{"id":3198,"date":"2007-08-18T11:47:20","date_gmt":"2007-08-18T11:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/leithart.level2d.com\/?p=198"},"modified":"2017-09-07T00:00:07","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T18:00:07","slug":"structure-of-the-sermon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/leithart\/2007\/08\/structure-of-the-sermon\/","title":{"rendered":"Structure of the Sermon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<\/head>

<\/p>

In a 1987 article and a 2005 revision (published in his Studies in Matthew <\/em> ), Dale Allison offers a careful treatment of the structure of the sermon on the mount. <\/p>\n

To begin with, there are multiple verbal parallels between 4:25-5:2 and 7:28-8:1: \u201cgreat crowds followed him\u201d (4:25; 8:1); \u201cthe crowds\u201d (5:1; 7:28); \u201cthe mountain\u201d (5:1; 8:1); \u201che taught\/his teaching\u201d (5:2; 7:28). At the very least, the sermon is framed by these inclusions. <\/p>\n

Allison also finds similarities between 5:3-12 and 7:13-27, blessings offered before His teaching and warnings appended to the end. Within the narrative inclusios, Allison matches the \u201cnine blessings\u201d with the \u201cthree warnings.\u201d <\/p>\n


5:13-16 provides an opening description of the people of Jesus in the world, and this is filled out in three large sections in 5:17-7:12. 5:17 and 7:12 both refer to the fulfillment of the \u201claw and the prophets,\u201d and thus form a neat inclusio around the teaching of the sermon. Within this section, Allison finds a triple sequence: Torah (5:17-48), the \u201cChristian cult\u201d (6:1-18), and \u201csocial relations\u201d (6:19-7:12). These reinterpret rabbinic descriptions of the \u201cthree pillars of the world\u201d \u2013 Torah, temple service, and acts of righteousness. <\/p>\n

Each of these three sections is organized by triads. Allison says that the \u201cantitheses\u201d section in 5:17-48 is organized in two groups of triads. 5:21 and 5:33 are the only verses that use the full phrase \u201cyou have heard that the ancients were told,\u201d and v. 33 uses palin <\/em> (\u201cagain\u201d), which Allison takes as a sign of a resumption, the beginning of a fresh section. The first triad treats murder, adultery, and divorce; the second treats swearing, retribution, and love for enemies. <\/p>\n

6:1-18 is clearly organized as a triad. Jesus deals with the three duties of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting with very similar language. The central section is expanded with the introduction of the Lord\u2019s prayer (which contains 2 triads of petitions), and a statement on forgiveness. Thus, the central section of the triad is a triad-with-a-triad: Don\u2019t pray like Gentiles; the Lord\u2019s Prayer; forgive. <\/p>\n

Allison suggests that 6:19-7:12 returns to the double-triadic structure of 5:17-48, with added words of encouragement and assurance. The first deals with the disciple\u2019s use of wealth: Don\u2019t store earthly treasures; parable about eye; parable about servants. Then encouragement concerning the Father\u2019s provision. The second sequence, beginning in 7:1, follows a similar organization: \u201cDon\u2019t judge\u201d; parable about the eye; parable about pigs and pearls. Then encouragement concerning the Father\u2019s willingness to answer prayer. <\/p>\n

7:12 closes the main teaching section with a summary statement that echoes 5:17. <\/p>\n

The rest is me, not Allison. This analysis suggests an overall chiastic structure for the sermon: <\/p>\n

A. Jesus ascends mountain surrounded by crowds, 4:25-5:2.
B. Blessings, 5:3-12.
C. Fulfill law and prophets, greater righteousness, 5:13-20.
D. Two triads on Law, 5:21-48.
E. Triad on duties of piety, 6:1-18.
D\u2019. Two triads on relations with wealth and brothers, 6:19-7:11.
C\u2019. This is law and prophets, 7:12.
B\u2019. Warnings, 7:13-27.
A\u2019. Jesus descends mountain surrounded by crowds, 7:28-8:1. <\/p>\n

By this organization, the center of the center is Jesus\u2019 teaching on prayer, and the center of that center is the giving of the Lord\u2019s prayer, and the center of that center appears to be the first three petitions \u2013 hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is the greater righteousness \u2013 to pray for the coming of God\u2019s kingdom in obedient honor to His name. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a 1987 article and a 2005 revision (published in his Studies in Matthew ), Dale Allison offers a careful treatment of the structure of the sermon on the mount. To begin with, there are multiple verbal parallels between 4:25-5:2 and 7:28-8:1: \u201cgreat crowds followed him\u201d (4:25; 8:1); \u201cthe crowds\u201d (5:1; 7:28); \u201cthe mountain\u201d (5:1; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-nt-matthew"],"yoast_head":"\nStructure of the Sermon<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In a 1987 article and a 2005 revision (published in his Studies in Matthew ), Dale Allison offers a careful treatment of the structure of the sermon on\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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