Saying 52: Twenty-Four Prophets
The disciples say twenty-four prophets spoke in Israel and all of them spoke about him; he replies that they have ignored the living one in front of them and talked about the dead.
Commentary
Twenty-four is the number of books in the Hebrew Bible as traditionally counted. The saying does not deny scripture so much as declare it beside the point next to a living presence.
Parallels
John 5:39–40
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 78 Saying 78: Why Did You Go Out to the Countryside? Why did you come out to the country — to see a reed shaken by the wind, or a man in soft…
- Saying 43 Saying 43: The Tree and Its Fruit Asked who he is to speak this way, Jesus replies that they do not recognise him from what he says: they have…
- Saying 65 Saying 65: The Wicked Tenants A man leased his vineyard to farmers. He sent a servant for the produce and they beat him; he sent another and…
- Saying 68 Saying 68: Blessed Are You When You Are Hated Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted; and no place will be found wherever you have been persecuted.
- Saying 34 Saying 34: The Blind Leading the Blind If a blind person leads a blind person, both of them fall into a pit.
- Saying 13 Saying 13: Compare Me to Something Peter says Jesus is like a righteous messenger, Matthew like a wise philosopher; Thomas says his mouth cannot say what Jesus is…