IV - JESUS GOES OUTSIDE GALILEE

Summary

The fourth main division begins with the account of Herod's fears (vi. 14–16) and the story of John the Baptist's execution (vi. 17–29), which is introduced at this point in explanation of the reference in vi. 16. There follows the closely-knit group of sections, vi. 30–56; and this in turn is followed by vii. 1–23, which consists for the most part of teaching. It is connected neither with vi. 30–56 nor with vii. 24–37, and has apparently been inserted here for convenience. According to Taylor it is a topical complex, but possibly it is a unit rather than a complex. We then have vii. 24–37, which relates the visit to the region of Tyre, the healing of the Syro-Phoenician woman's daughter, the journey from the region of Tyre to somewhere on the east side of the Lake of Galilee within the territory of the Decapolis, and finally the healing of the deaf-mute. It is perhaps the sequel to vi. 30–56. The conclusion to this division is formed by the complex viii. 1–26.

This division of the gospel shows Jesus seeking to withdraw from the crowds and directing his attention rather to his disciples. For the most part he is outside Galilee. But there is little justification in the text for the theory of a flight from Herod.