matthew 27

This chapter of Matthew forms a chiastic structure:

1A: Mat 27:1, Chief priests and elders plot to put Jesus to death;
1B: Mat 27:2-10, Jesus bound for trial + Potter’s field for the burial of strangers;
1C: Mat 27:11a, Jesus stood before the governor;
1D: Mat 27:11b, “Are you the King of the Jews;”
1E: Mat 27:12-14, The chief priests accuse Jesus;
1F: Mat 27:15-24, They cried for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus;
CENTRAL AXIS: Mat 27:25, “His blood be on us and on our children;”
2F: Mat 27:26, He released Barabbas and delivered Jesus to be crucified;
2E: Mat 27:27-36, The Roman solidiers mock + crucify Jesus;
2D: Mat 27:37, “This is Jesus the King of the Jews;”
2C: Mat 27:38-56, Jesus stood before heaven and earth upon the cross;
2B: Mat 27:57-61, His body bound for burial + Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb for the burial of Jesus;
2A: Mat 27:62-66, Chief priests and elders plot to keep Jesus in the tomb.

The central axis is not what I would have expected, when I began working this out. The blood of Jesus is upon us – it is not just the residents of Jerusalem in the 1st century who put Him to death. Every human being who has ever lived has put Him to death. But it is through that death, that our sin, including the sin of putting Jesus to death, is forgiven!

Thus the blood guilt for Jesus is upon us, and His blood for the atoning of that guilt is upon us. And not upon us only, but also upon our children. This is not the first or last place in Scripture, where Scripture indicates that His salvation is for households and not only individuals: the blood of the Passover lamb was also applied to the doorposts of the house by the father, and all within it were saved from the Angel of Death.

For further reading:
A Physician Analyzes the Crucifixion

<– 26 matthew 28 –>
matthew index ::: ::: ::: one year reading schedule