Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
Parallel translations
- KJV Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
- BSB When Jesus saw a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the sea.
- NKJV And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
- NASB Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea.
- NLT When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Seeing the great crowds, Jesus orders his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. He withdraws from the press of the multitude to continue his mission.
Overview
Matthew records Jesus' decision to depart amid surging crowds, leading into the calming of the storm and the deliverance of the demoniacs. The move shows Jesus directing his own ministry rather than being driven by popular demand. It also sets the stage for two further demonstrations of his authority over nature and the powers of darkness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 8:22Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.
- Luke 4:42–43When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place, and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and held on to him, so that he wouldn’t go away from them.
- Mark 4:35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
- John 6:15Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
- Matt 14:22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
- Mark 8:13He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
- Mark 5:21When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea.
- Mark 1:35–38Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
- Matt 8:1When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
- Mark 6:45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 8:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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