Literary Structure of the Sermon on the Mount

A. Jesus ascends mountain surrounded by crowds, 4:25-5:2
    

   B. Blessings, 5:3-10
            

      C. Fulfill “the law and prophets,” glorify “your Father in Heaven,” 5:11-20


         D. Two triads on Law, 5:21-48
                              

            E. One triad on spiritual discipline, 6:1-18
                     

         D'. Two triads on Godly priorities, 6:19-7:6
             

      C'. “This is the law and prophets,” ”your Father in Heaven” provides, 7:7-12
     

   B'. Warnings, 7:13-27


A'. Jesus descends mountain surrounded by crowds, 7:28-8:1

Literary Structure of the First Pair of Triads (Section D)

A)  Commandment of Yahweh with commentary upon 1^st Century Jewish custom/convention (vv. 21-26)

a)  “You have heard that it was said to those of old”

  b)  "'You shall not murder,' and yet [δε] 'whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'"

    c)  But I say to you…

B)  Commentary upon presumptuous sin (vv. 27-30)

d)  “You have heard that it was said to those of old”

  e)  ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 

    f)  But I say to you…

C)  Commentary upon a Pharisaical interpretation of Torah (vv. 31-32)

g)  “Furthermore it has been said…”

  h)  ‘Whoever divorces his wife, have him give her a certificate of divorce.’

    i)  But I say to you…

A’)  Commandment of Yahweh with commentary upon 1^st Century Jewish custom/convention (vv. 33-37)

a’)  “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old,”

  b’)  "'You shall not swear falsely,' and yet [δε] 'you shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ "

    c’)  But I say to you…

B’)  Commentary upon presumptuous sin (vv. 38-42)

d’)  You have heard that it was said,

  e’)  ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

    f’)  But I tell you

C’)  Commentary upon a Pharisaical interpretation of Torah (vv. 43-48)

g’)  “You have heard that it was said,

  h’)  ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

    i’)  But I say to you…

Literary Structure of the Central Triad (Section E)

A)  (6:2-4)  “When you give to the needy… as the hypocrites do…. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

B)  (6:5-6)  “And when you pray… like the hypocrites. …Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

C)  (6:16-18)  “And when you fast… like the hypocrites… Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

6:5-15 is also the central section of this entire central triad (6:1-18) of the Sermon on the Mount:

A)  “And when you pray, you must not be like…”   (v. 5)

   B)  “But when you pray…”   (v. 6)

A’)  “And when you pray, do not… as they [do]”   (v. 7)

   B’)  “Pray then like this…”   (v. 9a)

A)  “Our Father in Heaven,”

   B)  Your name be hallowed

      C)  Your kingdom come

         D)  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

         D’)  Give us this day our daily bread

      C’)  Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors

   B’)  Lead us not into testing, but deliver us from the evil one

A’)  “For to You belongs the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever”

A)  “For if you forgive others…”   (v. 14a)

   B)  “Your heavenly Father will also forgive you”   (v. 14b)

A’)  “But if you do not forgive others…”   (v. 15a)

   B’)  “Neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”   (v. 15b)

Literary Structure of the Second Pair of Triads (Section D’)

Two triads on Godly priorities (6:19-7:6):

6:19-24

A)  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth”

B)  Parable about the “eye”

C)  Parable about serving (two) masters

         6:25ff:  Additional encouragement concerning our Heavenly Father’s provision

7:1-6

A’)  “Do not judge, in order that you not be judged”

B’)  Parable about the “eye”

C’)  Parable about feeding (two) animals

The two triads on Godly priorities (6:19-7:6) can be viewed as a single triad as well:

A)  6:19  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth …”

B)  Additional Encouragement: (6:25ff)  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…”

C)  7:1    “Do not judge….”

The central section on anxiety (6:25-34) is expanded in its details:

A)  Anxiety in life: what to eat & drink, and what clothing to wear (v. 25a )

   B)  Question: concerns about “life” and “body”(v. 25b)

      C)  “Look at the birds” (v. 26)

         D)  Why are you anxious about your life span? (v. 27)

         D’)  Why are you anxious about your clothing? (v. 28a)

      C’)  “Consider the lilies of the field” (v. 28b)

   B’)  Question: concerns about being clothed (v. 30)

A’) Therefore don’t be anxious about what to eat & drink, and what clothing to wear (v. 31)

E) The Gentiles are anxious about all these things (v. 32a) 

    F) Your Heavenly Father knows you need all these things (v. 32b)

    F’) But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (v. 33)

E’) Therefore don’t be anxious about tomorrow (v. 34)

Also, notice that the oblique promises of Jesus in section C’ (7:7-12) are complemented well with it’s parallel section, section C (5:11-20).  In section C’ Jesus promises that if his disciples “ask…it will be given to them.” And if they seek, they will find, and if they knock it will be opened. For what Father, Jesus argues, would intentionally give his children bad things, contrary to their needs? How much more would their “Father in heaven” do so? Not very likely, if they know their Heavenly Father. “For whatever you wish that others would do to you,” Jesus says, “do also to them, for this is The Law and The Prophets.” But what are they to ask? And what are they to be seeking?

After noting the literary structure carefully, I contend that this seemingly oblique set of promises is complemented well by the parallel statements of section C. In 5:11-20, Jesus teaches the crowds that they need to be salt and light, having a "righteousness" which is greater than the scribes and the Pharisees, and that men need to see their good works so that their “Father in Heaven” would be glorified. One logical inference from this statement is that in order to be salt and light, they need to emulate their Heavenly Father's "righteousness." Such righteousness is indeed greater than the righteousness of their earthly "fathers," the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus did not come to tear down “The Law and the Prophets,” which teaches a righteousness other than what is seen and taught among the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus came to uphold the Law and the Prophets, which manifests the righteousness of the Father. Therefore those who teach and do faithfully, emulating the Father's righteousness, will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. If their righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus promises that they will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

From all of this, it seems that what Jesus began describing in 5:11-20 --descriptions about entering or falling short of entering the kingdom of heaven-- ends in 7:7-12 with a commission to be asking and seeking for those “good things” from the Father which promote entrance into the kingdom of heaven, i.e. the new covenant, and the emulation of their heavenly Father's righteousness. And between those sections (sections D, E, and D'), we find instructions about this very thing. We find instructions from Jesus about "good things" which emulate a greater righteousness than the scribes and Pharisees. We find a righteousness of our Heavenly Father. We find two triads of instructions about law, one triad of instructions about spiritual discipline, and two triads about Godly priorities.