Chiastic Structures Part 1

In studying the words of Jesus and scripture in general, I have found a beautifully intricate phenomenon that gives me a greater insight into the Kingdom.  It is called properly chiastic structures, or more simply a parallelism of Kingdom things and worldly things. This structure derives its name from the X-shaped Greek letter χ (chi).  

One of the most famous chiastic structures is Kennedy’s  “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  If you put each clause on separate lines like this:

Ask not what your country can do for you,

but what you can do for your country.

Then you can draw a line from an idea in the first line to an idea or word in the second line.  Draw a line from country in the first line to country in the second line, and another line from you in the first line to you in the second line.

 You form an X or a reversal of ideas.  This is a chiastic structure which is based on inverted parallelism. You can also use letters or numbers to connect the parallels and I have even color-coded it to make it easier.

At the center of some biblical structures I find many times that there is a dividing line, a passing from death unto life. For example, we find in 1 John 3:9 this chiastic structure:

A No one who is born of God

       B practices sin,

          C because His seed abides in him;

       B and he cannot sin,

A because he is born of God.

We can see that the dividing line of the parallelism or the key of passing from death unto life is to have His seed abiding in us. Some chiastic structures leave the choice that we have to make unstated, but it is clear by the contrasting Kingdoms that a choice has to be made.  Let’s take Jesus’ words in Luke as an example. (Also in Matthew 6:24)

“No servant is able to serve two lords; for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other; or he will cling to one, and he will despise the other. You are unable to serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13 LITV)

A “No servant is able to serve two lords

     B for either he will hate the one

       C and he will love the other

       C’ or he will cling to one

     B’ and he will despise the other

A’ You are unable to serve God and mammon.”

The word mammon here is μαμωνᾷ which means material possessions or wealth.  In this chiastic structure we can see the two opposing kingdoms and the choice is up to us to make.  Which side of the chiastic structure do we want to be on?  I don’t think Jesus is saying here that we can’t have possessions or money, just that we cannot “worship” or “serve” money.  Our highest priority should be serving our Lord Jesus Christ, not on amassing wealth or property.
To be continued...