:22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 6:23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Mt 6:22-23, Lk 11:34-36

25 Jesus said, "Love your friends like your own soul, protect them like the pupil of your eye."

     

26 Jesus said, "You see the sliver in your brother's eye, but you don't see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your brother's eye."

 26 [. . .] then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your brother's eye.

Mt 7:3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 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? 5 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.

Mt 7:3-5, Lk 6:41-42

27 [Jesus said] "If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath you will not see the Father."

27 Jesus said: "Unless you fast to the world, you shall in no way find the Kingdom of God; and unless you observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath, you shall not see the Father."

   

28 Jesus said, "I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in flesh I appeared to them. I found them all drunk, and I did not find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they are blind in their hearts and do not see, for they came into the world empty, and they also seek to depart from the world empty. But meanwhile they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they will change their ways."

28 Jesus said: "I took my stand in the midst of the world, and in the flesh I was seen by them, and I found all drunken, and I found none among them thirsty. And my soul grieved over the souls of men, because they are blind in their heart and [do not] see  [. . . ].

   

29 Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, that is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, that is a marvel of marvels. Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty."

 29 [. . .] poverty.

   

30 Jesus said, "Where there are three gods, they are gods. Where there are two or one, I am with him."

30 Jesus said: "Where there are [three, they are not] without God, and when there is one alone, [I say,] I am with him.

Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

Mt 18:20

[77] Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."

Raise the stone, and there you will find me; cleave the wood, and there I am."

 

 

31 Jesus said, "No prophet is welcome in his own village; doctors don't cure those who know them."

31 Jesus said: "A prophet is not acceptable in his own country, neither does a physician work cures upon those that know him."

Mk 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house."

Mk 6:4, Lk 4:23-24, Jn 4:44

32 Jesus said, "A city built on a high hill and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden."

32 Jesus said: "A city built on the top of a high hill and fortified can neither fall nor be hid."

Mt 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

Mt 5:14

33 Jesus said, "What you will hear in your ear, in the other ear proclaim from your rooftops.

33 Jesus said: "What you hear with one ear, [. . .]

Mt 10:27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.

Mt 10:27

After all, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, nor does one put it in a hidden place. Rather, one puts it on a lamp stand so that all who come and go will see its light."

 

Lk 8:16 "No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see the light.

Mt 5:15, Mk 4:21, Lk 8:16, Lk 11:33

34 Jesus said, "If a blind person leads a bind person, both of them will fall into a pit."

 

Mt 15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit."

Mt15:14, Lk6:39

35 Jesus said, "No one can enter a strong man's house and take it by force without tying his hands. Then one can loot his house."

 

Mk 3:27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

Mt12:29, Mk3:27, Lk11:21-22

36 Jesus said, "Do not fret, from morning to evening and from evening to morning, about what you are going to wear.

36 Jesus said, "Do not worry from dawn to dusk and from dusk to dawn about [what food] you [will] eat, [or] what [clothing] you will wear. [You are much] better than the [lilies], which [neither] card nor spin.

And for your part, what [will you wear] when you have no clothing? Who would add to your stature? It is he who will give you your clothing.

Mt 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'

Mt 6:25-31, Lk 12:22-31

37 His disciples said, "When will you appear to us, and when will we see you?"

 
Jesus said, "When you strip without being ashamed, and you take your clothes and put them under your feet like little children and trample then, then [you will see] the son of the living one and you will not be afraid."

37 His disciples said to him, "When will you be visible to us, and when shall we behold you?"

He said, "When you strip naked without being ashamed [. . .].

   

38 Jesus said, "Often you have desired to hear these sayings that I am speaking to you, and you have no one else from whom to hear them. There will be days when you will seek me and you will not find me."

 

   

39 Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they allowed those who want to enter to do so.

39 [. . .] have taken [. . .] of [. . .] hidden [. . .] have entered [. . .] have they [. . . ] enter [. . .].

Lk 11:52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."

Lk 11:52 

As for you, be as sly as snakes and as simple as doves."

[. . .] as [. . .] simple [. . .].

Mt 10:16 "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Mt 10:16

40 Jesus said, "A grapevine has been planted apart from the Father. Since it is not strong, it will be pulled up by its root and will perish."

 

Mt 15:13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Mt 15:13

41 Jesus said, "Whoever has something in hand will be given more, and whoever has nothing will be deprived of even the little they have."

 

Mt 25:29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

Mt25:29, Lk19:26

42 Jesus said, "Be passersby."

     

43 His disciples said to him, "Who are you to say these things to us?"

 

Jn 8:25 They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Why do I speak to you at all?

Jn 8:25

"You don't understand who I am from what I say to you. Rather, you have become like the Jews, for they love the tree but hate its fruit, or they love the fruit but hate the tree."

 

7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 7:17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Mt 7:16-20, Lk 6:43-45

44 Jesus said, "Whoever blasphemes against the Father will be forgiven, and whoever blasphemes against the son will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven, either on earth or in heaven."

 

Mk 3:28 Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.

Mt 12:32, Mk 3:28-29, Lk 12:10

45 Jesus said, "Grapes are not harvested from thorn trees, nor are figs gathered from thistles, for they yield no fruit.
 

Good persons produce good from what they've stored up; bad persons produce evil from the wickedness they've stored up in their hearts, and say evil things. For from the overflow of the heart they produce evil."

 

Mt 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Mt 7:16-20, Lk 6:43-46

46 Jesus said, "From Adam to John the Baptist, among those born of women, no one is so much greater than John the Baptist that his eyes should not be averted.

 

Mt 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mt 11:11, Lk 7:28

But I have said that whoever among you becomes a child will recognize the kingdom and will become greater than John."

 

Mt 18:2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 18:4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mt 18:13, Mk 10:15, Lk 18:17

47 Jesus said, "A person cannot mount two horses or bend two bows. And a slave cannot serve two masters, otherwise that slave will honor the one and offend the other.

 

Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Mt 6:24; Lk 16:13

"Nobody drinks aged wine and immediately wants to drink young wine. Young wine is not poured into old wineskins, or they might break, and aged wine is not poured into a new wineskin, or it might spoil. An old patch is not sewn onto a new garment, since it would create a tear."

 

Mt 9:16 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Mt 9:16-17; Mk 2:21-22; Lk 5:36-39

48 Jesus said, "If two make peace with each other in a single house, they will say to the mountain, 'Move from here!' and it will move."

 

Mt 18:19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

Mk 11:23 Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. 24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mt 18:19, Mk 11:23-24

49 Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are alone and chosen, for you will find the kingdom. For you have come from it, and you will return there again."

 

 

 

50 Jesus said, "If they say to you, 'Where have you come from?' say to them, 'We have come from the light, from the place where the light came into being by itself, established [itself], and appeared in their image.' If they say to you, 'Is it you?' say, 'We are its children, and we are the chosen of the living Father.' If they ask you, 'What is the evidence of your Father in you?' say to them, 'It is motion and rest.'"

 

 

 

51 His disciples said to him, "When will the rest for the dead take place, and when will the new world come?" He said to them, "What you are looking forward to has come, but you don't know it."

 

 

 

52 His disciples said to him, "Twenty-four prophets have spoken in Israel, and they all spoke of you." He said to them, "You have disregarded the living one who is in your presence, and have spoken of the dead."

 

 

 

53 His disciples said to him, "is circumcision useful or not?" He said to them, "If it were useful, their father would produce children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect."

 

 

 

54 Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor, for to you belongs the kingdom of heaven."

 

Mt 6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Mt 5:3, Lk 6:20

55 Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate father and mother cannot be my disciple, and whoever does not hate brothers and sisters, and carry the cross as I do, will not be worthy of me."

 

Mt 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Mt 10:37-38, Lk 14:26

56 Jesus said, "Whoever has come to know the world has discovered a carcass, and whoever has discovered a carcass, of that person the world is not worthy."

 

   

57 Jesus said, The Father's kingdom is like a person who has [good] seed. His enemy came during the night and sowed weeds among the good seed. The person did not let the workers pull up the weeds, but said to them, "No, otherwise you might go to pull up the weeds and pull up the wheat along with them." For on the day of the harvest the weeds will be conspicuous, and will be pulled up and burned.

 

Mt 13:24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' 28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

Mt 13:24-30

58 Jesus said, "Blessed is the man who has toiled and has found life."

 

Mt 11:28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Mt 11:28

59 Jesus said, "Look to the living one as long as you live, otherwise you might die and then try to see the living one, and you will be unable to see."

 

Jn 7:34 You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.

Jn 13:33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'

Jn 7:34, Jn 13:33

60 [He saw] a Samaritan carrying a lamb and going to Judea. He said to his disciples, "[Why does] that man [carry] around the lamb?" They said to him, "So that he may kill it and eat it." He said to them, "He will not eat it while it is alive, but only after he has killed it and it has become a carcass." They said, "Otherwise he can't do it." He said to them, "So also with you, seek for yourselves a place for rest, or you might become a carcass and be eaten."

 

 

 

61 Jesus said, "Two will recline on a couch; one will die, one will live."
 

Salome said, "Who are you mister? You have climbed onto my couch and eaten from my table as if you are from the One." Jesus said to her, "I am the one who comes from what is whole. I was granted from the things of my Father."  [She said] "I am your disciple."  [He said] "For this reason I say, if he is [whole], he will be filled with light, but if he is divided, he will be filled with darkness."

 

Lk 17:34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

Mt 24:40-41; Lk 17:34

62 Jesus said, "I disclose my mysteries to those [who are worthy] of [my] mysteries.

 

Mk 4:11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables;

Mt 13:11, Mk 4:11, Lk 8:10

Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."

 

Mt 6:3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Mt 6:3

63 Jesus said, There was a rich man who had a great deal of money. He said, "I shall invest my money so that I may sow, reap, plant, and fill my storehouses with produce, that I may lack nothing." These were the things he was thinking in his heart, but that very night he died. Let him who has ears hear.

 

Lk 12:16 Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

Lk 12:16-21

64 Jesus said, A man was receiving guests. When he had prepared the dinner, he sent his slave to invite the guests. The slave went to the first and said to that one, "My master invites you." That one said, "Some merchants owe me money; they are coming to me tonight. I have to go and give them instructions. Please excuse me from dinner." The slave went to another and said to that one, "My master has invited you." That one said to the slave, "I have bought a house, and I have been called away for a day. I shall have no time." The slave went to another and said to that one, "My master invites you." That one said to the slave, "My friend is to be married, and I am to arrange the banquet. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse me from dinner." The slave went to another and said to that one, "My master invites you." That one said to the slave, "I have bought an estate, and I am going to collect the rent. I shall not be able to come. Please excuse me." The slave returned and said to his master, "Those whom you invited to dinner have asked to be excused." The master said to his slave, "Go out on the streets and bring back whomever you find to have dinner.

 

Lk 14:16 Then Jesus said to him, "Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17 At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.' 19 Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.' 20 Another said, 'I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.' 22 And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room." 23 Then the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

Mt 22:3-9, Lk 14:16-24

Buyers and merchants [will] not enter the places of my Father.

 

Mt 19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mt 19:23, Mk 10:23

65 He said, A good man owned a vineyard and rented it to some farmers, so they could work it and he could collect its crop from them. He sent his slave so the farmers would give him the vineyard's crop. They grabbed him, beat him, and almost killed him, and the slave returned and told his master. His master said, "Perhaps he didn't know them." He sent another slave, and the tenants beat that one as well. Then the master sent his son and said, "Perhaps they'll show my son some respect." Because the tenants knew that he was the heir to the vineyard, they grabbed him and killed him. Let him who has ears hear.

 

Mt 21:33 "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34 When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35 But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance." 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

Mt 21:33-39, Mk 12:1-8, Lk 20:9-15

66 Jesus said, "Show me the stone that the builders rejected: that is the keystone."

 

Lk 20:17 But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?

Mt 21:42, Mk 12:10, Lk 20:17; Psalm 118:22

67 Jesus said, "Whoever believes that the All is lacking is himself completely lacking."

 

 

 

68 Jesus said, "Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted; and no place will be found, wherever you have been persecuted."

 

Mt 5:11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Mt 5:11, Lk 6:22

See also Thomas 69a

69 Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have been persecuted in their hearts: they are the ones who have truly come to know the Father.

 

Mt 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Mt 5:8 (see Thomas 68)

Blessed are those who go hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled."

 

Lk 6:21a "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.

Mt 5:6, Lk 6:21a

70 Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not have that within you, what you do not have within you will  kill you."

 

 

 

71 Jesus said, "I will destroy [this] house, and no one will be able to build it [...]."

 

Mk 14:58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"

Mk 14:58

72 A [man said] to him, "Tell my brothers to divide my father's possessions with me." He said to the person, "Mister, who made me a divider?" He turned to his disciples and said to them, "I'm not a divider, am I?"

 

Lk 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."

Lk 12:13-15

73 Jesus said, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few, so beg the lord of the harvest to send out laborers to the harvest."

 

Mt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 9:38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Mt 9:37-38, Lk 10:2

74 He said, "Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the well."

 

 

 

75 Jesus said, "There are many standing at the door, but those who are alone will enter the bridal suite."

 

22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

Mt 22:14

76 Jesus said, The Father's kingdom is like a merchant who had a supply of merchandise and found a pearl. That merchant was prudent; he sold the merchandise and bought the single pearl for himself.

 

Mt 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Mt 13:45-46

So also with you, seek his treasure that is unfailing, that is enduring, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys."

 

6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 6:20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Mt 6:19-20, Lk 12:33

77 Jesus said, "I am the light that is over all things. I am all: from me all came forth, and to me all attained.

 

Jn 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

Jn 1:3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.

 

Jn 8:12, 1:3

Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."

[30] Raise the stone, and there you will find me; cleave the wood, and there I am."

 

 

78 Jesus said, "Why have you come out to the desert? To see a reed shaken by the wind? And to see a person dressed in soft clothes, like your rulers and your powerful ones? They are dressed in soft [clothes], and they cannot understand truth."

 

Mt 11:7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 11:8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Mt 11:7-9, Lk 7:24-26

79 A woman in the crowd said to him, "Lucky are the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you." He said to [her], "Blessed are those who have heard the word of the Father and have truly kept it.

 

Lk 11:27 While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!" 28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!"

Lk 11:27-28

For there will be days when you will say, 'Blessed are the womb that has not conceived and the breasts that have not given milk.'"

 

Lk 23:29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'

Lk 23:29

80 Jesus said, "Whoever has come to know the world has discovered the body, and whoever has discovered the body, of that one the world is not worthy."

 

 

 

81 Jesus said, "Let him who has become wealthy reign, and let him who has power renounce ."

 

 

 

82 Jesus said, "Whoever is near me is near the fire, and whoever is far from me is far from the kingdom."

 

 

 

83 Jesus said, "Images are visible to men, but the light within them is hidden in the image of the Father's light. He will be disclosed, but his image is hidden by his light."

 

 

 

84 Jesus said, "When you see your likeness, you rejoice. But when you see your images that came into being before you and that neither die nor become visible, how much you will have to bear!"

 

 

 

85 Jesus said, "Adam came from great power and great wealth, but he was not worthy of you. For had he been worthy, [he would] not [have tasted] death."

 

 

 

86 Jesus said, "[Foxes have their dens] and birds have [their] nests, but the son of man has no place to lay his head and rest."

 

Mt 8:20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

Mt 8:20, Lk 9:58

87 Jesus said, "How miserable is the body that depends on a body, and how miserable is the soul that depends on these two."

 

 

 

88 Jesus said, "The messengers and the prophets will come to you and give you what belongs to you. You, in turn, give them what you have, and say to yourselves, 'When will they come and take what belongs to them?'"

 

 

 

89 Jesus said, "Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Don't you understand that the one who made the inside is also the one who made the outside?"

 

Lk 11:39 Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?

Lk 11:39-40

90 Jesus said, "Come to me, for my yoke is comfortable and my lordship is gentle, and you will find rest for yourselves."

 

Mt 11:28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Mt 11:28-30

91 They said to him, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you."

 

Jn 9:36 He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him."

Jn 9:36

He said to them, "You examine the face of heaven and earth, but you have not come to know the one who is in your presence, and you do not know how to examine the present moment.

 

Lk 12:54 He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Lk 12:54-56

92 Jesus said, "Seek and you will find.

In the past, however, I did not tell you the things about which you asked me then. Now I am willing to tell them, but you are not seeking them."

 

Mt 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

Mt 7:7; Lk 11:9

93 "Don't give what is holy to dogs, for they might throw them upon the manure pile. Don't throw pearls [to] pigs, or they might ... it [...]."

 

Mt 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

Mt 7:6

94 Jesus [said], "He who seeks will find, and for [he who knocks] it will be opened."

 

7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Mt 7:8, Lk 11:10

95 [Jesus said], "If you have money, don't lend it at interest. Rather, give [it] to someone from whom you won't get it back."

 

Lk 6:34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Lk 6:34-35, Lk 14:12-14

96 Jesus [said], The Father's kingdom is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, [hid] it in dough, and made it into large loaves of bread. Let him who has ears hear.

 

Mt 13:33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."

Mt 13:33, Lk 13:20-21

97 Jesus said, The [Father's] kingdom is like a woman who was carrying a [jar] full of meal. While she was walking along [on] a road, the handle of the jar broke and the meal spilled behind her on the road. She didn't know it; she hadn't noticed a problem. When she reached her house, she put the jar down and discovered that it was empty.

 

 

 

98 Jesus said, The Father's kingdom is like a man who wanted to kill a powerful man. While still at home he drew his sword and thrust it into the wall to find out whether his hand would go in. Then he killed the powerful man.

 

 

 

99 The disciples said to him, "Your brothers and your mother are standing outside." He said to them, "Those here who do what my Father wants are my brothers and my mother. They are the ones who will enter my Father's kingdom."

 

Mt 12:46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." 48 But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Mt 12:46-50, Mk 3:31-35

100 They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, "The Roman emperor's men demand taxes from us." He said to them, "Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, give God what belongs to God, and give me what is mine."

 

Mk 12:14b Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it." 16 And they brought one. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." 12:17 Jesus said to them, "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.

Mk 12:14b-17, Lk 20:22-25

101 "Whoever does not hate father and mother as I do cannot be my disciple, and whoever does [not] love his  father and mother as I do cannot be my [disciple]. For my mother [...], but [my] true [mother] gave me life."

 

Mt 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me

Mt 10:37, Lk 14:26

102 Jesus said, "Woe to the Pharisees! They are like a dog sleeping in the cattle manger: the dog neither eats nor lets the cattle eat."

 

 

 

103 Jesus said, "Fortunate is the man who knows where the rebels are going to attack., so he can get up, muster his resources, and be prepared before they invade."

 

24:43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Mt 24:43, Lk 12:39

104 They said to Jesus, "Come, let us pray today, and let us fast."  Jesus said, "What sin have I committed, or how have I been undone? Rather, when the groom leaves the bridal suite, then let people fast and pray."

 

 

 

105 Jesus said, "Whoever knows the father and the mother will be called the child of a whore."

 

 

 

106 Jesus said, "When you make the two into one, you will become children of Adam, and when you say, 'Mountain, move from here!' it will move."

 

Mk 11:23 Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.

Mt 17:20, 21:21,Mk 11:23

107 Jesus said, The kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety- nine and looked for the one until he found it. After he had toiled, he said to the sheep, 'I love you more than the ninety- nine.'

 

Mt 18:12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

Mt 18:12-13, Lk 15:3-7

108 Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him."

 

 

 

109 Jesus said, The kingdom is like a man who had a treasure hidden in his field but did not know it. And [when] he died he left it to his son. The son did not know [about it]. He took over the field and sold it. The buyer went plowing and found  the treasure. He began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished.

 

Mt 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Mt 13:44

110 Jesus said, "Whoever finds the world and becomes rich, let him renounce the world."

 

 

 

111 Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will roll up in your presence, and whoever is living from the living one will not see death."

Does not Jesus say, "Those who have found themselves, of them the world is not worthy"?

 

 

 

112 Jesus said, "Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul. Woe to the soul that depends on the flesh."

 

 

 

113 His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?" "It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, 'Look, here!' or 'Look, there!' Rather, the Father's kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people don't see it."

 

17:20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 17:21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

Lk 17:20-21

114 Simon Peter said to them, "Make Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life." Jesus said, "Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven."

 

 

 

The translations of both versions of the Gospel of Thomas are adaptations by the author of "Greek Fragments of Thomas" and "The Gospel of Thomas," in The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version, edited Rober Miller, 2nd edition, Polebridge Press, 1992, 1994, and "The Gospel of Thomas," in The Nag Hammadi Library, edited James Robinson, trans. by Thomas Lambdin, Harper and Row, 1977.

-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright © 2018, Dennis Bratcher, All Rights Reserved
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