The Gospel of Thomas Fully Interpreted: Logion 21 to 30
Logion 21
Mary said to Jesus, “Whom are your disciples like?” He said, “They are like children who have settled in a field which is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, ‘Let us have back our field.’ They (will) undress in their presence in order to let them have back their field and to give it back to them. Therefore I say, if the owner of a house knows that the thief is coming, he will begin his vigil before he comes and will not let him dig through into his house of his domain to carry away his goods. You, then, be on your guard against the world. Arm yourselves with great strength lest the robbers find a way to come to you, for the difficulty which you expect will (surely) materialize. Let there be among you a man of understanding. When the grain ripened, he came quickly with his sickle in his hand and reaped it. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Interpretation:
The first part of this logion relates to how Jesus is concerned about how his disciples will react when their beliefs are challenged by the temple authorities.
The second part of this logion gives advice on how the disciples should prepare for such an encounter.
The disciples are described as being like children because there is still much for them to learn and understand.
The field that they had settled in that was not theirs, is a reference to the society that they had become accustomed to, a society that had been indoctrinated with materialistic interpretations of the scriptures.
The disciples were of course teaching a spiritual interpretation of the scriptures, which the temple authorities saw as a challenge to their authority over the people. The temple authorities were losing their power over the people along with their wealth and admiration, so they naturally wanted it back. They would do this by challenging and attempting to discredit the disciples and what they believed.
Jesus believed that because of his disciple’s lack of knowledge and understanding, they would not be able to defend their beliefs and they would lose their faith. Because of this the disciples would surrender their beliefs and give authority over them to the temple authorities.
In the second part of the logion, Jesus advises his disciples to watch out for those who would challenge their beliefs and not to engage in their arguments. In other words, do not give them the opportunity to dig into their minds and take away the Truth, Understanding, and faith that they have.
To be on guard against the world means to; become a passer-by. Do not become involved with arguments.
Arm yourself with great strength means; arm yourself with faith.
The difficulty of a challenge to your faith will surely come.
The man of understanding is a reference to the Spirit of Understanding. The angels are the reapers, in other words each of you must possess the Spirit of Understanding.
When the Truth comes to its fruition understanding will come quickly and harvest it into your heart.
Whoever is able to receive the Truth let him understand it.
See also in Matthew 24:43 KJV: But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Logion 22
Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, “These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom.” They said to him, “Shall we then, as children, enter the kingdom?” Jesus said to them, “When you make the two one, and when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below, and when you make the male and the female one and the same, so that the male not be male nor the female female; and when you fashion eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, and a likeness in place of a likeness; then will you enter the kingdom.”
Interpretation:
In the first part of this logion, Jesus explains to his disciples what they must become like if they are to enter the kingdom. He then tells them what they must do to become like little children to enter the kingdom.
When you make the two one. To make the two one the heart must become undivided, meaning that it should not be corrupted with unrighteous desire.
When you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside. This part is about making the mind undivided. The soul which is formed from the substance of the mind is referred to as the inside, and the mind in which the soul exists and is the soul’s domain, is referred to as the outside.
And the above like the below. The above is a reference to the head, and the below is a reference to the heart. Usually either the heart rules the head or the head rules the heart. There should be no conflict between them.
And when you make the male and the female one and the same, so that the male not be male nor the female female. This is a reference to the Self’s first and True Image of itself in the beginning, also referred to as the Self’s soul. This is described in Genesis 1:27 KJV So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
When you fashion eyes in the place of an eye. It is with one eye that things are seen, but it is with two eyes that things are perceived, and where there is perception there is understanding. It is prophesied that they will see but not perceive. So this part is about perception.
And a hand in place of a hand. This means a healing hand in place of a harming hand.
And a foot in place of a foot. This is about the direction taken in your spiritual life journey. There is the narrow path on which both feet go in the right direction, and there is the wide path when you are not sure where you are going. First one foot takes the lead and then the other.
And a likeness in place of a likeness. This means that you must replace the image that you have of yourself as a physical being, with your first and True Image of your Self as a spiritual being. Then you will come to know your True Self.
Then will you enter the kingdom. When these things are done your soul will enter the kingdom as a little child; your soul will be like it was when first born.
The Self’s desire is the Father of the soul, and its Mother is the virgin mind; the birth of the soul is therefore an immaculate conception.
See also in Matthew 19:14 KJV: But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Logion 23
Jesus said, “I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one.”
Interpretation:
The one out of a thousand is the one with Love.
Two out of ten thousand are those with Truth and Understanding.
Those who have Love have righteous desire, and so they are the souls that are the children of the Father.
Those that possess the Truth and Understanding are the souls that become the living word.
Together they shall stand as single one, in other words the three become one, as in the trinity.
The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. These three are therefore the Way (Love), the Truth (the Word) and the Life (the Spirit of Understanding).
The Father becomes the Son, the Son becomes the Father. This is why Jesus said in John 10:30 KJV; I and my Father are one.
Logion 24
His disciples said to him, “Show us the place where you are, since it is necessary for us to seek it.” He said to them, “Whoever has ears, let him hear. There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. If he does not shine, he is darkness.”
Interpretation:
It is obvious that the disciples knew where the physical body of Jesus was because they were looking at it, and so didn’t need to seek it.
It should be realized that all communication between people occurs between their souls. For example, if I speak to you I am not speaking to your physical body but to your soul which animates your body.
It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, it should also be said that the soul is the doorway to the Self.
What the disciples were seeking and asking to be shown was the place where the soul of Jesus was. The disciples had already been taught that the soul exists within and is formed from the substance of mind, in other words, the mind is the world in which the soul exists. Therefore, the disciples wanted to know about the world in which the soul of Jesus was.
Jesus described himself as the way, the truth and the life, in other words his soul was formed from the way/righteous desire. The truth/the Word and the life/the Light of Understanding.
When there is the Light of Understanding in the soul, then that light lights up the whole mind. If the soul does not shine, then the soul does not understand the Truth or what is righteous. It is then that the soul is said to be in the darkness of ignorance and is the cause of the darkness.
See also in Matthew 6:22-23 KJV: The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
John 8:12 KJV: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Logion 25
Jesus said, “Love your brother like your soul, guard him like the pupil of your eye.
Interpretation:
It is the way that the most obvious thing is the most difficult to perceive, and what is most obvious here is that there is a difference between you and your soul, in other words there is a difference between the Self (that you refer to as ‘I’) and your soul. The soul is not the Self, the soul is the Self’s image of itself, and that image exists outside of the Self in the mind. It is through your image that you interact with all that is outside of you. Therefore the first part of this logion should be read; love other spiritual beings that are like you as you love the image that you have of yourself.
In the second part of this logion, the soul is likened to the pupil of the eye, so should be read; guard your brother’s soul like you guard your own, i.e. help him see and understand clearly.
Logion 26
Jesus said, “You see the mote in your brother’s eye, but you do not see the beam in your own eye. When you cast the beam out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to cast the mote from your brother’s eye.”
Interpretation:
You see the small imperfection in your brother’s soul, but you do not see the greater imperfection in your own soul. When you cast out that which is preventing the Light of Understanding from entering your own soul, then you will fully understand how to cast out that which is preventing your brother from understanding things clearly, otherwise you make yourself a hypocrite.
Those who have less understanding cannot lead those who have more understanding than themselves.
It is easy to see the mistakes that others make, but not so easy to see one’s own mistakes. Likewise it is easy to judge others, but not so easy to judge yourself. This is why it was said; Judge not lest ye be judged.
See also in Matthew 7:3-5 KJV: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Logion 27
<Jesus said,> “If you do not fast as regards the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath, you will not see the father.”
Interpretation:
If you do not completely turn your attention away from this material world, and desire nothing that is of it, you will not find your spiritual kingdom within.
The Sabbath is a time of complete rest, a time of complete detachment, a time where desire is silenced, and the Self’s attention is focussed entirely on the Self as it was in the beginning. It was then that the Self’s state of desire created the Self’s first and True Image of itself.
To see the father is to see the Self’s righteous desire. It is then also that the Self’s experiences perfect Love and the soul is reborn, innocent and pure, full of the Light of Understanding.
The end is the same as the beginning.
Logion 28
Jesus said, “I took my place in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts and do not have sight; for empty they came into the world, and empty too they seek to leave the world. But for the moment they are intoxicated. When they shake off their wine, then they will repent.”
Interpretation:
From the Self’s perspective it feels like it is in the centre of infinity. There are three places from which the Self feels like it is in the centre of infinity.
The first place is where you actually are, it is the place where you first felt your existence and discovered the reality of the Self with the word ‘I’. That was the first time where you experienced being in the centre of realty, your reality. This occurred because all of your focus of attention was on yourself and the place in which you alone exist.
The first place was recognized by the Self’s sense of feeling.
The second place is in the mind, and this illusion is created by the Self’s five spiritual senses, especially the sense of sight which is the basis for imagination. In this place the Self can imagine being who they are and where they are. This is where illusions begin and the first place is forgotten. It is not the Self that has moved, rather it is the Self’s focus of attention, and it is because of this that the Self creates an alternative Self. This alternative Self is referred to as its soul.
The third place is the material world, and this is also an illusion. It is created by the physical body’s senses, which create the illusion of the Self being a physical body that is in and of the material realm.
The definition of ego is literally; ‘I’.
The definition of alter ego (which represents the soul) is; ‘the other I’.
Now we can go back to the logion for it interpretation.
When Jesus took his place in the midst of the world, he was speaking of his soul that was now in possession of a physical body. Those who saw him only saw him as a physical being, in other words he appeared to them in the flesh. This is a problem even today as many people see only the physical bodies of others, they do not see the real person inside.
He found all of them overcome by the pleasures of materialism, and none of them were thirsty for the Spirit of Understanding. They were poisoned by unrighteous desire.
His soul became afflicted (troubled) for the sons of men, (their souls) because they are blinded by unrighteous desire and they do not understand what they are doing, for without a conscience they came into the world, and without a conscience too they seek to leave the world.
But for the moment they are overcome by materialistic desires. When they shake of their love of the world, then they will repent.
Logion 29
Jesus said, “If the flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. But if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty.”
Interpretation:
If the reason for the flesh coming into being was because of the spirit, it is a wonder.
If the reason for the spirit coming into being was the body, it is a wonder of wonders.
The question is; what came into being first, the flesh that forms the physical body, or the spiritual attributes of awareness, desire and will?
For a bunch of biological cells to form and then crawl out of a swamp, it would require awareness of its environment, and the desire to leave that environment. It would also mean that these attributes would have to form through a massive amount of chance events. Imagine the amount of cells this would require, and the space that it would take up. Then consider the size of an ant’s brain. If you watch an ant, or even a flea, how can you say that it doesn’t have awareness, desire and will?
Without awareness, desire and will, flesh and the body it forms would remain inanimate, and without a mind it would remain unconscious.
The Self is a spiritual being, it animates the physical body, so it is the spirit that must exist before the requirement of a physical body.
It is amazing how the spirit has made its home in that which is a material thing. Poverty here is the lack of life, which is the lack of understanding. The physical body is not even aware of its own existence, but the Self is.
Logion 30
Jesus said, “Where there are three gods, they are gods. Where there are two or one, I am with him.”
Interpretation:
The first thing to understand is that gods are rulers, and they rule according to their own desire.
First of all notice that is says three gods it doesn’t say three or more gods; it is three only.
Secondly, notice that the word gods is spelt with a lower case g. There is a difference between God and god.
One of the greatest deceptions of the false teachers, was to hide the fact that the word God actually represents the Self that you refer to as ‘I’. This knowledge was the first key to understanding the scriptures, and by hiding it the Pharisees and scribes were able to teach a false version of the Old Testament. This is why a New Testament was needed; a spiritual one and not a materialistic one.
The second deception was to hide the fact that a god represents the Self’s image i.e. the Self’s soul, also referred to as the Self’s alter ego.
The Latin definition of ‘I’ is ego.
The Latin definition of ‘alter ego’ is ‘the other I’.
The greatest deception of all was to give a materialistic interpretation of the scriptures in place of a spiritual one, this had the effect of hiding all of the keys and the way to the kingdom.
The three gods are three versions of the soul, in other words, the three images that the Self may have of itself, and they are:
The Self’s first and True Image created in heaven, i.e. the righteous conscious mind.
The second image retrieved from the earth, i.e. subconscious mind (Adam).
The third is the corrupted image of the second image (Satan).
Now for the part of this logion that says; where there are two or one, I am with him.
The two represent the first and True Image created in heaven, and the uncorrupted image retrieved from the subconscious mind, as a perfect memory of the first image.
It was inevitable that while on a life journey animating a physical body that the Self would be subjected to temptation and would make errors, but this was after all, a journey of learning. The result of pursuing pleasure without wisdom was that the Self’s desire, i.e. its heart became divided, and sought pleasure from what was good and from what was evil. Whichever side the Self chose would have an effect on the Self’s image/soul.
It is when the Self regains its original image and is in harmony with the Self’s righteous desire that the two images become one and the same.
The Self’s desire is the father/creator of the Self’s image, and when the heart is divided so also is the Self’s image.
It is the Self’s desire that determines which side of its image/soul will have dominion over the ALL, in other words, the Self’s soul will either rule as a Christ or a Satan.
So where there are three gods there is conflict between good and evil. Where there are two or one there is peace.
See also 1 John 3:2 KJV: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.