Following up a suggestion from my colleague, Toby Sumpter: It seems that there’s a chiasm stretching from the beginning of the crucifixion scene to the end of Matthew:
A. Jesus mocked as king of the Jews, 27:27-31
B. Soldiers and Jewish leaders at the cross, 27:33-44
C. Jesus cries for His Father, 27:45-49
D. Earthquake, resurrection, and frightened soldiers, 27:50-54
E. Women from Galilee, 27:55-56
F. Joseph of Arimathea approaches Pilate, 27:57-60
G. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, 27:61
F’. Jewish leaders approach Pilate, 27:62-66
E’. Mary and the other Mary at the tomb, 28:1
D’. Earthquake, resurrection, and frightened soldiers, 28:2-8
C’. Jesus speaks to the women, 28:9-10
B’. Soldiers and Jewish leaders respond to resurrection, 28:11-15
A’. Jesus has authority over all; worshiped sincerely, 28:16-20
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
The False Promise of No Contact
Around the time nineteen-year-old Alice began cutting ties with her family, she announced on social media that…
Moral Certitude and the Iran War
The current military engagement with Iran calls renewed attention to just war theory in the Catholic tradition.…
The Slow Death of England: New and Notable Books
The fate of England is much in the news as popular resistance to mass immigration grows, limits…
