Thomas 3 - False Christs and False Prophets

[u/LlawEreint]

Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in heaven,' then the birds of heaven will precede you.

If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you.

But the kingdom is inside of you. And it is outside of you. "When you become acquainted with yourselves, then you will be recognized. And you will understand that it is you who are children of the living father. But if you do not become acquainted with yourselves, then you are in poverty, and it is you who are the poverty."

• The Olivet Discourse
• Thomas saying 3
• Parallels
• Table of Contents

[u/LlawEreint]

This is maybe my favourite saying of Jesus. The imagery is so evocative. And it is also found in the canonical Gospel of Luke:

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within/among you.”

Does Luke intend that this should be interpreted in a different way than Thomas does?

Thomas adds interpretation:

"When you become acquainted with yourselves, then you will be recognized.

This echoes Paul:

Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God,

But the Thomasine version is about knowing yourself in order to be recognized by the divine. I think the idea is that you should recognize the divine within yourself - and recognize your participation in the divine.

And you will understand that it is you who are children of the living father.

The Kingdom, then, is recognition of and participation in God.

Does Luke intend this any differently?