Gospel of Thomas - Chapter 100
Saying 99
- (99) The disciples said to him, "Your brothers and your mother are standing outside." He said to them, "Those here who do the will of my father are my brothers and my mother. It is they who will enter the kingdom of my father."
Compare:
- Mt 12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
- Mt 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
- Mt 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
- Mt 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew records the 'sister' in the list of relatives and Thomas does not. This may indicate that Matthew had a better grasp of the the riddle than Thomas, and may serve to indicate an earlier authorship, or just a lack of understanding at a later date.
Jesus was born a Hebrew and the Hebrews were the 'mother' of him in the flesh. Those Hebrews who were following him but did not yet understand represent his spiritual mother (the female does not see clearly). The sister would represent the gentiles who were following without understanding, and the brothers are the disciples who followed and did understand.
Also notice there is no father on the list, because no one should be called father, in the spiritual sense, but God himself. (Mt 23:9)
