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Matthew 27:57-28:20

 

TEMPORAL AND UNIVERSAL AUTHORITIES MEET THE RESURRECTION

 

A Chiasm of Five Consecutive Stories

 

Welcome to this study in Matthew. You may find vocabulary and ideas in this study which are new to you. Their definitions are available in dictionaries or online. The work of observation leads to great rewards in interpretation and application. In this study we concentrate on observation.

 

Normally we would read these last five stories at the end of Matthew one after the other. Another way to look at these is through a chiasm, a literary mechanism.

 

The use of literary mechanisms does not add to any doctrine and for most people studying these last five stories in Matthew there are other ways to look at this portion. That is wonderful! Let the flowers bloom where they are!

 

But noticing chiasm amongst other literary structures and patterns (repetition, contrast, comparison, progression, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, irony, etc.) can help a person doing Bible study or someone preparing a message or study see the author’s emphasis on certain things. It may help in the organization of studies and messages, let alone call attention to the beauty of the author’s structure and pattern. So in the chiasm we are looking at here we have both utility and beauty.

 

This chiasm is diagramed as an > shape here, but could be diagramed as a v or an upside down v in other Bible passages or literature. I have removed the articles for brevity.

 

 

A   Roman authority, Pilate, commands body of Jesus turned over for burial

 

            B   Jewish authorities fear Jesus’ body will be stolen by disciples

 

                    C   Angel tells women Jesus has risen and will appear to disciples in Galilee

                    C’  Jesus appears alive to women and tells them he will appear to his brothers in Galilee

 

            B’  Jewish authorities spread rumor that disciples stole Jesus’ body

 

A’  Universal authority, Jesus, commands disciples to teach all he has commanded them

 

 

Not surprisingly the chiasm (>) points to the resurrection!

 

Matthew takes us from the great but limited authority of the Roman governor, through the fears and plotting of the Jewish authorities to the announcement and evidence for the resurrection, ending with the universal (all) authority of Jesus and all his commands, which are for all nations, and his promise to be with the disciples “all the days” (YLT and Greek). The promise to be with them “all the days” would be meaningless if he were dead, but are full of meaning now that he has risen! 

 

This chart deals with this chiasm in detail. (Although older and a bit awkward, I have used Young's Literal Translation to get a more exact wording.)

 

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Row 1	A  27:57-61 Joseph, who also himself was discipled to Jesus, he having gone near to Pilate, asked for himself the body of Jesus; then Pilate commanded the body to be given back. vv. 57, 58 YLT
Row 2	▲ | | | | | | |	B 27:61-66 ‘Sir, we have remembered that that deceiver said while yet living, After three days I do rise; command, then, the sepulchre to be made secure till the third day, lest his disciples, having come by night, may steal him away, and may say to the people, He rose from the dead, and the last deceit shall be worse than the first.’ Vv. 63, 64 YLT
Row 3	| | | | | | | A A'       ORDERS: Roman temporal authority and Jesus’ universal authority  | | | | | | | |	▲ | | | | | | | B B'     COVER UP:  Jewish authorities’ fear and rumor | | | | | | | ▼	C 28:1-10 ‘Fear not ye, for I have known that Jesus, who hath been crucified, ye seek; he is not here, for he rose, as he said; come, see the place where the Lord was lying; and having gone quickly, say ye to his disciples, that he rose from the dead; and lo, he doth go before you to Galilee, there ye shall see him …’ vv. 5-7 YLT             ----------------------------- ▲ C C' RESURRECTION: Encouragement, announcement and evidence by  the angel and Jesus ▼ ----------------------------- C’  ‘Fear ye not, go away, tell to my brethren that they may go away to Galilee, and there they shall see me.’ V. 10 YLT
Row 4	|  | | | ▼	B’ 28:11-15 ‘Say ye, that his disciples having come by night, stole him—we being asleep; and if this be heard by the governor, we will persuade him, and you keep free from anxiety.’ Vv. 13, 14 YLT
Row 5	A’ 28:16-20 ‘Given to me was all authority in heaven and on earth; having gone, then, disciple all the nations, (baptizing them—to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all, whatever I did command you,) and lo, I am with you all the days—till the full end of the age.’ vv. 28:18-20  YLT

We are planning to expand this study.

©Copyright 2005-2046 John (Jack) W Rendel. All rights reserved.

 

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