FAQ       Top  >  Literary Structure of the Bible  >  Gospel of Matthew

Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Gospel of Matthew

Correspondence table of Pericopes and Literary Structure


The text can be divided in 145 (12 x 12 + 1) pericopes. This text includes, one 72 paired (145 pericopes) whole concentric structure, divided in two 36 paired concentric structures, divided in three 24 paired concentric structures, divided in four 18 paired concentric structures, divided in five 14 paired concentric structures, divided in nine 8 paired concentric structures, and divided in twelve 6 paired concentric structures.

Pericope12345912
1 The genealogy of Jesus the messiah (1:1-17) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
2 The birth of Jesus the messiah (1:18-25) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
3 The visit of the wise men (2:1-12) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
4 The escape to Egypt (2:13-15) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
5 The massacre of the infants (2:16-18) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
6 The return from Egypt (2:19-23) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
7 The proclamation of John the Baptist (3:1-12) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
8 The baptism of Jesus (3:13-17) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
9 The temptation of Jesus (4:1-11) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
10 Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee (4:12-17) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
11 Jesus calls the first disciples (4:18-22) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
12 Jesus ministers to crowds of people (4:23-25) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1
13 The beatitudes (5:1-12) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-1 12-2
14 Salt and light (5:13-16) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-2
15 The law and the prophets (5:17-20) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-2
16 Concerning anger (5:21-26) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 12-2
17 Concerning adultery and divorce (5:27-32) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-1 9-2 12-2
18 Concerning oaths (5:33-37) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2
19 Concerning retaliation (5:38-42) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2
20 Love for enemies (5:43-48) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2
21 Concerning almsgiving (6:1-4) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2
22 Concerning prayer (6:5-6) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2
23 The Lord's prayer (6:7-15) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2
24 Concerning fasting (6:16-18) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2
25 Concerning treasures (6:19-21) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-2 12-3
26 The sound eye (6:22-23) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-3
27 Do not warry (6:24-34) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-3
28 Judging others (7:1-6) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-3
29 Ask, search, knock (7:7-12) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 9-2 12-3
30 The narrow gate (7:13-14) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-2 12-3
31 A tree and its fruit (7:15-20) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-2 12-3
32 Concerning self-deception (7:21-23) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-2 12-3
33 Hearers and doers (7:24-29) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-2 9-3 12-3
34 Jesus cleanses a leper (8:1-4) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-3 12-3
35 Jesus heals a centurion's servant (8:5-13) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-3 12-3
36 Jesus heals many at Peter's house (8:14-17) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-2 9-3 12-3
37 Would-be followers of Jesus (8:18-22) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-3 12-4
38 Jesus stills the storm (8:23-27) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
39 Jesus heals the Gadarene demoniacs (8:28-34) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
40 Jesus heals a paralytic (9:1-8) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
41 The call of Matthew (9:9-13) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
42 The question about fasting (9:14-17) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
43 A girl restored to life and a woman healed (9:18-26) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
44 Jesus heals two blind men (9:27-31) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
45 Jesus heals one who was mute (9:32-34) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
46 The harvest is great, the laborers few (9:35-38) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
47 The twelve apostles (10:1-4) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
48 The mission of the twelve (10:5-15) 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-2 5-2 9-3 12-4
49 Coming persecutions (10:16-25) 1-1 2-1 3-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-3 9-4 12-4 12-5
50 Whom to fear (10:26-33) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
51 Not peace, but a sword (10:34-39) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
52 Rewards (10:40-42_11:1) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
53 Messengers from John the Baptist (11:2-19) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
54 Woes to Unrepentant cities (11:20-24) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
55 Jesus thanks his father (11:25-30) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
56 Plucking grain on the Sabbath (12:1-8) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
57 The man with a withered hand (12:9-14) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
58 God's chosen servant (12:15-21) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-2 9-4 12-5
59 Jesus and Beelzebul (12:22-32) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4 12-5
60 A tree and its fruit (12:33-37) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4 12-5
61 About a Demand for a Sign (12:38-45) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4 12-5 12-6
62 The true kindred of Jesus (12:46-50) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4 12-6
63 The parable of the sower (13:1-9) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4 12-6
64 The parable of the sower explained (13:10-23) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4 12-6
65 The parable of the kingdom of heaven 1 (13:24-35) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-4 9-5 12-6
66 The parable of the kingdom of heaven 2 (13:36-50) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5 12-6
67 Treasures new and old (13:51-53) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5 12-6
68 The rejection of Jesus at Nazareth (13:54-58) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5 12-6
69 The death of John the Baptist (14:1-12) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5 12-6
70 Feeding the five thousand (14:13-21) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5 12-6
71 Jesus walks on the water (14:22-33) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5 12-6
72 Jesus heals the sick in Gennesaret (14:34-36) 1-1 2-1 3-2 4-2 5-3 9-5 12-6
73 The tradition of the elders (15:1-20) 1-1 2-1 2-2 3-2 4-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-6 12-7
74 The Canaanite woman's faith (15:21-28) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-7
75 Jesus cures many people (15:29-31) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-7
76 Feeding the four thousand (15:32-39) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-7
77 The demand for a sign (16:1-4) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-7
78 Beware of the leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees (16:5-12) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-7
79 Peter's declaration (16:13-16) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-7
80 Jesus foretells his death and resurrection (16:20-23) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 12-7
81 The cross and self-denial (16:24-28) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-5 9-6 12-7
82 The transfiguration (17:1-8) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6 12-7
83 Elijah has already come (17:9-13) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6 12-7
84 Jesus cures a boy with a Demon (17:14-21) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6 12-7
85 Jesus again foretells his death and resurrection (17:22-23) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6 12-7 12-8
86 Jesus and the temple tax (17:24-27) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6 12-8
87 About who shall be greatest (18:1-5) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-3 9-6 12-8
88 The eternal life (18:6-9) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
89 The parable of the lost sheep (18:10-14) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
90 Reproving another who sins (18:15-20) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
91 The parable of the unforgiving servant (18:21-35) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
92 Teaching about divorce (19:1-12) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
93 Jesus blesses little children (19:13-15) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
94 The rich young man (19:16-22) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
95 About the Danger of Riches (19:23-30) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
96 The labors in the vineyard (20:1-16) 1-1 2-2 3-2 4-3 5-4 9-6 12-8
97 A third time Jesus foretells his death and resurrection (20:17-19) 1-1 2-2 3-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-6 9-7 12-8 12-9
98 The request of the mother of James and John (20:20-23) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
99 Be a servant (20:24-28) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
100 Jesus heals two blind men (20:29-34) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
101 Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem (21:1-11) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
102 Jesus cleanses the temple (21:12-17) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
103 Jesus curses the fig tree (21:18-22) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
104 The authority of Jesus questioned (21:23-27) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
105 The parable of the two sons (21:28-32) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
106 The parable of the wicked tenants (21:33-46) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
107 The parable of the wedding banquet (22:1-14) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
108 The question about paying taxes (22:15-22) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 5-4 9-7 12-9
109 The question about the resurrection (22:23-33) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-3 4-4 5-4 9-7 12-9 12-10
110 The greatest commandment (22:34-40) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-7 12-10
111 The question about David's son (22:41-46) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-7 12-10
112 Jesus denounces Scribes and Pharisees (23:1-39) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-7 12-10
113 The destruction of the temple foretold (24:1-2) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-7 9-8 12-10
114 Signs of the end of the age (24:3-14) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-8 12-10
115 The desolating sacrilege (24:15-28) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-8 12-10
116 The coming of the son of man (24:29-31) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-4 9-8 12-10
117 The lesson of the fig tree (24:32-35) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-10
118 The necessity for watchfulness (24:36-44) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-10
119 The faithful or the unfaithful slave (24:45-51) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-10
120 The parable of the ten bridesmaids (25:1-13) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-10
121 The parable of the talents (25:14-30) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-10 12-11
122 The judgment of the nations (25:31-46) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-11
123 The plot to kill Jesus (26:1-5) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-11
124 The anointing at Bethany (26:6-13) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-11
125 Judas agrees to betray Jesus (26:14-16) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-11
126 The passover with the disciples (26:17-25) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-11
127 The institution of the Lord's supper (26:26-30) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-11
128 The Peter's denial foretold (26:31-35) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 12-11
129 Jesus prays in Gethsemane (26:36-46) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-8 9-9 12-11
130 The betrayal and arrest of Jesus (26:47-56) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-11
131 Jesus before the high priest (26:57-68) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-11
132 Peter's denial of Jesus (26:69-75) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-11
133 Jesus brought before Pilate (27:1-2) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-11 12-12
134 The suicide of Judas (27:3-10) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
135 Pilate questions Jesus (27:11-14) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
136 Barabbas or Jesus? (27:15-26) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
137 The soldiers mock Jesus (27:27-37) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
138 The crucifixion of Jesus (27:38-44) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
139 The death of Jesus (27:45-50) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
140 Witnesses of the crucifixion (27:51-54) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
141 The burial of Jesus (27:55-61) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
142 The guard at the tomb (27:62-66) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
143 The resurrection of Jesus (28:1-10) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
144 The guard report of the guard (28:11-15) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12
145 The commissioning of the disciples (28:16-20) 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-4 5-5 9-9 12-12

Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

Creative Commons License
Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Caution: The copyright of the cited Bible verses belongs to each translator and publisher.

Comments