Gospel of Thomas - Chapter 065
Saying 63
- (63) Jesus said, "There was a rich man who had much money. He said, 'I shall put my money to use so that I may sow, reap, plant, and fill my storehouse with produce, with the result that I shall lack nothing.' Such were his intentions, but that same night he died. Let him who has ears hear."
The word כסף money also means desire, yearn.
His desires were spent upon himself. The church; those who are called out are called the bride of Christ. Her desire is to be for her husband:
- Ge 3:16 ¶ Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
The purpose of Thomas's riddle is to teach the method of riddling. Here though the hebrew words for desire are different, that is the one used in Genesis is not the one that means money, the method being displayed is another kind of riddle in scripture. Exegesis of sensus plenior is not just a practice of decryption. Riddles play with ideas. One symbol leads you into an idea which can be expressed with other symbols.
The split rock is one symbol which expresses the idea of the separation of the Father and Son at the cross. That same idea is expressed by the parted water and torn veil. That isn't the best example... Jesus put off the desire of the flesh not to die.. he made his flesh limp... which is also expressed by the bruised heel of the seed of the woman and Jacob's withered thigh.
