Saying 96: The Leaven
The Father's kingdom is like a woman who took a little yeast, hid it in dough, and made large loaves of bread.
Commentary
The first of three consecutive parables with women as the central figure — 96, 97 and, by contrast, the assassin of 98. The verb is “hid”, which in Thomas is never a neutral word.
Parallels
Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21
Sayings on the same themes
- Saying 57 Saying 57: The Wheat and the Weeds A man sowed good seed; his enemy sowed weeds among it at night. He would not let his workers pull the weeds…
- Saying 61 Saying 61: Salome and the Undivided Two will rest on a couch; one will die, one will live. Salome asks who he is to climb on her couch…
- Saying 107 Saying 107: The Largest Sheep A shepherd with a hundred sheep lost the largest one. He left the ninety-nine and searched until he found it, and then…
- Saying 79 Saying 79: Blessed Is the Womb That Bore You A woman blesses the womb that carried him and the breasts that fed him; he answers that blessed are those who have…
- Saying 49 Saying 49: Blessed Are the Solitary Blessed are the solitary and the chosen, for you will find the kingdom; you came from it, and you will go back…
- Saying 75 Saying 75: Only the Solitary Enter Many are standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber.