Saying 109: The Treasure in the Field
A man had a treasure buried in his field and knew nothing about it. He died and left the field to his son, who knew nothing either and sold it. The buyer ploughed, found the treasure, and began lending money at interest.
Commentary
Matthew’s finder sells everything to buy the field; Thomas’s stumbles on the treasure by accident and then becomes a moneylender — the very thing saying 95 forbids. Whether that ending is ironic is one of the collection’s open questions.
Parallels
Matthew 13:44
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 97 Saying 97: The Jar of Meal The kingdom is like a woman carrying a jar of meal. The handle broke on the road and the meal spilled out…
- Saying 100 Saying 100: Give Caesar What Is Caesar’s Shown a gold coin and told that Caesar's people demand taxes, he answers: give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give God what…
- Saying 41 Saying 41: To Whoever Has, More Will Be Given Whoever has something in hand will be given more; whoever has nothing will lose even the little they have.
- Saying 64 Saying 64: The Great Banquet A man invited guests to dinner; every one of them had business to attend to — debts to collect, a house to…
- Saying 40 Saying 40: The Vine Planted Apart A grapevine has been planted away from the Father; it has no strength, and it will be pulled up by the root…
- Saying 29 Saying 29: Spirit Dwelling in Poverty If flesh came into being because of spirit that is a marvel; if spirit because of the body, a marvel of marvels.…