Matthew 8:1 kjv
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
Matthew 8:1 nkjv
When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
Matthew 8:1 niv
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.
Matthew 8:1 esv
When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
Matthew 8:1 nlt
Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside.
Matthew 8 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 5:1 | And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain... to teach. | Jesus' ascent for the Sermon on the Mount. |
| Matt 7:28-29 | ...the multitudes were astonished at his doctrine... as one having authority. | The powerful impact of Jesus' teaching. |
| Exod 19:20 | ...the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai... | God's descent to Mount Sinai (Old Covenant). |
| Exod 32:15 | Moses turned, and went down from the mount... the two tables of the testimony... | Moses' descent with the Law after Sinai encounter. |
| Deut 5:22 | ...the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount... | God speaking His covenant from a mountain. |
| Matt 4:23-25 | Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching... healing... great multitudes followed him. | Earlier instance of large crowds following for healing and teaching. |
| Matt 9:35-36 | ...Jesus went about all the cities... saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion... | Jesus' ongoing ministry and compassion for the crowds. |
| Matt 12:15 | ...great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. | Multitudes seeking and receiving healing from Jesus. |
| Matt 13:2 | And great multitudes were gathered together unto him... teaching. | Crowds gathering to hear His parables. |
| Matt 14:14 | And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion... | Compassion for large crowds, leading to feeding. |
| Matt 15:29-30 | And Jesus departed from thence... went up into a mountain... great multitudes came... | Another instance of crowds following Jesus to a mountain for healing. |
| Mark 1:45 | ...he could no more openly enter into the city, but was without... and they came to him from every quarter. | People continuously seeking Jesus' presence and help. |
| Luke 4:32 | And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. | His teaching conveyed with unique authority. |
| Luke 5:1 | ...the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God... | Crowds earnestly seeking divine teaching. |
| John 6:2 | And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles... | Crowds attracted by Jesus' signs and wonders. |
| John 6:26 | Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves... | Some followed for physical benefits rather than spiritual truth. |
| John 6:66 | From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. | Contrast between transient followers and true discipleship. |
| 1 Pet 2:21 | ...Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. | The spiritual aspect of following Christ's example. |
| Rev 14:4 | These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. | Ultimate picture of true, devoted followers of Christ. |
| Heb 12:18-24 | For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched... but ye are come unto mount Sion... | Contrasts Sinai (Law, fear) with Zion (grace, new covenant), relevant to Jesus as new Law-giver. |
Matthew 8 verses
Matthew 8 1 Meaning
Upon completing His extensive teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus descended from the mountain where He had delivered His authoritative words. As He came down, large groups of people continued to accompany Him, moving from a setting of profound instruction to one where His power would be displayed. This transition emphasizes the continuity of Jesus' ministry from revealing God's will to demonstrating divine authority.
Matthew 8 1 Context
Matthew 8:1 serves as a critical bridge in the Gospel of Matthew. Chapters 5-7 record Jesus' most extensive teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, outlining the core principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. With chapter 8, the narrative shifts dramatically from Jesus' authoritative words to His authoritative works. This verse specifically marks the conclusion of that teaching session and the immediate beginning of a concentrated display of His messianic power through miracles. The continuous presence of the "great multitudes" underscores Jesus' immense popular appeal, drawn not only by His compelling words but also by the expectation of tangible demonstrations of divine power and healing.
Matthew 8 1 Word analysis
- When he was come down: (Greek: Katelthontos - Κατελθόντος). This participle denotes the completion of the action of descending. "He" clearly refers to Jesus, whose teaching on the mountain had just concluded. This descent highlights a purposeful transition from the spiritual teaching of the Sermon to the tangible display of divine authority through miracles.
- from the mountain: (Greek: apo tou orous - ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους). The definite article "the" refers back to the specific mountain mentioned in Matt 5:1, where Jesus ascended to teach the Sermon. Mountains in biblical narratives are often sites of profound divine encounter, revelation, and significant events, marking Jesus' authority in a similar vein to Moses at Mount Sinai.
- great multitudes: (Greek: ochloi polloi - ὄχλοι πολλοί). "Multitudes" signifies a vast, undifferentiated crowd of people. Their presence demonstrates the immense popular appeal and widespread interest in Jesus after hearing His teaching and likely witnessing His earlier ministry (Matt 4:23-25). Their motivations varied, ranging from genuine curiosity to the pursuit of healing or provisions.
- followed him: (Greek: ēkolouthēsan autō - ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ). This verb, in the aorist tense, indicates a decisive action of following. It speaks to the immediate and sustained response of the crowds to Jesus' presence and teaching. While physically accompanying Him, not all who "followed" at this point necessarily represented true, committed discipleship, a distinction Jesus would clarify throughout His ministry.
Matthew 8 1 Bonus section
- Narrative Flow: Matthew frequently organizes his material into alternating blocks of teaching and narrative action. This verse exemplifies this pattern, transitioning from the lengthy Sermon on the Mount (teaching block) to the collection of miracle accounts (narrative action block) in chapters 8-9.
- Public Manifestation: While Jesus often sought solitude for prayer, His post-Sermon activity begins with Him re-entering the public sphere, indicating that His divine authority and saving power were to be displayed openly for all to witness.
- New Covenant Implications: This passage carries typological echoes of Moses descending Mount Sinai with the Law of the Old Covenant. Jesus' descent with a completed teaching (the 'new' law/ethic of the Kingdom) and subsequent acts of power establish Him as superior to Moses, the ultimate mediator of God's grace and power under the New Covenant.
Matthew 8 1 Commentary
Matthew 8:1 acts as the narrative's fulcrum, turning the reader from Jesus' profound discourse in the Sermon on the Mount to the dramatic display of His divine power through a series of miracles. Having taught with unparalleled authority, Jesus now begins to demonstrate that authority in tangible ways. His descent from the mountain signals a shift from proclamation to performance, from principle to power. The continued "following" by the great multitudes underscores His widespread impact and sets the stage for the dramatic validation of His messianic claims, as the very next verse sees Him cleansing a leper, immediately enacting the authority He just preached.