English
Jesus said, ‘Whoever is near me is near the fire, but whoever is far from me is far away from the kingdom.’
Interpretation
The saying seems to be an acknowledgment of Jesus’ own importance which, while more common in the final stages of development in the book, is nowhere as theologically loaded as those other passages. This one instead seems to be a rather direct statement on the need to adhere to Jesus and his message in order to receive entry in the eschatological kingdom. The fire here may be invoking the same idea as Saying 10.