190 Wim J.C. Weren relationships; the Parable Discourse has a central position and explains why the secrets of the kingdom are accessible to the disciples, whilst they are a mystery to outsiders. The corpus of the book is connected to the overture and the finale by means of hinge texts (4,12-17 and 26,1-16). The first hinge text bridges 1,1-4,11 and 4,18–25,46. This can be clarified as follows. Jesus’ move (4,12) is part of a continuous line that has begun in the overture (2,12-13.14.22) and that is later continued (12,15;14,13; 15,21). The many places mentioned in 4,12-17 are a continuation of the accumulating topographical information in Matt 2, whereby the similarities between 4,12-16 and 2,22-23 draw particular attention. Matt 4,12-17 is also connected to the preceding text by the mention, in 4,12, of John the Baptist, who had already been introduced in 3,1, and by the parallels between John’s and Jesus’ message (3,2 = 4,17). Finally, there are several connections between 4,12-17 and the corpus: Capernaum, Jesus’ new home town, functions as the starting point for his wanderings through Galilee, and the kingdom of heaven remains an important subject throughout of his entire ministry. Matt 26,1-16 functions as a hinge between the heart of the book and the finale. There is strong indication of this in the subordinate clause in 26,1 that gives a review of Jesus’ ministry and, in this context, focuses on the five discourses (“all these words”). In 26,2, Jesus repeats his earlier announcements of his death (16,21; 17,22-23; 20,18-19), but by adding that the events announced will occur within two days, his statement at the same time functions as a heading to the passion narrative. The passage that follows (26,3-16) also anticipates the events to take place: together with Judas, the adversaries make preparations for Jesus’ arrest (26,3-5.14-16), whilst the tender gesture by an anonymous woman is connected to his funeral (26,6-13). e) Matt 16,13-28 as a hinge within 4,18–25,46 The next problem is the structure of the corpus (4,12–25,46). According to Matera, 16,13-28 is a textual unit. I support his criticism of the idea that this passage is split in two by ajpo; tovte on the grounds of the following considerations. This passage has a unity of place (in the district of Caesarea Philippi). Jesus is accompanied only by his disciples here. The text consists mainly of direct speech and regularly alternates between the parts where Jesus is talking to all the disciples (16,13-15.20-21.24-28), and the parts in which he is in dialogue with Peter (16,16-19.22-23), whereby we are struck by the contrast between