Confirmation Of The Sayings Of Jesus Christ

Explanations Of The Gospel Of Thomas
Part II

By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze


Continuation Of Part I

54) Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor, for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven." [For over 30 years I have heard ministers of God explain this statement. None of them has been able to give the correct interpretation. Herein you will find the complete explanation. For details, see Benefits Of Life In Spirit And In Truth]

55) Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother cannot become a disciple to Me. And whoever does not hate his brothers and sisters and take up his cross in My way will not be worthy of Me." [Jesus is not asking you to hate your father, mother, brother or sister. He is only telling you that none of them should prevent you from seeking, finding and following the Truth.]

56) Jesus said, "Whoever has come to understand the world has found (only) a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world." [When you become spiritually enlightened and awake, you will then know that this world is nothing. It is only a castle of illusion, which is necessary for a while. It is only a school meant to help children of God gain knowledge, experience and mastery, and thereby enable them become spiritually perfect even as our Heavenly Father is perfect. At the right time, this world will phase out. The ugly experiences of vanity confirm the goodness of life in spirit. The real problem is that many people think that this world is all there is, and therefore set their heart after it, instead of using it as springboard unto the everlasting life.]

57) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a man who had [good] seed. His enemy came by night and sowed weeds among the good seed. The man did not allow them to pull up the weeds; he said to them, 'I am afraid that you will go intending to pull up the weeds and pull up the wheat along with them.' For on the day of the harvest the weeds will be plainly visible, and they will be pulled up and burned." [God created everything so well. But Satan introduced evil into creation in order to discredit God. Satan carries out his evil plans to his own deceit, discredit and detriment.
         God created good and lovely spirits. Satan introduced bad and evil spirits. On the last day, those who are Godly shall return to God, while those who are evil shall be cast into the outer darkness.]

58) Jesus said, "Blessed is the man who has suffered and found life." [You should labour to find, know and practise the Truth. Do not let the gains of this earthly life prevent you from entering the kingdom.]

59) Jesus said, "Take heed of the Living One while you are alive, lest you die and seek to see Him and be unable to do so." [Those who believe that God does not exist cannot find Him. The time to seek and find the kingdom is now that you are alive. After death, it is too late.]

60) (They saw) a Samaritan carrying a lamb on his way to Judea. He said to his disciples,
         "(Why does) that man (carry) the lamb around?"
         They said to him, "So that he may kill it and eat it."
         He said to them, "While it is alive, he will not eat it, but only when he has killed it and it has become a corpse." [Become interested in your spirit self, not in the physical body, which is nothing but corpse. Seek out the saints when they are with you and emulate them. Refusing to recognize them when they are alive and celebrating them when they are gone, gives you no profit.]
         They said to him, "He cannot do so otherwise."
         He said to them, "You too, look for a place for yourself within the Repose, lest you become a corpse and be eaten." [Seek the spiritual life now that you are alive; after death, it will be too late to find and enter kingdom.]

61) Jesus said, "Two will rest on a bed: the one will die, and other will live." [One is the spirit which must surely live, and never dies. The other is the body, which not only dies, but is already dead. Again, on the Last Day, the good shall be separated from the bad.]
         Salome said to him, "Who are You, man, that You, as though from the One, have come up on my couch and eaten from my table?"
         Jesus said to her, "I am He who exists from the Undivided. I was given some of the things of my Father."
         "I am Your disciple."
         "Therefore I say, if he is, he will be filled with light, but if he is divided, he will be filled with darkness." [Follow me. Learn my teachings and do them, and you will become full of light - life, knowledge, wisdom and glory. Otherwise, you become empty and have to live in the regions of darkness.]

62) Jesus said, "It is to those [who are worthy of My] mysteries that I tell My mysteries. Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." [The truth shall be explained to those that are ready for it. When the student is ready, the master appears, to lead him home. Do not spend your time arguing with those who are not yet ready for life in spirit and in truth.]

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. [However well you may prosper in earthly possessions, do not set you heart on them as if your life and honour depends on them. Avoid attachment to possessions, and you will find the kingdom. Also, use earthly wealth, which perishes, to gain heavenly treasures, which do not perish. Do not be selfish. Your life depends only on God.] Such were his intentions, but that same night he died. [ Those who seek the perishable things of this earthly life shall perish with the world at the time of its dissolution. Those who now seek the kingdom shall inherit everlasting life.] "Let him who has ears hear." [Consider these teachings and warnings as true and important, and a great opportunity which should not be neglected. ]

64) Jesus said, "A man had received visitors. And when he had prepared the dinner, he sent his servant to invite guests. He went to the first one and said to him, "My master invites you.' He said, 'I have claims against some merchants. They are coming to me this evening. I must go and give them my orders. I ask to be excused from the dinner.' He went to another and said, 'My master has invited you.' He said to him, 'I have just bought a house and am required for the day. I shall not have any spare time.' He went to another and said to him, 'My master invites you.' He said to him, 'My friend is going to get married, and I am to prepare the banquet. I shall not be able to come. I ask to be excused from the dinner.' He went to another and said to him, 'My master invites you.' He said to him, 'I have just bought a farm, and I am on my way to collect the rent. I shall not be able to come. I ask to be excused.' The servant returned and said to his master, 'Those whom you invited to the dinner have asked to be excused.' The master said to his servant, 'Go outside to the streets and bring back those whom you happen to meet, so that they may dine.' Businessmen and merchants will not enter the Places of My Father." [Many claim to love God, but they are not ready to do the right thing to enter the kingdom of heaven. They claim to seek God, but do not have time for God. They profess to be monotheists (worshippers of one God), when indeed they are busy practising polytheism (worshipping uncountable gods). Most of the religions and churches are nothing but the multiplicity of idolatry. They are misleading people away from God.]

65) He said, "There was a good man who owned a vineyard. He leased it to tenant farmers so that they might work it and he might collect the produce from them. He sent his servant so that the tenants might give him the produce of the vineyard. They seized his servant and beat him, all but killing him. The servant went back and told his master. The master said, 'Perhaps did not recognize .' He sent another servant. The tenants beat this one as well. Then the owner sent his son and said, 'Perhaps they will show respect to my son.' Because the tenants knew that it was he who was the heir to the vineyard, they seized him and killed him. Let him who has ears hear." [People have become spiritually indolent and complacent. To the extent that they resist every effort being made to re-direct them to salvation and life. What is one of them like?]

He is like an ignorant man
     Who walked into the fold
     Of his enemies.
And
The enemies
     Tied up his hands.
     And chained his feet.

Then
     They blindfolded him.
     And made him dumb.

When they have put the man
     In bondage,
     They said to him,
     “We are your friends.”
Yet, the man did not know
     That he is in the enemies’ camp.

Explanations Of The Parable Of The Ignorant Man
  1. The man is ignorant because he does not have spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
  2. They tied up his hands because they prevent him from using his spiritual powers. He does not even know that he has great spiritual powers. They deprived him of the powers of anointing, healing, deliverance, etc.
  3. They tied up his legs because they prevent him from going to places where he can find God and discover himself.
  4. They blindfolded him by blocking his spirit of vision, prophecy, dream, trance, oracle, etc.
  5. They made him dumb because he no longer teaches the truth. He keeps himself busy teaching man-made doctrines in place of God’s commandments.
  6. They put him in bondage, because he is spiritually stagnant and complacent, without knowing it.
  7. They said to him, “We are your friends,” by calling him ‘Reverend,’ ‘Man of God,’ ‘Saint’ or ‘A good man.’
  8. Yet, the man did not know that he is in the enemies’ camp, because he continues to ignore the truth about life. He does not know the truth about God, and cannot distinguish between things of God and things of darkness.
  9. The man is like a soldier in search of his enemy. He took with him heavy weapons. Everyday, he went about searching for his enemy, without knowing that he is already inside the belly of his enemy. Such is the predicament of the teeming ignorant humanity.
    10. ]
66) Jesus said, "Show me the stone which the builders have rejected. That one is the cornerstone." [People reject what is important and seek irrelevant things. I, Jesus, am the Almighty God people seek. People cannot recognize Him, because their spiritual eyes are still closed. What is disappointing is that they are not even making effort to open their spiritual eyes and learn the Truth. What is more disappointing is that they neither seek God nor are they able to recognize Him in His simplicity and unselfishness.]

67) Jesus said, "Whoever believes that the All itself is deficient is (himself) completely deficient." [God is perfect. There is no evil in Him or from Him. Many things people consider impure are pure. Whatever your thought is, is reflected back to you manifold and becomes one with you (becomes your nature).]

68) Jesus said, "Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted. Wherever you have been persecuted they will find no Place." [If they fail to repent, they cannot enter the kingdom.]

69) Jesus said, "Blessed are they who have been persecuted within themselves. It is they who have truly come to know the Father. [Those who find themselves empty, and are desirous of finding God. They gain self-knowledge and find God.] Blessed are the hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled." [Those who seek spiritual awakening, find it and enter the kingdom. ]

70) Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." [Everyone is a spirit from God. Everybody has to make this spirit grow, manifest and functional. Otherwise, on the last day, people will not be able to enter the everlasting kingdom of life.]

71) Jesus said, "I shall destroy [this] house, and no one will be able to rebuild it." [I, the Almighty, has come as Jesus, to save the world, and nobody can prevent it. And there is no other Jesus.]

72) [A man said] to Him, "Tell my brothers to divide my father's possessions with me."
         He said to him, "O man, who has made Me a divider?" He turned to His disciples and said to them, "I am not a divider, am I?" [The work of dividing possessions among brothers is not the duty of a Saviour. Elders and adults should ensure equitable distribution of wealth.]

73) Jesus said, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Beseech the Lord, therefore, to send out laborers to the harvest." [Many people, who are ready to learn how to live in spirit and in truth, do not have able ministers who are spiritually awake, to lead them. The churches and societies should pray God to send His ministers who are prophets, spiritually awake and able to lead the flock in spirituality. Otherwise, it is already midnight – many shall perish.]

74) He said, "O Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the cistern." [Congregation abounds in every church and religion, but the teachings lack spiritual contents. Many religions are busy teaching man-made doctrines, instead of doing the commandments of God. The leaders do not know the way, and cannot teach spiritual things as necessary. Even, many of the original good teachings have been turned upside down, without people knowing it.]

75) Jesus said, "Many are standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber." [Many people want to enter the kingdom of God. That is why they flock to the churches, fellowships, ministries, prayer houses, campsites, etc.
         However, the people who experience heaven and life in spirit are those who observe meditation, quite times, peace of mind, silence, rest, who detach themselves from the world - who live trusting in God, not as if their life depends on earthly possessions.
         This does not mean that everybody should become a hermit, monk or nun. People can experience God in quite places, even in their bed rooms and in their hearts. ]

76) Jesus said, "The kingdom of the Father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and who discovered a pearl. That merchant was shrewd. He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself. You too, seek his unfailing and enduring treasure where no moth comes near to devour and no worm destroys." [ Nothing you seek for on earth can compare with heavenly life. Once a person has experienced and known God, he has found the best of all things. In fact, he has found the only thing necessary. He comes to understand the irrelevance of all earthly wealth, strives and savings. Then, he sets his heart after God. He has no desire for accumulation of earthly things, except when such is necessary.]

77) Jesus said, "It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the All. From Me did the All come forth, and unto Me did the All extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find Me there." [God is Spirit. Spirit is Life, and Life is Spirit. Spirit pervades the entire universe. Everything is spirit in essence. The same Spirit is Light. It is Love. It is Harmony.]

78) Jesus said, "Why have you come out into the desert? To see a reed shaken by the wind? [You are in the desert because you want to find and know the Truth. In other words, you have acted wisely.] And to see a man clothed in fine garments like your kings and your great men? Upon them are the fine [garments], and they are unable to discern the truth." [It is unfortunte that great men of the world do not know the Truth, and they are not ready to learn it or submit to God.]

79) A woman from the crowd said to Him, "Blessed are the womb which bore You and the breasts which nourished You."
         He said to her, "Blessed are those who have heard the word of the Father and have truly kept it. For there will be days when you will say, 'Blessed are the womb which has not conceived and the breasts which have not given milk.'" [When the last day judgment begins, the extent of sufferings will make the evil ones wish that they had never been born.]

80) Jesus said, "He who has recognized the world has found the body, but he who has found the body is superior to the world." [When you become spiritually awake, you will know that this world is nothing. It is only an illusion, which is necessary for a while, to teach children of God by experience, for experience is the best teacher.]

81) Jesus said, "Let him who has grown rich be king, [Every rich man has been so blessed by God for his own well being and for the well being of others. He should extend his wealth to those around him. He who has two, let him give one to his neighbour. ] and let him who possesses power renounce it." [The greatness and honour people seek, are found only in humility and simplicity. Power is of no avail, except it is used for the good of all.]

82) Jesus said, "He who is near Me is near the fire, and he who is far from Me is far from the Kingdom." [ Spirit is first invisible. Second, it makes itself evident by its activities, which are observable. It is available to the children of God, but inaccessible to people who prefer darkness to light.]

83) Jesus said, "The images are manifest to man, but the light in them remains concealed in the image of the light of the Father. He will become manifest, but his image will remain concealed by his light." [God is spirit. Spirit is Light and Light is Fire. This Spirit is also Life. Spirit is first invisible. Second, it makes itself evident by its activities, which are observable. If you want to experience God, you must worship Him in spirit and in truth. A person who does not do what God wills is far from the kingdom of heaven. ]

84) Jesus said, "When you see your likeness, you rejoice. But when you see your images which came into being before you, and which neither die nor become manifest, how much you will have to bear!" [You glory in this your earthly body, which is not you. How much more glorious is your spirit self, which is like Angels.]

85) Jesus said, "Adam came into being from a great power and a great wealth, but he did not become worthy of you. For had he been worthy, [he would] not [have experienced] death." [Adam became unworthy because he fell from glory. That was why he did not live to behold my face (Jesus), like Simeon. Death is unnecessary. You can live forever on earth, without dying.]

86) Jesus said, "[The foxes have their holes] and the birds have [their] nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head and rest." [Every true saint is after doing the will of God. He has no other concern, not even for himself. Therefore, he is not after having possessions or doing his own will. He does the will of the father. He performs his duties as service offering rendered to God. He has no ego (self). And he gives God all glory. Besides, the work of saving people demand great sacrifices, which the unanointed and those not called cannot make. ]

87) Jesus said, "Wretched is the body that is dependant upon a body, [Anybody who values the body above the spirit lives a wretched life. The spirit will not become bright, glorious and perfect as God is perfect. ] and wretched is the soul that is dependent on these two." [Therefore, the person will be disappointed by his body and spirit. The person who values the spirit above the body has set his priorities right. He lives in spirit and in truth. The result will be everlasting life and glory.]

88) Jesus said, "The angels and the prophets will come to you and give you those things you (already) have. And you too, give them those things which you have, and say to yourselves, 'When will they come and take what is theirs?'" [God has given diverse gifts to His children. It is the duty of His children to ensure team work, co-operation and inter-independence. They should render services, each to the others. By so doing, they enrich themselves all the more, and gain spiritual treasures, growth and maturity.]

89) Jesus said, "Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Do you not realize that he who made he inside is the same one who made the outside?" [The outside of the cup is the body. The inside is the spirit within. The problem in the world is that majority are busy satisfying their bodies, which is nothing but corpse, instead of developing their spirits, which are like the Angels. Since you value the outside body, which perishes, you should all the more value the inside spirit, which is everlasting.]

90) Jesus said, "Come unto me, for My yoke is easy and My lordship is mild, and you will find repose for yourselves." [If you want to enjoy life, you must live as a saint.]

91) They said to Him, "Tell us who You are so that we may believe in You."
         He said to them, "You read the face of the sky and of the earth, but you have not recognized the one who is before you, and you do not know how to read this moment." [I am the Almighty. Blessed are you to behold my form. You suppose to have developed your spirit selves and be able to recognise Me.]

92) Jesus said, "Seek and you will find. Yet, what you asked Me about in former times and which I did not tell you then, now I do desire to tell, but you do not enquire after it." [Do not be in a hurry to learn spiritual things of life. The best approach is slow and steady, as if nothing is being done. Yet, much is being accomplished.]

93) "Do not give what is holy to dogs, lest they throw them on the dung-heap. Do not throw the pearls to swine, lest they grind it [to bits]." [Do not argue with those who are not ready to know the Truth. Dissociate from the swines, who are the evil spirits, demons, mermaids, ghosts, witches and black energies, lest they corrupt what is good.]

94) Jesus [said], "He who seeks will find, and [he who knocks] will be let in." [This is true]

95) [Jesus said,] "If you have money, do not lend it at interest, but give [it] to one from whom you will not get it back." [The universal law of flow makes you a giver. The more you give, the more you get (though it may not be immediate). When you give out something, without asking for it to be returned to you, you are selfless. Therefore, you gain much more. Besides, you grow faster in spirit and gain over much.]

96) Jesus [said], "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, [concealed] it in some dough, and made it into large loaves. Let him who has ears hear." [What you call creation are emanations from God. Those who seek spiritual treasures are by far wiser and richer.]

97) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the [Father] is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking [on] a road, still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal emptied out behind her on the road. She did not realize it; she had noticed no accident. When she reached her house, she set the jar down and found it empty." [The image and the likeness of God in everyone is the spirit. If you do not nurture this spirit, it will dwindle and become insignificant. ]

98) Jesus said, "The Kingdom of the Father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. In his own house he drew his sword and stuck it into the wall in order to find out whether his hand could carry through. Then he slew the powerful man." [All you need do is to live in the spirit and in truth. This is faith in God. Trust in God, and He will perform exploits for you. God has given victorious powers to His childen. It is amazing that majority still neglect the simple but victorious powers.]

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." [This is well explained.]

100) They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to Him, "Caesar's men demand taxes from us."
         He said to them, "Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give God what belongs to God, and give Me what is Mine." [This is well explained.]

101) "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to Me. And whoever does [not] love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a [disciple] to Me. For My mother [gave me falsehood], but [My] true [Mother] gave me life." [Everyone should love his parents. But no one should disobey God because of his parents. Our earthly parents gave us the physical body, which is nothing but corpse (falsehood). But our heavenly mother (God’s love) gave us spirit which is life and is God’s image. Both enrich us through experience.]

102) Jesus said, "Woe to the Pharisees, for they are like a dog sleeping in the manger of oxen, for neither does he eat nor does he let the oxen eat." [This statement refers to the Pharisees and other blind leaders. They neither know the ways of God, nor how to live in spirit and in truth. Therefore, they can neither enter the kingdom of God nor can they teach people how to enter. The worst is that they preside in the temples and churches. They do not allow those who know to teach and lead the masses. They make people stagnant and complacent, without the public knowing it.]

103) Jesus said, "Fortunate is the man who knows where the brigands will enter, so that he may get up, muster his domain, and arm himself before they invade." [Blessed is he who seeks, finds and lives in spirit and in truth. He has overcome the world. He will never die. The evil spirits cannot harm or frustrate him.]

104) They said [to Jesus], "Come, let us pray today and let us fast." Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray." [What God demands from his children is not fasting and penance. He demands love, mercy and righteousness. If you do these, God will always be with you. But if you neglect these, God will leave you. Then you suffer hardship.]

105) Jesus said, "He who knows the father and the mother will be called the son of a harlot." [It you say that God is different from His Love, then you are not saying the Truth. God is Love, Loving and Beloved.]

106) Jesus said, "When you make the two one, you will become the sons of man, and when you say, 'Mountain, move away,' it will move away." [All is spirit. This spirit is obedient to the omnipotence of God, and God has given the same omnipotence as dominion to His children.]

107) Jesus said, "The Kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine sheep and looked for that one until he found it. When he had gone to such trouble, he said to the sheep, 'I care for you more than the ninety-nine.'" [In the kingdom of God, everybody is important; everybody is precious. Again, if you continue to lose your possessions one by one, one day you will become so poor that you have nothing.]

108) Jesus said, "He who will drink from my mouth will become like Me. I myself shall become he, and the things that are hidden will become revealed to him." [I, myself, who is giving these explanations, am one example. He who knows the Truth becomes one with the Truth. So it is, in the same way that a rod stays inside fire, becomes red hot and one with fire.]

109) Jesus said, "The Kingdom is like a man who had a [hidden] treasure in his field without knowing it. And [after] he died, he left it to his son. The son did not know (about the treasure). He inherited the field and sold [it]. And the one who bought it went plowing and found the treasure. He began to lend money at interest to whomever he wished." [The field is the outside body, and the treasure is the spirit within. Find the kingdom of heaven, and become one of the richest.]

110) Jesus said, "Whoever finds the world and becomes rich, let him renounce the world." [The world, its riches and glories are as nothing compared to the life in spirit.]

111) Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will be rolled up in your presence. And one who lives from the Living One will not see death." Does not Jesus say, "Whoever finds himself is superior to the world?" [You are spirit. Spirit does not die. It is life and everlasting. What you call death is not death. Death is not the end of life, and birth is not the beginning of life. Seek self-knowledge, and you will find the Truth and overcome the world, and even defeat Devil.]

112) Jesus said, "Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh." [The soul and the flesh are like two worlds apart. None has the same nature with the other. Sand can only produce sand. Spirit can only produce spirit. Soul and flesh only co-exist, but do not mix. You are spirit. Therefore, do not please the body to the detriment of yourself, who is spirit.]

113) His disciples said to Him, "When will the Kingdom come?" "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'Here it is' or 'There it is.' Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it." [Even now, all are in the kingdom. The kingdom is spirit, and it is life. The humble, simple, honest and solitary, especially the pure in heart, enter the kingdom.]

114) Simon Peter said to Him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of Life."
         Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." [Those who are qualified to enter the kingdom are those who are humble, simple, tolerant and forgiving. Women lack these qualities. Every woman should seek these qualities in order to enter the kingdom.]

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Extras

2) [Jesus said]: "Let him who seeks not cease until he finds, and when he finds he shall wonder; wondering he shall reign, and reigning shall rest." [This is true. There is no wisdom better than this.]

4) Jesus said: "Let the old man who is full of days not hesitate to ask the child of seven days about the place of life; then he will live. For many that are first will be last, and last, first, and they will become a single one." [The worship of the Lord has been corrupted. Now, God is sending His ministers to restore what has been changed. Many have to change their way of worshiping God in order to find God. For, example it is an abomination to carry a corpse into a temple. Yet, many people and churches still do so, out of ignorance.]