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MATTHEW 8:18 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 8:17Matt 8:19
“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.”
Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. The departure across the Sea of Galilee is not retreat from the crowds but movement toward the Gentile territories on the other side. The disciples encounter storms on the way; Jesus encounters demoniacs on the other shore. The crossing that the disciples barely survive in the storm is the crossing that the possessed men barely survive in their isolation. Jesus moves toward both the disciples' fear and the demoniacs' desperation.

Church Fathers on Matthew 8:18

Because Christ not only healed the body, but purified the soul also, He desired to shew forth true wisdom, not only by curing diseases, but by doing nothing with ostentation; and therefore it is said, 'Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he commanded his disciples to cross over to the other side.' This He did at once teaching us to be lowly, softening the ill-will of the Jews, and teaching us to do nothing with ostentation.

Chrysostom · 4th century

Or; He did this as one desiring to shun the thronging of the multitude. But they hung upon Him in admiration, crowding to see Him. For who would depart from one who did such miracles? Who would not wish to look upon His open face, to see His mouth that spoke such things? For if Moses' countenance was made glorious, and Stephen’s as that of an Angel, gather from this how it was to have been supposed that their common Lord must have then appeared; of whom the Prophet speaks,…

Remigius · 9th century

The name 'disciples' is not to be supposed to be confined to the twelve Apostles; for we read of many disciples besides the twelve.

Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century
Read all 27 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 8:18 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy