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This PARALLEL SYMMETRY reveals the power of studying the last/last elements.
The second part of verse 55 and the SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY in verse 56A has been questioned by scholars as to whether they were present in the original Greek using text criticism. Note how the NASB 95 adds brackets around those words in question. Those words seem to belong to the structure — I suggest that these words do not stretch the a-a′-b-b′-sum structure of that immediate repetition. Rather they seem to give structural support to those who might argue that they do belong. Jesus gave the proper motive for dealing with people that are opposed to Him. He said that He came to save them, not destroy them. When we chose to turn our back on the wrong spirit and then follow the right spirit, we can see more clearly God′s greater purpose to bring life, not death, to mankind.
The two frame elements in v. 51B and 56B are not rendered as emphatic.
1) The LAST/LAST/LAST elements, which are C, C′ and C′′, describe what it means to be a follower of Jesus:
- In C, the phrase nowhere to lay His head is to say that Jesus never stops doing the work of God.
- In C′, the words go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God is to say become like Christ and do the work of God.
- In C′′, the metaphor no one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God says you cannot be in two kingdoms, the world and the kingdom of God; you must choose.
2) The C′′ element is a VARIATION from the other two C elements. In the C element, the worthy Son of Man in the kingdom of God is mentioned. In the C′ element, even though there are two opposing kingdoms, the world and the kingdom of God, it is understood that the one who proclaims Christ is worthy. The variation in C′′ warns that by returning to the world, that one is unworthy because he is double-minded. That is, the C′′ element looks at the consequences of the negative action whereas the two previous elements look at proper behavior without a look at the consequence. That variation is therefore the most important of the three C elements.
3) The SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY in verse 56A is very important to the text and to ourselves as Christians. Jesus is our Savior, not our destroyer.
NOTE: this structure appears as a chiasm in Matthew 8:18-23.
PARALLEL SYMMETRY:
... will you truly follow Me? ...
a change of time
BEGINNING MARKER: When the days were approaching for His ascension, (v51A)
PRELIMINARY:
go to Jerusalem
frame
He was determined to go to Jerusalem; (v51B)
messengers were to make arrangements for Jesus
a
and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. (v52)
Samaritans would not make arrangements for Him
a′
But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. (v53)
James and John wanted to destroy them
b
When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (v54)
Jesus spoke against that negative spirit
b′
But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; (v55)
SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY: Jesus came to save them, not destroy them
sum
for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] (v56A)
leave Jerusalem
frame
And they went on to another village. (v56B)
a change of scene
SUB-UNIT MARKER: As they were going along the road, (v57)
follow You
A
someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” (v57C)
resting places
B
And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, (v58A)
He does not rest
C
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (v58B)
IMPERATIVE: follow Me
A′
And He said to another, “Follow Me.” (v59A)
resting place
B′
But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” (v59B)
IMPERATIVE: the dead rest — go proclaim His kingdom
C′
But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” (v60)
follow You
A′′
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; (v61A)
good-byes at resting place
B′′
but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” (v61B)
VARIATION: those who seek to return are unworthy of His kingdom
C′′
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (v62)