Read Matthew 23 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
As I was reading in this chapter, I began to notice how many times Yeshua has said something about being the greatest and the least. These instances stood out to me:
Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Mat 18:4
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Mat 23:11
It turns out that yesterday’s chapter was part of a greater Chiastic Structure from Mat 19:16-22:46, and I wondered if the admonitions about the greatest and least were bookends front and back, to that structure. It turns out, they are:
Front bookend: Matthew 18:1-19:17 Chiastic Structure
The bookends of this structure are, Become as little children/ for of such is the kingdom of heaven. The Mat 18:4 instance of greatest and least is within this structure.
Central structure: Matthew 19:16-22:46 Chiastic Structure
Back bookend: Matthew 23:1-12 Chiastic Structure:
The scribes and Pharisees who sat in Moses’ seat, who exalted themselves to sit in Moses’ seat (for YHVH did not place them there) are the opposite of those who are the servants of all, who are least, who are as little children. And that is how the bookends pair.
By the way, the central axis of the central structure is Mat 21:1-13, the account of Yeshua entering Jerusalem to the praise of the multitude. Yeshua did not exalt Himself but was the Servant of all; however the multitudes of Israel exalted Him as Messiah, the Son of David.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Matthew 23, The burden of Torah – Christine Miller
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