This threw me for a loop... can someone explain:
14. Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give to charity, you will harm your spirits.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 25518340 Thomas is a collection of hints to unpack the deeper meaning of scripture. Use the following verse to consider #14 of Thomas.
Rom 7.19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Whenever you attempt to do right, the flesh will sneak in to steal away merit.
Fasting is a discipline of denying the flesh. But when you do it, the flesh sneaks back in to promote the ego by announcing the fast to others, or to inflate itself on its ability to control itself. The very act of suppressing the flesh will inflame it.
It is the same with prayer. When you make effort to pray, the flesh gets in the way. It inflates itself when it observes its humility and concern for others. It takes pride in it's confessions.
In giving alms the left hand (flesh) always knows what the right hand (spirit) is up to and always trying to rob it of its spiritual rewards.
