Logion 8
| 8. And He said, "Men are like unto a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of small fish. Among them the wise fisherman found a fine large fish. He cast all the small fish back into the sea choosing the large fish without difficulty. Whoever hath ears to hear let him hear." | Mt 13:47,48 "Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away." |
The admonition of the Savior for him who has ears to hear to take heed occurs frequently in Thomas (8, 21, 63, 65, 96), as it does also in Mark. The word meaning ‘obey’ in Aramaic is an intensive form of the word meaning ‘hear.’ Some people are spiritually attuned to his message; these are to obey his words with that same spirit in which they are given.
In logion 8 the disciples, in the way in which they should discern truth, are said to be like the fisherman who can easily choose the largest fish from among the many in his catch. The wise man will reject what is false and keep only what proves out to be true. There is a definite contrast with the similar pericope in Matthew, where what is judged as good or bad is the people who become a part of the Church.