Matthew 13 1

Matthew 13:1 kjv

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

Matthew 13:1 nkjv

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

Matthew 13:1 niv

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.

Matthew 13:1 esv

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

Matthew 13:1 nlt

Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 1 Meaning

Matthew 13:1 initiates a pivotal shift in Jesus' ministry and teaching method. It describes Jesus moving from a private, perhaps restrictive setting within a house, to the expansive and public environment of the seashore, specifically the Sea of Galilee. This transition sets the stage for His major discourse on parables, emphasizing His shift from intense debates and confrontations with religious leaders (as seen in the previous chapter) to publicly unveiling the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven through allegorical narratives to a wider audience. The verse signifies the opening of a new chapter where truth is simultaneously revealed and concealed, depending on the listener's spiritual receptivity.

Matthew 13 1 Context

Matthew chapter 13, known as the "Parable Discourse," marks a significant turning point in Jesus' public ministry within Matthew's Gospel. The verse "On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea" serves as the precise narrative setting for this discourse.

The events immediately preceding Matthew 13, particularly in chapter 12, depict intense conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities (the Pharisees). Jesus had just faced accusations of healing by the power of Beelzebul (the prince of demons), rejecting His family (who sought to intervene due to His challenging ministry), and condemning the generation that sought a sign yet failed to recognize God's work. The "house" mentioned in verse 1 might be the place where these confrontational discussions and internal debates had taken place, symbolizing a period of limited and often contentious engagement with a specific audience or religious group.

Jesus' deliberate move "out of the house" to "the sea" (the Sea of Galilee) represents a strategic shift. The house typically signifies a more private, confined, or particular setting for teaching and interaction. In contrast, the seashore of Galilee was an open, public, and accessible space, frequented by large crowds of people from diverse backgrounds, including fishermen, merchants, and those simply seeking Him out. By changing His location, Jesus moved from intense, private encounters, where His message was often met with direct opposition, to an open public forum. This public setting allowed for a broader proclamation of the Kingdom's message, utilizing parables as a means to communicate profound spiritual truths to the masses. The act of sitting, customary for a Jewish teacher, emphasized His authoritative role. This shift was a response to the growing rejection from religious leaders, prompting a new, more discerning mode of teaching through parables that both revealed the Kingdom's mysteries to His followers and simultaneously obscured them from those whose hearts were hardened.

Matthew 13 1 Word analysis

• On that day (Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ - En ekeinē tē hēmerā):
  • Word: "On that day"
  • Significance: Connects this event directly to the preceding narrative. It points to the immediate aftermath of the confrontations and rejections documented in Matthew 12. It suggests a new phase or response to the hardened hearts and accusations of the religious leaders, implying a tactical shift in Jesus' ministry.
• Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς - ho Iēsous):
  • Word: "Jesus"
  • Significance: Identifies the central figure. His actions drive the narrative and signal a deliberate choice in method and location. His authority is implicit in His intentional movements.
• went out (ἐξελθὼν - exelthōn):
  • Word: "went out" (aorist active participle)
  • Significance: Implies a definite action of departure. It is not accidental but purposeful. This departure sets up the change of scene for His public teaching. It indicates a movement from one place to allow for engagement in another.
• of the house (ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκίας - apo tēs oikias):
  • Word: "of the house"
  • Significance: The specific "house" is likely Capernaum (Jesus' base of operations per Mt 4:13) or simply the last place of gathering where the controversies of Matthew 12 occurred (Mt 12:46). Symbolically, the "house" can represent a more confined, intimate, or even exclusive teaching environment, perhaps even within the traditional bounds of Judaism. Leaving the house signifies a move from private confrontation to public proclamation, and potentially from a Jewish-centric focus to a broader reach.
• and sat (ἐκάθητο - ekathēto):
  • Word: "and sat" (imperfect middle/passive indicative)
  • Significance: The imperfect tense suggests a continuous or habitual action, signifying that He took His position with intention to remain there and teach. In ancient Jewish culture, sitting was the customary posture of a rabbi or teacher, denoting authority, preparedness for instruction, and thoughtful discourse.
• by the sea (παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν - para tēn thalassan):
  • Word: "by the sea"
  • Significance: Refers to the Sea of Galilee, a populous region of northern Galilee, often bustling with people, commerce, and fishing activities. This location provided ample space for large crowds and also had the benefit of acoustics, as the water could amplify sound. It marks a clear geographical shift from a more enclosed setting to an open, public venue, symbolizing the accessibility and broad reach of Jesus' new teaching method (parables). It also highlights His rootedness in the everyday lives of the common people rather than remaining solely within formal religious structures.

Words-group Analysis:

• "On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea":
  • Significance: This entire phrase describes a crucial directional change. The juxtaposition of "house" (private, restricted, perhaps contentious) and "sea" (public, open, inviting vast numbers) emphasizes Jesus' strategic shift in response to the growing rejection of the religious establishment. He takes His teaching to the multitudes, transitioning from direct argument to parabolic discourse, a method that both invites and screens listeners. It implies the broad scope of the Kingdom's message, accessible to all, yet understood by those prepared to hear.

Matthew 13 1 Bonus section

• The Sea of Galilee, also known as the Lake of Gennesaret or Sea of Tiberias, was economically vibrant and ethnically diverse, making it an ideal location for reaching vast, mixed crowds. Many of Jesus' disciples were fishermen from this very region, further grounding His ministry in their everyday lives.
• The transition from "house" to "sea" could be seen as symbolic of the Kingdom's message moving beyond the perceived confines of traditional Jewish structures or private encounters, embracing a wider, more accessible, and universal proclamation. This foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles and the expansive nature of the Gospel later in Matthew's narrative.
• The imagery of the sea is complex in Jewish tradition. While it can represent chaos or Gentile nations, here it serves as a gathering place, illustrating God's readiness to engage with humanity even outside sacred walls, turning a secular space into a platform for divine revelation.
• Some scholars note the connection of Capernaum to this "house," emphasizing that even from His base of operations, Jesus often sought larger, more public venues to address the escalating rejection and unbelief He encountered in more intimate or traditional settings.

Matthew 13 1 Commentary

Matthew 13:1 acts as a simple yet profoundly significant narrative bridge within Jesus' ministry. After facing hardened hearts and intense theological disputes with the Pharisees in Chapter 12, Jesus intentionally shifts His setting and method. Moving "out of the house," which often implies a private or even confined teaching space, to "the sea"—the open, public, and expansive shoreline of Galilee—signifies a crucial strategic reorientation. This new location provided a natural amphitheater, drawing immense crowds who could listen from the shore, or for whom Jesus could speak from a boat. His act of "sitting" was a common and authoritative posture for a teacher in Jewish tradition, asserting His rabbinic role. This shift foreshadows the content of chapter 13, where Jesus largely teaches in parables. This parabolic method serves a dual purpose: it made profound spiritual truths accessible to the receptive multitude while simultaneously concealing them from those who had deliberately closed their hearts and ears, fulfilling ancient prophecy (Isa 6:9-10). The verse therefore sets the stage for Jesus' new public pedagogical approach, adapted to the spiritual climate of the time and the spiritual state of His diverse audience.