A few structural features of the crucifixion narrative in Matthew 27.
First, there are a couple of fairly clear small chiasms. The scene of mockery in the Praetorium is a neat chiasm:
A. Soldiers gather and strip Jesus, vv 27-28a
B. Robe on Jesus, v 28b
C. Crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, v 29a
D. Reed in hand, v 29b
E. Soldiers kneel, v 29c
F. “Hail, King of the Jews,” v. 29d
E’. Soldiers spit, v. 30a
D’. Reed, v 30b
C’. Beat Jesus’ head, v 30c
B’. Strip robe, v 31a
A’. Replace Jesus’ garments, v 31b
The A-B sequences could be seen not as chiastic but as parallel: The scene begins with a stripping and an investiture, and it ends with a stripping and an investiture.
Verses 38-44 also form a fairly neat chiasm:
A. Robbers on Jesus’ right and left, v. 38
B. Passers-by mock Jesus, vv 39-40
1. Passers by
2. Destroy temple
3. If you are Son, come down
B’. Chief priests and elders mock, vv 41-43
1. Chief priests and elders
2. He saved others, cannot save Himself
3. He said He is Son of God
A’. Robbers insult Jesus, v 44
Overlapping and overarching these chiasms is a roughly parallel pattern:
A. Jesus offered drink, v 34
B. “You who destroy the temple,” v 40
C. “If you are son of God,” vv 40, 43
D. Robbers insult him, v. 44
A’. Jesus drinks, v 48
B’. Temple veil torn, v 51
C. “Truly this was the Son of God,” v 54
D’. Women minister to Him, vv 55-56
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