Wim JC Weren proposes a “macrostructure” for Matthew in a 2006 article in Biblica. His scheme is not convincing, but along the way he makes some helpful observations.
1) He suggests that there’s a topographical thread running through the gospel, marked by various recurrent refrains. From the beginning of the gospel to 15:21, the verb ANAXOREO is used in some 8 passages to describe “leaving” or “withdrawal,” in several cases the withdrawal of Jesus (12:15; 14:13; 15:21). In chapter 16, Jesus repeatedly refers to His coming death and resurrection in Jerusalem (16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; 26:2). Finally, the last chapters are marked by recurrent references to Jesus’ future meeting with the disciples in Galilee (26:32; 28:7; 28:10). After a tactical withdrawal, Jesus turns to confront His Jewish opponents in Jerusalem, which will result in a future regathering of the disciples in Galilee.
2) He helpfully marks out the boundaries of the Sermon on the Mount by pointing to the chiastic inclusio in 4:25/5:1 and 7:29/8:1 – crowds, mountain, teaching, teaching, mountain, crowds.
3) He notes that during His journey to Jerusalem, Jesus stops at various places mentioned in His withdrawal to Galilee – a mountain, the lake a Capernaum, his house (17:1-20:34 compared to 4:18-16:12). This is reminiscent of Elijah’s departure from the land, during which he stops at several of the significant sites of the conquest (2 Kings 2).
4) He notes that the crowd that proclaims Jesus as king in Mat 21 is not made up of the inhabitants of Jerusalem but of the people that followed Jesus from Galilee. They come proclaiming the arrival of Jesus the prophet to the city. Though Weren doesn’t note the connection, this is a scene very similar to the arrival of the magi in Mat 2, whose announcement of the birth of a king throws the city into an uproar. Note the interesting progression from King to Prophet.
5) Weren charts 21:18-25:46 as follows:
A. 21:18-22: fig tree
B. 21:23-23:39: debates in temple
A’. 24:1-2: temple destroyed
C. 24:3-26:46: coming of the Son of Man
This would be more helpful if he recognized that the “C” is actually a “B’” – that is, the discourse on the coming of the Son of Man is the judgment pronounced on those who have challenged Him in His Father’s house.
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