4 - Sequences of Sayings

Summary

We have already noted that the Johannine discourses in general are constructed on a characteristic pattern which has no parallel in the Synoptic Gospels. It is all the more significant that there are a few sequences of sayings which approximate to the Synoptic pattern, and stand out in contrast to the Johannine type. Such are the sequences in iv. 31–8, xii. 20–6, xiii. 1–20. But before examining these it will be well to look at some Synoptic sequences. As typical examples we may take the following.

Mark ix. 33–50. The passage begins with a situation briefly described, as the setting for a dialogue with the disciples which ends with a pregnant saying of Jesus (verses 33–7); to this are appended, first, another brief dialogue (verses 38–40), and then three separate sayings, with only the slightest connection with the foregoing dialogues or with one another (verses 41, 42, 43–8); and the sequence tails off with some disjointed sentences.

Luke xi. 14–28. The passage begins with a situation briefly described, here a miracle of exorcism with its effect on observers. There follow a controversial dialogue (verses 15–20), a parable (verses 21–2), a detached saying (verse 23), another parable (verses 24–6), and a short dialogue (or rather ‘apophthegm’), which brings the sequence to a close with a pronouncement in the form of a makarism (27–8).