O'Donoghue MTh_Thesis-FinalCopy.pdf - South African Theological ...

• An assertion in 6:24 with the statement that no one can serve two Masters.• The reason is found in 24b and 24c as a person will love one and hate theother.• There is an application in 24d in the statement that one cannot serve bothGod and Mammon.In the three above sayings of the Treasures, Eyes and Masters there is an antithesiswhich depicts the ‘wrong way’ and the ‘right way (Talbert 2006:121).’The Sub-Unit two of Matthew 6:25-34 can be seen to break down as follows (Talbert2006:126):a) Part One – Matthew 6:25-30• A prohibition is found in verse 25a for the disciple to not worry.• Fours reasons relating to the Prohibition then follow in verses 25b, 26, 27 and28-30.b) Part Two – Matthew 6:31-33• There is a prohibition found in verse 31 to not worry.• This time two reasons are related to the prohibition and found in verses 32aand 32b. The reasons being that it is Gentile behaviour and God knows thedisciples’ needs.• There is a command found in 33a to seek God’s Kingdom.• There is a promise in 33b relating to the command found in 33a.c) Part Three – Matthew 6:34• There is a do not be worried prohibition found in 34b.• Two reasons related to the prohibition are found in 34b (tomorrow will worryabout its own things) and 34c (Sufficient for the day is its own trouble).Talbert further makes a case for such an arrangement by showing that the nextmajor unit of thought in Matthew is found in Matthew 7:1-12, which carries the samestructure as 6:19-34 (Talbert 2006:120). I.e. Matthew 7:1-12 consists of two subunits, each “controlled” by two prohibitions and each sub-unit breaking down into35