ISLAMIC MYSTICAL LITERATURE 66lhas rights and rightful owners, so give each what is appropriate."
(1.30; compare Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31)
Jesus said, "Evil scholars are like a rock that has fallen at the
mouth of a brook: it does not drink the water, nor does it let the
water flow to the plants. And evil scholars are like the drainpipe
of a latrine that is plastered outside but filthy inside; or like
graves that are decorated outside but contain dead people's
bones inside." (1.49; similar sayings are found in Matthew
23:27-28 [Q]; Luke 11:44 [Q]; Gospel of Thomas 39,102; and in
Aesop's fable of the dog in the manger)
Jesus was asked, "Who taught you?"
He answered," No one taught me. I saw that the ignorance of the
fool was shameful, so I avoided it." (3.52)
Jesus was asked by some people, "Show us the way by which we
may enter paradise."
He said, "Do not speak at all."
They said, "We cannot do that."
He said, "Then say only what is good." (3.87)
Jesus passed by a pig and said to it, "Go in peace."
They said, "O spirit of god, why do you speak like this to a pig?"
He answered, "I do not want my tongue to grow accustomed
to evil." (3.64)
One day Jesus was walking with his students, and they passed by
the carcass of a dog.
The students said, "How this dog stinks!"
But Jesus said, "How white are its teeth!" (3.108)
One day Jesus was greatly troubled by the rain and thunder and
lightning, and he began to seek shelter. His eye fell on a tent
some distance away, but when he came to it, he found a woman
inside, so he turned away from it. Then he noticed a cave in a
mountain, but when he came to it, there was a lion in it. Laying
his hand on the lion, he said, "My god, you have given everything
a resting place, but to me have you given none."
Then god revealed to him, "Your resting place is the house of my
mercy." (3.153; see also Matthew 8:20 [Q]; Luke 9:58 [Q]; Gospel
of Thomas 86)