Chiasm on Healing on the Sabbath in Matthew 12:9-14

 This chiasm in Matthew 12:9-14 is centered on the moral hierarchy implied by the fact that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

• V9 - Yeshua went on and entered the synagogue
• V10 - Man with a withered hand
• They asked “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
• V11 - You will rescue a sheep on the Sabbath.
• V12 - You should rescue a man on the Sabbath.
• V13 - He said, “Stretch out your hand.”
• The man’s hand is healed
• V14 - The Pharisees went out and conspired to destroy him

Since the Sabbath was created to restore mankind, it should never be used to prevent that restoration. The Sabbath command of Exodus 20 also implies that the Sabbath was created to restore man's animals.

I found this chiasm during a demonstration at Common Sense Bible Study, but I later realized that it was a much simpler structure than I had initially thought.

For more on chiasms--including how to identify, map, and interpret them--check out The Chiasm Course!

A Chiasm in the Beatitudes

The Beatitudes don't represent different kinds of people so much as characteristics of a Christ-like character. Here are a few observations you might find interesting:

Yeshua presented the Beatitudes in a thematically chiastic structure. The first and last are thematically connected by the Kingdom of Heaven, the 2nd and 7th by a childlike characteristic, the 3rd and 6th by a condition of the heart, and the 4th and 5th by true righteousness.

The Beatitudes also represent a progression from a discovery of one's own sinful state to the ultimate selfless state of martyrdom.

1. The poor in spirit have realized their sinful state.
2. The mourners experience intense regret for their sin.
3. The meek are ready to approach the throne of Grace and receive the salvation that God offers despite their unclean state.
4. The newly penitent hunger to learn and exhibit righteousness.
5. The pursuit of righteousness reaches its culmination in the desire to give mercy just as we have received it.
6. The pure in heart are guiltless, having suppressed the evil inclination by the Spirit of God.
7. The peacemakers are ready to go into the world and spread the good news of forgiveness and salvation from sin.
8. The perfected follower of Yeshua is always ready to give his life for the Kingdom. He will be hated by the world because the world hated Yeshua first. The wicked cannot tolerate even the presence of the truly righteous.

A Chiasm Showing Moses' Family as a Microcosm of Israel

There's a chiasm in Exodus 18:1-11 that reveals Moses' family as a microcosm of the nation of Israel coming out of Egypt. Jethro brings Moses' wife and sons into the wilderness to meet Moses, while Moses brings God's bride and children into the wilderness to meet him at Sinai. See here for more info.

Random Thoughts on Yitro

A few random thoughts on Yitro:

• There must be some kind of behind-the-scenes parallel between Yitro and Laban. Both were unbelievers and God arranged marriages between their daughters and patriarchs of Israel.
• Zipporah and the Ethiopian woman, Moses’ other wife, are prophetic images of God’s people. Zipporah is the Jews who were sent away under the tutelage of a priesthood (in the form of the rabbinate) gone astray. Like Zipporah, they will be united with the Messiah by that same priesthood after the Greater Exodus. The Ethiopian woman was a believing gentile grafted into Israel, just like those of us who have been united in faith with Yeshua. Like her, we are made citizens of Israel at our exodus, and given Torah in full afterwards.
• The Ten Commandments can be categorized in many ways. One interesting way is into groups of three, one, and six. The first three commandments deal directly with how we relate to God. Three is the number of divinity and the triune God. The last six commandments deal directly with how we relate to our fellow men. Six is the number of man. The middle command deals with how we relate to God, our fellow men, and ourselves. One is the number of unity. If counted with the first three, this command makes four, which is the number of the Messiah. If counted with the last six, this command makes seven, which is the number of completion. In Yeshua, our divine Sabbath Rest, we are made complete and united with God.
• Exodus 18:18 - Thou art not able to perform it thyself alone... Although the husband is meant to be the head of his house, the head cannot live or even command the body on its own. Effective command requires the trust and cooperation of the commanded as well as good communication and delegation. A husband’s and father’s authority may be freely delegated to servants, sons, and wives. When his children are young, he authorizes his executive officer, his wife. Later, that responsibility should gradually move to his lieutenants, his sons, as he teaches them to be men. Under most circumstances, the firstborn son should be placed ahead of his siblings, but that is not an inviolate law. Reuben was passed over for Judah, Ishmael for Isaac, et cetera, all for good reasons. The point is that a man cannot expect to effectively govern his house on his own. He must train his family to lead in his place, and he must trust them to do so.