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Bible - NT - Matthew: Structure of Matthew 26:31-27:2

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Matthew 26:31-75 is organized mainly as a series of small chiasms

The first is in verses 31-35:

A. Jesus predicts the fall of the disciples, based on Scripture, vv 31-32

B. Peter protests, v 33

C. Jesus predicts Peter’s triple denial, v 34

B’. Peter protests again, v 35a

A’. All the disciples protest, v 35b

Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane (vv. 36-46) interweave Jesus’ prayers with exhortations to the disciples to “keep watch, but the scene is also chiastically arranged:

A. Arrival at Gethsemane; “keep watch,” vv 36-38

B. First Prayer, v 39

C. Jesus returns to sleeping disciples; “keep watch,” vv 40-41

D. Second prayer, v 42

C’. Jesus returns to sleeping disciples; says nothing, v 43

B’. Third prayer, v 44

A’. Jesus returns to sleeping disciples; hour is come, vv 45-46

Judas’ arrival with the multitude of soldiers begins the next section, verses 47-56

A. Judas arrives, v 47a

B. Multitude; swords and clubs, v 47b

C. Kiss and Jesus’ response, vv 48-50a

D. Soldiers seize Jesus, v 50b

C’. Disciple strikes ear and Jesus’ response, v 51-53

B. Jesus addresses multitude: Scriptures fulfilled; swords and clubs, vv 55-56a

A’. Disciples flee, v 56b

One of the interesting things about this segment is the way that the text brings out the links between Judas and the other disciples. Judas arrives from outside to find Jesus with the eleven; by the end of the passage, Judas is the only one of the Twelve left, alone with Jesus. Judas arrives to betray Jesus, but the passage ends with the disciples fleeing, effectively denying Jesus. The C sections also bring out contrasting responses; Judas betrays with a kiss, while the unnamed disciples defends Jesus. But within the contrast is a similarity: Neither Judas nor the disciple are in line with Jesus and the Scriptures. At this point, defending Jesus with the sword is as much a betrayal of Jesus as Judas’ kiss.

The trial before the high priest (vv. 26:57-27:2) is framed by references Jesus’ delivery to a court (26:57; 27:1-2) and to Peter (vv. 26:58, 69-75), and within that frame Matthew has again organized the story chiastically:

A. Jesus to Caiaphas, 26:57

B. Peter at distance, sits down with high priest’s servants (!), v 58

C. Testimony: False testimony, then charge of destroying temple, vv 59-61

D. High priest speaks, vv 62-63

E. Jesus declares Himself Son of Man, v 64

D’. High Priest speaks, tears robe, and declares Jesus worthy of death, vv 65-66

C’. Mock Jesus, vv 67-68

B’. Peter’s denials, vv 69-75

A’. Jesus delivered to Pilate, 27:2

Overall, the section hangs together as well. It is framed by Jesus’ predictions of the disciples’ flight and specifically of Peter’s denial, a prophecy fulfilled at the end of the section (vv. 31-35, 60-75). Within that frame, Jesus is in two locations: Gethsemane and the court of the high priest. Peter is mentioned in four of the five sections, missing only in verses 47-56 (though we know from John 18:10 that he is the man with the sword defending Jesus). The sections are constructed as follows:

A. Jesus predicts the disciples’ fall, particularly Peter’s, vv 31-35

B. Jesus prays in Gethsemane; disciples, Peter especially, fail to keep watch, vv 36-46

C. Jesus seized in fulfillment of Scripture, vv 47-56 (Peter’s name absent)

B’. Jesus on trial; drinks the cup; Peter watches from the court, vv 57-68

A’. Peter’s denial, vv 69-75

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 6:17 am

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Bible - NT - Matthew: Structure of Matthew 26:31-27:2

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