The Macrostructure of Matthew’s Gospel 187 taken in the kernel. Because these events (“minor events”) do not themselves offer new moments of choice, but instead elaborate on the one already made, they are not entirely indispensable. They do, however, fill the void between one kernel and the next. Matera uses these theoretical distinctions to find an answer to three questions: a) What is the plot in Matthew?; b) Where are the “kernels” within the plot of Matthew’s Gospel?; c) What kind of narrative blocks does Matthew consist of? In answering the first question, Matera assumes that the salvation history is the most central notion in Matthew. After all, the book does extend all the way from Abraham (1,1) to the end of the age (28,20). Within this huge framework, it describes how Jesus, on the one hand, is (or: was) united with the people of Israel and, on the other, how he increasingly becomes accepted by gentiles. Matera sums up six passages in which there is a decisive turning point: 2,1a: the birth of Jesus; 4,12-17: the beginning of Jesus’ ministry; 11,2-6: John’s question; 16,13-28: the conversation in the district of Caesarea Philippi; 21,1-17: the cleansing of the temple; 28,16-20: the sending out of the disciples. The first five kernels are accompanied by a number of satellites, together with which they form a narrative block; in the case of the last kernel, such satellites are absent: “Kernels”: Narrative blocks: Description: 2,1a 1. 1,1–4,11 The coming of the Messiah 4,12-17 2. 4,12–11,1 The Messiah’s ministry to Israel of preaching, teaching, and healing 11,2-6 3. 11,2–16,12 The crisis in the Messiah’s ministry 16,13-28 4. 16,13–20,34 The Messiah’s journey to Jerusalem 21,1-17 5. 21,1–28,15 The Messiah’s death and resurrection 28,16-20 6. 28,16-20 The great commission An adapted form of Matera’s hypothesis has been adopted by W. Carter (28). The following scheme shows what the modified plan of Matthew’s Gospel looks like. “Kernels”: Narrative blocks: Description: 1,18-25 1. 1,1–4,16 God is the origin of Jesus 4,17-25 2. 4,17–11,1 Jesus manifests God’s saving presence in his preaching and healing (28) W. CARTER, “Kernels and Narrative Blocks: The Structure of Matthew’s Gospel”, CBQ 54 (1992) 463-481. See also: ID., Matthew: Storyteller, Interpreter, Evangelist (Peabody, MA 1996) 159-175.