Saying One, “Whoever finds the meaning of these sayings will not experience death.”

The Gospel of Thomas emphasizes embodied knowledge, or knowledge imparted by the spirit within.  The usage of the word ‘meaning’ in Saying One infers a pathway of learning.  

Thomas is always depicted as young, perhaps innocent.

The discipline of the Way requires a fundamental assertion of knowledge.  One final phase of Nazarene priestly training dealt with understanding parables.  Parable understanding is a part of the wisdom teachings.  The rabbi would provide instruction as to the meaning and wisdom contained within the parable.*  These parable teachings later became a staple of Jesus’ ministry.

*Astronomical and astrological teaching also occurred, the threads of which are revealed in the Book of Enoch.  See, Matt. 2.2, “…his star in the east.” Mark 14.51-52 refers to the young man clothed in linen.  Linen is worn when specific teaching, instruction, or ceremonies are conducted.  The nakedness symbolizes being open to God and the instruction being given.  This form of ceremony and teaching was common throughout the Middle East.  Astrological instruction would occur at night for obvious reasons.

[Understanding this preparation for instruction, I hope the above lays to rest inferences about Jesus being homosexual.  More likely, the Romans’ arrival incident while Jesus was teaching was included in scripture to give credence to Jesus’ Nazarene priestly status and chronicle actual events.]

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Saying 3: Jesus said, “If those who lead you say to you, ‘See, the kingdom is in the sky,’ then the birds of the sky will precede you.  If they say unto you, ‘It is in the sea,’ then the fish will precede you.  Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you.  When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize 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.”

Jesus tells us to look within, to sow into the kingdom within, and there you will find the kingdom, your treasure of understanding.  This process is noted in Saying Two: Jesus said, “Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds.  When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished (enlightened, realization), and he will rule over All.”  These first three sayings tell us much about the nature and practice of the Way.

God, being inside of you as well as outside of you, is a new understanding for men of that day.  They may have seen themselves as a child of God, but they did not understand that the spirit of God (and God is a spirit) is a part of our complete makeup as a soul. “When you come to know yourselves (your complete Self),” you will know the spirit of God, and not just remain a believer.  Similarly, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” from chapter 3 of John.

Many people believed in God; they prayed to the God without, but could not receive the harvest because they did not understand the God within.  Instead, Judaism had resorted to legalism in the hope that things would work out by following the law.  Judaism had become dependent on rules instead of revelation. “Sons of the living Father,” asserts Awakening and Eternality.  Both are consistent themes of Jesus as he proselytizes an awakening to these higher truths.  

The Way is an active teaching, one that is realized and practiced.  Sowing good seed, speaking from the spirit (the Word), and prayer form the main body of the practice of the Way, which may lead us to realization and confirmation.  James 1.22-27 gives the jist of Jesus’ true intent, (22) “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”  But further, Jesus expects us to become familiar with the kingdom within and points to the kingdom often.  In short, Jesus walked in this spirit relationship and brought the Father into the life experience. 

Previously, this enlightened vision of God and His nature had been the reserve of prophets, certain high priests, or the few others who had received a vision.  Jesus brings this enlightened vision to all people.  In doing so, the schism is bridged between man’s soul nature and God’s nature.  The mind must eventually see this vision, not just the intellectual understanding or emotional confirmation.  As Jesus often alludes, the spirit supplies this vision, the very knowing we perceive, or the interpretation.  As an example, Jesus speaks as his Father directs him to speak; this is part of the vision and understanding of Jesus’ life.

Sowing seed for personal development is a most basic tenet of the Way.  Of course, knowing and doing are the intent behind sowing good seeds.  People often want to ‘know about’ but have no inner realization.  They enjoy the sermon, but knowing how to put it into practice eludes them.  Out of their efforts they try and try, yet never indeed sow one good seed and allow the spirit to work for them.  They are much like the Pharisees, who know the law as plainly written but do not glean the more profound meaning or realization.  They argue from the law, but not on behalf of the person, as does Jesus, and we see this outlook in the story of the woman caught in adultery.  The intellect can often operate in just such a manner, legalistic and comprehending, but lacking merit or substance.

For instance, many may want to know the truth about the Essene but do not want to see the truth about themselves. This dissonance becomes a serious character issue and brings us to the scriptures we find in the “woes” (Mt. 23). The Pharisees covered their evil deeds by wiping the edge of the cup for cleanliness but never looked within. Otherwise, they justified themselves.  They never grasped the substance of God’s yearning to awaken and convert the man who lived inside his robes.

God is interested in you, and until you undergo some inner inspection, many other revelations will remain blocked. Jesus has directed such an inspection numerous times.

Matt. 7.1-5, “Don’t judge so you won’t be judged.  For the way you judge others is how you will be judged—the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure you.  Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s eye but not notice the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite!  First take the log out of your own eye; then you will see clearly, so that you can remove the splinter from your brother’s eye!”

This statement seems clear and concerns self-inspection.  But Jesus has more.

(6) “Don’t give to dogs what is holy, and don’t throw your pearls to the pigs.  If you do they may trample them under their feet, then turn and attack you.”

Underneath, this statement questions each person’s true intent.

In Jesus’ times, the Pharisees and scribes always try to produce a conundrum or riddle for Jesus to explain or unravel.  These confrontations almost always concerned the law.  Speaking to the spirit behind the law just made the Pharisees angry.  Likewise, when the truth is revealed about the Self, we often respond like the Pharisees and provide an intellectual defense for our actions or become hostile and justify ourselves.  Without even mentioning the frailty of human beings always wanting to be correct, Jesus offers a spiritual solution, revealed in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Pearl of Great Price, Sowing in Good Soil, and other similar parables.

(7) “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will open.  (8) For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened.”

For what is each person seeking?  What are they asking about?  Which door are they knocking upon?

Avoid becoming your own Pharisee!

What is given, and what do you receive?  Do you receive bread instead of a stone, a fish instead of a snake?  Even though we are imperfect, you, like the Father, should give and receive the good (9-11).

Sow seed for the spirit to reveal knowledge concerning the Self.

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WALKING in the WAY

Matthew 10.39-40 shares the essence of the enlightenment teaching and perhaps provides the whole of the enlightenment journey.  “He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.  (40) He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives Him that sent me.”

Saying One and Matt. 10.39 share a similar direction.  Saying One promotes the understanding of the Matthew scripture.  “Finding the interpretation” (Saying One), now the Matthew scripture becomes apparent—that each person must discard the old Self (“shall lose it”; “that loses his life”) so that real life (“finds his life”; “my sake shall find it”) can be discovered.  Secondly, this scripture partially reveals Jesus’ identity: those who receive Jesus’ ministers are Jesus’ own and thus receive the Father who sent Jesus.

The first sentence, “He that finds his life shall lose it,” means that finding life with the spirit is to lay aside the old Self and operate more closely with the spirit.  Self-centeredness, false pride, and blaming others disempower the spirit from lifting and moving through you.  Deeply embedded attributes may need to be seen from more than one perspective.  But as the revelation is received, all begin to function in better order—once released (“loses his life”), he shall find the spirit (his true life) within and without.

Do not remain within understanding alone, but put understanding into performance.  Teaching is interpreted into Pathway, which becomes the goal and is interpreted into the world with actions (Jm. 2.17).  Remember, the Way is a pathway that infers one step at a time, one day at a time.  To a great extent, this direct lesson became the teaching of the early Nazarenes, not only the gospel of the too-good-to-be-true-news but the accompanying walk followed daily.  Whether sowing for knowing, tolerance, or other matters, a person can sow for better performance and knowledge.

So, how do we do this?  Jesus tells us to plant these good seeds and nourish them.  This ‘how’ question brings us to the light and life-bringer, Jesus.   As he says so, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jn. 14.6; “I am the light of the world,” Jn. 8.12, both scriptures provide person, pathway, and teaching.  True believers may abound, but conversion onto the new life pathway becomes the commitment, and those are far fewer in number.  

Sow seed for the spirit to move through you in daily life.

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KNOW YOURSELF

                     Saying 3. “When you come to know yourselves” seems to be the crux of the situation for everyone.  How, indeed, do you come to know yourself?  What is this process?  How does this happen, and what is essential?  

Walking in the Way orders the process of knowing by planting good seeds in fertile soil, nourishing the seed (giving attention), and being willing to accept the harvest when it arrives.  As a natural consequence, enlightenment in the spirit moves forward one day at a time.  Sowing the good seed, sowing by prayer, speaking the Word, and even positive speech can lead to a better application and will develop deeper revelation.  These three fundamental elements foster the daily work that yields the best progress.   The daily pathway remains cognitively continual.  Pathway forms a natural spiritual continuity from day to day, which provides natural velocity or impetus for your journey.

It should be mentioned again that walking in the Way emphasizes a positive approach.  Even if the workers are clearing trash out of the field, does not mean the eventual plowing and seeding of the field will not yield a crop. Walking in the Way is not intended to be a walk of drudgery always revealing but another problem.  Its intent is resolution-oriented toward the overall message of joy, love, and forgiveness, which sets us free.  It is the spirit that doeth the work.

Sow for application as well as a revelation;                                                                                                  

Sow for joy and continuity within daily life.                                                          

God Bless!