Assuming that the direction of dependence is from Matthew to Thomas, here is the story of that. Berean Literal, naturally, which shows how, errr, concise the verses of Matthew are. The [men] isn't even in there so I put it in between brackets
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, [men] drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad
Thomas logion 109, 76, 8
and after to-cause his death did he place him within his child
would the child know not did he carry the(F) field which therein
did he give her outward and he-who have bought her did he come he plough did he fall to the treasure did he Begin of give copper to the(F) interest to they-who he desire them
76 said IS : the(F) reign-of(F) king of the father she likens to a human trader has he therein a Consignment did he fall to a Pearl
the trader who therein a wise-person is/are did he give-away his Consignment did he buy to him that-one Pearl alone
yourselves likewise you seek-after his treasure not-usually he perish in-case he continuing outward the place not-usually moth make-to-approach inward to the-place-there to eat Nor not-usually he worm destroy
8 and said he : the human liken to a fisher become-man of heart/mind
this have cast his(F) dragnet to Sea
did he draw her upward in Sea she filled of fish little within upper-part of heart/mind their
did he fall to a great fish good
viz. the fisher become-man of heart/mind did he cast the(PL) little all them the(PL) fish outward downward to Sea
did he choose the great fish Exempt-from toil
he-who there-be ear within he to hear let! he hear
The parable of the net is the core parable of Thomas, where he demonstrates that There Is No Big Fish: https://www.academia.edu/43780115/The_P ... ng_to_find
It contains a main metamorphosis, which consists of two sub metamorphoses:
1) And he says: the human likens to a fisher, become-man of heart/mind, who had cast his dragnet to sea.
2) He drew her upward in sea, filled of fish, little within upper-part of their heart/mind.
3) He fell to a great fish.
4) Good, the fisher become-man of heart/mind, he cast the little fish, all of them, outward, downward to sea.
5) He chose the great fish, exempt-from toil.
0) He-who has ears within him to hear, let! him hear
(A1) And he says: the human likens to a fisher, become-man of heart/mind,
(A2) who had cast his dragnet to sea.
(A3) He drew her upward in sea,
(A4) filled of fish, little within upper-part of their heart/mind.
(A5-B1) He fell to a great fish.
(B2) Good, the fisher become-man of heart/mind,
(B3) he cast the little fish, all of them, outward, downward to sea.
(B4) He chose the great fish
(B5) exempt-from toil.
The metamorphosis model is present in most of Thomas, yet in each of his 16 parables. It shows a metamorphosis from a Starting state (2) to a Transition state (4), facilitated by an Action catalyst (3).
The states always are in stark contrast, sometimes even opposite to one another: the drawing upward that results in a net full of fish changes into throwing down that results in a net devoid of fish, for example.
The focus of every model is not on the metamorphosis itself but on its result: change leads to change, and it is always the metamorphosis outcome (5) that matters most. That is a spin-off of the Transition state, and it is the very goal of the model: to give directions on getting there
Now. What are the chances that Thomas created his version based on that of Matthew?
It can be argued that Matthew is more original because his is the least elaborate, which in itself is a valid argument.
But does shorter always mean more original? Conclusions and summaries are always shorter than their source, and what Matthew has here does very much look like a summary indeed
Three in a row, quick and short and non descript they are. What is their overarching theme, their connection, and why don't they get applied, used, what is the purpose of their presence?