Saying 55: Hating Father and Mother
Whoever does not hate father and mother cannot be my disciple; whoever does not hate brothers and sisters and carry the cross as I do is not worthy of me.
Commentary
The Semitic idiom behind “hate” means to prefer less rather than to loathe, but Thomas presses it hard: the family is the first thing the solitary leaves. See saying 101, where the demand is doubled and complicated.
Parallels
Luke 14:26–27; Matthew 10:37–38
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 2 Saying 2: Seek and Do Not Stop Seeking Seek until you find; when you find you will be disturbed; when you are disturbed you will marvel, and you will reign…
- Saying 86 Saying 86: Nowhere to Lay His Head Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head and rest.
- Saying 92 Saying 92: Now I Am Willing to Tell You Seek and you will find. In the past I did not tell you the things you asked about; now I am willing…
- Saying 46 Saying 46: Greater Than John the Baptist From Adam to John the Baptist no one born of women is so far above John that his eyes should not be…
- Saying 21 Saying 21: Children in a Field Not Theirs Mary asks what the disciples are like; they are like children living in a field that is not theirs, who give it…
- Saying 6 Saying 6: On Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving The disciples ask how to fast, pray, give alms and eat; the answer is to stop lying and to stop doing what…