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Gospel of Thomas · 65 of 114 · tr. Thomas O. Lambdin

Logion 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 he did not recognize them.' 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."
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Themes
Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

[auto] The instruction to 'hear' implies that truth or salvation is accessed through internal understanding and insight rather than external obedience alone.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

[auto] The closing phrase 'Let him who has ears hear' explicitly marks the saying as containing esoteric meaning reserved for those capable of understanding.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

[auto] The narrative presents a counter-intuitive outcome where tenants kill the heir despite knowing his status, functioning as a riddle to destabilize ordinary logic.

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