Saying 98: The Assassin
The kingdom is like a man who wanted to kill someone powerful. At home he drew his sword and drove it into the wall to test whether his hand was strong enough — then he killed the man.
Commentary
The most shocking parable in the collection and, again, unique to Thomas. The point is rehearsal and honest self-assessment before acting, in a metaphor no canonical editor would have kept.
Parallels
This saying has no close parallel in the canonical gospels. Roughly half of the Gospel of Thomas is material of this kind, found nowhere else in the early Christian record.
Sayings on the same themes
- 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 15 Saying 15: The One Not Born of Woman When you see the one who was not born of woman, fall on your face and worship: that one is your Father.
- 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 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 63 Saying 63: The Rich Fool A rich man planned to invest his money, sow, reap and fill his barns so he would lack nothing — and died…
- Saying 99 Saying 99: My True Brothers and Mother Told that his brothers and mother are outside, Jesus says that those here who do the will of his Father are his…