 |
|
|
|
The New Testament
Querying the QM Thesis
Matthew 13:1-23/Mark 4:1-25/Luke 8:4-18
J. P. Holding
Structural Analysis
| Matthew |
in And the day that going-forth the Jesus from the house he-sat-down beside the sea. And were-assembled to him crowds great so-that he into the boat having-entered sat-down. And all the crowd on the shore stood. And he-spoke to-them many in parables saying, |
| Mark |
And again he-began to-teach beside the sea. And is-assembled to him a crowd large so-that he entering into the boat to-sit in the sea and all the crowd toward the sea on the land were. And he-taught them in parables many things and said to-them in the teaching of him, |
| Luke |
coming-together And crowd large and those each city having come to him he-said through parable, |
Luke having displaced this episode into a more general ministry setting (8:1-3) omits the seaside setting.
| Matthew |
Behold! Went-out he sowing to sow. And in the sowing of-him some truly fell beside the roadway and came the birds and ate them. other And fell on the rocky-places where not they-had earth much and at-once it-sprang-up because the not having depth earth. sun And rising it-was-scorched even because of not having root it-was-dried-up. other And fell on the thornbushes and grew-up the thornbushes and choked them. other And fell on the earth the good and yielded fruit one hundred one and sixty one and thirty. One having ears to-hear, let-him-hear. |
| Mark |
Hear! Behold, went-out the sowing to sow. And it-was during the sowing one truly fell beside the roadway and came the birds of the heaven and ate them. other And fell on the rocky-place where not it-had earth much and at-once it-sprang-up through not having depth earth. sun And having-risen it-was-scorched and through not having root it-was-dried-up. And other fell into the thornbushes and grew the thornbushes and choked it and fruit not it-gave. And other fell into the earth the good and yielded fruit one thirty, and one sixty and one a hundred. And he said to-them One having ears to-hear, let-him-hear. |
| Luke |
Went-out the sowing to sow the seed of-him. And in the sowing of-him one truly fell beside the way and was-trampled and the birds of the heaven ate it. And other fell on the rock and growing it-dried-up because of not having moisture. And other fell in middle of the thorns and growing-up with the thornbushes choked it. And other fell on the earth the good and growing it-prodcued fruit hundredfold. These saying he-cried Those having ears to-hear, let-him-hear. |
It is clear that Luke is compressing a bit, and making some changes, and while this is understandable under a note-taking paradigm it makes little sense with direct copying. Note the reversal of the numbers between Matt and Mark, which is a sign not of copying but of oral variation.
| Matthew |
And having-come-near the disciples said to-him Why in parables do-you-speak to-them he And answering said to-them for to-you it-has-been-given to-know the mysteries of kingdom of heaven to-those but not it-has-been-given. whoever For has will-be-given to-him and he-will-have-abundance whoever but not has even what he-has will-be-taken from him. Because this in parables to-them I-speak because seeing not they-see and hearing not they-hear neither understand. And is-being-fulfilled on them the prophecy of Isaiah which says (Is. 6:9-10) |
| Mark |
when And he-became alone asked-him those of around him with the twelve the parable. And he said to-them To-you has-been-given to-know the mystery of kingdom of God to-those but ones outside in parables all things come-to-be, that (Is. 6:9-10) |
| Luke |
questioned And Him the disciples of-him saying What might be parable this? he And said To-you it-was-given to-know the mysteries of kingdom of God to-the but rest in parables, (Is. 6:9-10) |
Matthew's use of the "heaven" circomlocution reflects an original setting of a Jewish teacher, as elsewhere. He has also displaced the "whoever has" teaching topically (found in Luke 8:18 in a different context). Note that Luke and Matthew have the "disciples" asking the question, while Mark has the twelve and those "around him". Which is likely to be more original? This is a hint that we have a common source or Ur-Matthew for Luke and Matt, and/or oral tradition for all three.
An argument for a Q document is made in that Luke does not offer Matthew's fulfillment formula. Intelligibly this could be for one of two reasons without resort to Q:
- Luke omitted the OT cite because it would not be intelligible or useful to his Roman reader.
- The cite did not appear in the Ur-Matthew used by Luke, but was only used in Matthew's second, didactic edition.
| Matthew |
of you But blessed the eyes because they-see and the ears if-you because they-hear. truly For I-say to-you that many prophets and righteous desired to-see what you-see and not did-see and to-hear what you-hear and not did-hear. You therefore hear the parable of-the sower. |
| Mark |
And he says to-them Not know-you the parable this? And how all the parables will-you-know? |
| Luke |
is And this the parable |
Marcan priorists argue that it is more likely that Matt and Luke removed the "dumb disciples" question than that Mark added it, but let's think a little more dimensionally. It is far more likely rather that Peter has inserted this challenge as directed to his audience; it is obvious that hearing the parable for the first time, no one could ever "get" the analogy to the word, and so had to be taught what it meant. Everyone without exception would be "stupid" like the disciples. Moreover, in antiquity, the students were supposed to inquire of the teacher and study was interactive. The "stupid disciples" remark is either a Petrine reminisce or a challenge, but either way is unlikely to have been part of the original core tradition to be memorized, as it would "teach" nothing. What we have here and in these different presentations is a sign of individual redaction to a core tradition. If any of these is closest to the original, Luke is; for Matt has topically displaced the "blessed" comment from another context (cf. Luke 10:24).
| Matthew |
Anyone hearing the Word of kingdom and not understanding comes the evil-one and catches-away that being sown in the heart of-him. This is the word by way sown. the And on rocky-places sown this is the one Word hearing and at once with joy receiving it not has but root in himself but temporary is occurring but tribulation or persecution through the word at-once he-is-offended. the But into the thornbushes sown this is the Word hearing and the anxiety of age of-this and the deceit of riches choke the word and unfruitful it-becomes. that But on the earth the good was-sown this is one the word hearing and understanding who indeed bears-fruit and yields one truly hundred, one and sixty, one and thirty. |
| Mark |
He sowing the word sows. these And are those beside the wayside where is-sown the word. And when they-hear immediately comes the Satan and takes the word the having-been-sown in the hearts of them. And these are likewise those on the rocky-places having-been-sown who when they-hear the word at once with joy they-receive it yet not they have root in themselves but temporary are then having occurred trouble or persecution through the word at-once they-are-stumbled. And these are-those into the thornbushes having-been-sown those the Word having heard and the anxieties of age of-this and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and unfruitful it-becomes. And these are those on the earth good being-sown who hear the word welcome and bring-forth-fruit one thirty and one sixty and one hundred. |
| Luke |
The seed is the word of God. those And beside the way are those hearing then comes the devil and takes the word from the heart of-them lest believing they-may-be-saved. those And on the rock who when they-hear with joy receive the word but these root not do have who for time believe and in time of-trial draw-back. the And into the thornbushes falling these are those hearing and under anxieties and riches and pleasures of life moving-along they-are-choked and not do-bear-to-maturity. the And in the good earth these are those in heart right and good hearing the word they-hold and bear-fruit in patience. |
Obviously Luke has again done some interpretative redaction.
This leaves behind Mark 4:26-29, which is not paralleled:
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Somehow Hawkins [123] gets this idea: "Might there not have been fear of this discouraging activity and watchfulness in missionary and pastoral work?" Might there? Sure. There might also have been fear of corn growing out of our ears because of this, but why should we get so paranoid? Is anyone really going to say, "Hey, that guy is sleeping in this story; we should, too?" Hawkins' idea is absurd.
Ur-Matthew Reconstruction
in And the day that going-forth the Jesus from the house he-sat-down beside the sea. And were-assembled to him crowds great so-that he into the boat having-entered sat-down. And all the crowd on the shore stood. And he-spoke to-them many in parables saying, Behold! Went-out he sowing to sow. And in the sowing of-him some truly fell beside the roadway and came the birds and ate them. other And fell on the rocky-places where not they-had earth much and at-once it-sprang-up because the not having depth earth. sun And rising it-was-scorched even because of not having root it-was-dried-up. other And fell on the thornbushes and grew-up the thornbushes and choked them. other And fell on the earth the good and yielded fruit one hundred one and sixty one and thirty. One having ears to-hear, let-him-hear.
To-you it-was-given to-know the mysteries of kingdom of God to-the but rest in parables, (Is. 6:9-10) is And this the parable Anyone hearing the Word of kingdom and not understanding comes the evil-one and catches-away that being sown in the heart of-him. This is the word by way sown. the And on rocky-places sown this is the one Word hearing and at once with joy receiving it not has but root in himself but temporary is occurring but tribulation or persecution through the word at-once he-is-offended. the But into the thornbushes sown this is the Word hearing and the anxiety of age of-this and the deceit of riches choke the word and unfruitful it-becomes. that But on the earth the good was-sown this is one the word hearing and understanding who indeed bears-fruit and yields one truly hundred, one and sixty, one and thirty
Go Home! |
|
|
