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

Chapter 4Literary Analysis – Matthew 6:19-244.1 IntroductionThe primary task of the next two chapters is to continue the literary analysis of thepassage in question. The previous chapter settled on Talbert’s model for the formaldivision of the text. The next two chapters will follow Talberts outline but will focus onthe rhetoric, grammar, genre and composition that could affect the meaning of thepassage (Smith 2008:172-173). Additionally there will be an examination of keywords and phrases, i.e. a lexical analysis (p.174).4.2 The Three Parts of Matthew 6:19-24In following Talbert’s structural model, Matthew 6:19-24 can be divided into threedistinct parts, which can be seen as follows; verses 19-24 breaks down into 19-21,22-23 and verse 24 (Talbert 2006:120). These three parts will now be examined.4.2.1 Part One – The Two Kinds of TreasurePart one of Matthew 6:19-24 is 6:19-21 (Talbert 2006:121). Part one consists of aprohibition, a command and a reason. The prohibition is found in 6:19 where Jesuscommands His disciples not to lay up treasures on earth where they are subject todecay and theft.It was said earlier that the three sayings of 6:19-24 contain an antithesis depicting38