Gospel of Thomas: sayings on Parables
Every saying in the collection that turns on parables, in the order they appear in the text.
- All 114
- Discipleship 25
- Controversy and division 25
- Self-knowledge 19
- Asceticism and the world 19
- The kingdom 18
- Parables 16
- Unity of opposites 15
- Wealth and poverty 14
- Secrecy and hidden things 14
- Death and immortality 11
- Light and darkness 9
- Solitude 8
- Women in Thomas 6
- Beatitudes 5
- Saying 8 Saying 8: The Wise Fisherman A fisherman hauls up a netful of small fish, finds one fine large fish among them, and throws all the small ones back.
- Saying 9 Saying 9: The Sower A sower scatters seed: some falls on the road, some on rock, some among thorns, and some on good soil that bears sixty and a hundred and twenty times over.
- Saying 20 Saying 20: The Mustard Seed The kingdom is like a mustard seed: the smallest of all seeds, but when it falls on worked ground it puts out a great branch and shelters the birds.
- 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 back when the owners come. Be on guard against the world like a householder expecting thieves, and when the crop is ripe bring the sickle.
- Saying 35 Saying 35: Binding the Strong Man You cannot get into a strong man's house and take it by force without tying his hands first; then you can loot the place.
- 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 and destroyed.
- 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 in case the wheat came up with them — at harvest the weeds will be obvious, and will be pulled and burned.
- 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 that night.
- 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 buy, a wedding to cater, rents to gather. So he sent his servant to bring in whoever was found in the streets. Buyers and merchants will not enter my Father's places.
- 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 they beat him too; he sent his son, and they killed him, knowing he was the heir.
- Saying 76 Saying 76: The Pearl and the Treasure A merchant with a load of goods found a pearl, sold the lot and bought the pearl. Look for the treasure that does not fail, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys.
- Saying 96 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.
- 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 behind her; she noticed nothing, and found the jar empty when she got home.
- Saying 98 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.
- 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 told it: I love you more than the ninety-nine.
- Saying 109 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.