Matthew 13 53

Matthew 13:53 kjv

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

Matthew 13:53 nkjv

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.

Matthew 13:53 niv

When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.

Matthew 13:53 esv

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there,

Matthew 13:53 nlt

When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country.

Matthew 13 verses

Matthew 13 53 Meaning

Matthew 13:53 marks a pivotal transition in Jesus' ministry narrative within Matthew's Gospel. It signifies the formal conclusion of a major discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven, specifically the collection of seven parables found in Matthew chapter 13. By stating that Jesus "finished these parables" and "departed thence," the verse emphasizes His intentional completion of this teaching phase and His physical relocation, preparing for the next stage of His ministry, which often involves moving to a new region and encountering fresh responses or challenges. It signals a shift from extensive public parabolic teaching to other forms of ministry and interaction.

Matthew 13 53 Context

Matthew chapter 13 is dedicated entirely to Jesus' teaching of parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. It follows Jesus' confrontations with the religious leaders and the public in chapters 11-12, where He declared His divine authority and taught about the Kingdom's characteristics. The chapter opens with Jesus teaching by the sea, specifically explaining the parable of the Sower, then providing its interpretation privately to His disciples. He continues with a series of other parables, including the Weeds, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Hidden Treasure, Pearl, and Fishing Net, most of which illustrate different aspects of the Kingdom's growth, value, and future judgment. Verse 53 serves as the explicit conclusion to this major teaching session. Historically, Capernaum or its vicinity, near the Sea of Galilee, is often understood as the likely setting for this discourse before Jesus departed. This departure marks the end of His intensive public parabolic teaching and sets the stage for His journey to Nazareth in the subsequent verses.

Matthew 13 53 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A common conjunction. Here, it functions to link the preceding parables discourse to the subsequent action, emphasizing continuity within the narrative flow. It signals a natural progression.
• it came to pass (ἐγένετο - egeneto): A typical Greek idiom in the Septuagint and New Testament, often used to introduce a new event or a change in circumstances. It is a narrative connector that frames what follows as an event occurring in time, frequently denoting divine providence at work.
• when (ὅτε - hote): A temporal conjunction. It precisely situates Jesus' departure in time, indicating that it occurred after a specific action was completed, rather than during or before.
• Jesus (ὁ Ἰησοῦς - ho Iēsous): The subject of the action, confirming Him as the agent who completed the teaching and initiated the movement. Matthew's emphasis is always on Jesus as the promised Messiah.
• had finished (ἐτέλεσεν - telesen): From the verb τελέω (teleō), meaning "to complete, bring to an end, accomplish, fulfill." This word emphasizes the deliberate and conclusive nature of Jesus' action. He did not merely stop teaching, but brought a specific teaching phase to a full and intentional conclusion. This highlights His mastery and purposefulness.
• these (ταύτας - tautas): A demonstrative pronoun. It specifically points back to the collection of parables just recounted in chapter 13, reinforcing that a distinct segment of teaching has concluded.
• parables (τὰς παραβολὰς - tas parabolas): From παραβολή (parabolē), meaning a placing side by side, comparison, illustration. Here, it refers to the seven specific illustrations about the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus had just delivered.
• he departed (μετῆρεν - metēren): From μεταίρω (metairō), meaning "to remove oneself, go away, depart, withdraw." This signifies a physical change of location. It indicates a strategic movement, often to avoid crowds, seek new opportunities, or for private instruction.
• thence (ἐκεῖθεν - ekeithen): An adverb indicating the place from which the departure occurred. While not explicitly stated in the verse, context suggests the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee, likely Capernaum or a nearby area where Jesus taught the multitude from a boat.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished": This common Pauline literary device in Matthew (found also at 7:28, 11:1, 19:1, 26:1) functions as a concluding formula. It marks the end of a major discourse or section of Jesus' public ministry and signals a shift in narrative focus. It shows Jesus as intentionally completing distinct phases of His ministry.
• "these parables": Refers directly to the significant collection of parables presented in Matthew 13. The use of "these" underscores that a specific, identified body of teaching has been completed, highlighting Matthew's structured presentation of Jesus' teachings.
• "he departed thence": This phrase highlights Jesus' purposeful itinerant ministry. His departure implies moving from one location or phase of work to the next, which is characteristic of His earthly ministry (e.g., from Galilee to Judea, or from public teaching to private discipleship or a new mission field). It indicates a planned rather than random movement, in accordance with His divine purpose.

Matthew 13 53 Bonus section

This verse reinforces Matthew's unique literary structure, organizing Jesus' teachings into distinct discourses followed by narratives. It’s part of Matthew's five "conclusion formulas," often appearing as "when Jesus had finished saying these things," effectively breaking the Gospel into sections, with this verse marking the end of the third major discourse. This structured approach contrasts somewhat with the more flowing narratives in Mark and Luke. The specific timing of the departure, immediately following a detailed teaching on the mysteries of the Kingdom, suggests that for some, the teaching was now complete, and further direct engagement was needed, or that those who understood were to internalize it, while Jesus moved on from those who did not understand or refused to accept His message.

Matthew 13 53 Commentary

Matthew 13:53, though seemingly a simple transition, holds profound significance. It acts as a formal and conclusive ending to the "Kingdom of Heaven Discourse," one of the five major teaching blocks meticulously structured by Matthew. The phrase "it came to pass... when Jesus had finished" serves as a narrative marker, signaling the completion of a specific period of extensive public teaching through parables. Jesus' intentional "finishing" of "these parables" signifies the sufficiency and completeness of His instruction on this topic at this particular time. His subsequent "departure" indicates not a mere withdrawal, but a purposeful shift in location and potentially a new phase of ministry, which Matthew immediately follows with Jesus' return to His hometown of Nazareth. This pattern of teaching and movement underscores Jesus' systematic approach to revealing the Kingdom and discipling His followers. The verse quietly underscores divine order in Jesus' ministry.