To whom he said: To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God: for therefore am I sent.
ο δε ειπεν προς αυτους οτι και ταις ετεραις πολεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι με δει την βασιλειαν του θεου οτι εις τουτο απεσταλμαι
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He does not limit Himself to a single location, declaring, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also." Likewise, we ought not to be idle or satisfied with remaining in one area, but instead venture forth to spread His message, that we may be a blessing to others.
In the same manner, concerning all these matters.
(Note: See Mark 1:38-39)
The statement ‘for this cause have I been sent’ should be embraced by our priesthood as a fundamental principle. The Apostle instructed St. Timothy, saying: ‘Exhort in season and out of season, reprove, forbid, exhort’ (2 Tim. 4:2). The Lord, along with the Holy Spirit, brought forth the truth on earth, filling the apostles on Pentecost, and it continues to dwell in our midst. The priests of God serve as its heralds. When any of them remain silent, they obstruct the path of truth, which seeks the salvation of the faithful. This results in the souls of believers suffering, deprived of the truth, and even the hierarchs themselves experience the weight of that truth, which, lacking expression, burdens them.
O priest of God, relieve yourself of this load, and share the abundant words of God for your own fulfillment and the renewal of the souls entrusted to your care. Should you find yourself lacking in truth, seek it in the sacred scriptures; once you are filled with it, impart it to your spiritual children: but do not hold your peace. Proclaim it, for this is your calling.
When Simon and the other disciples approached Him during His time of prayer, they brought with them the thought of the people in Capernaum awaiting His return. However, He was only instructed, along with them, to go forth and proclaim the gospel in Galilee. The requests of the Capernaum residents did not sway the Savior's determination; rather, His steps were directed by the will of the Father and the welfare of humanity. The specific locations where the Savior preached during this time are not detailed by the Evangelists, who provide few specifics of His activities apart from the miracle of healing a leper. The Lord restored the man’s health with just a word and a touch, commanding him afterward to offer a prescribed sacrifice and to present himself for the priests’ examination.
By then, the renown of Jesus had spread beyond Galilee, reaching into Syria, attracting crowds from various regions, including the Ten Cities, Jerusalem, Judea, and the other side of the Jordan. The multitude of miracles, the authority of His teachings, and the freshness of His message captured the attention of the Jews, particularly amidst their longing for the Messiah. The disciples accompanying Jesus began to understand the significance of their calling as fishers of men. Galilee appeared to them as a rich sea full of fish, where, with a simple cast of a net, they could gather multitudes. However, the Lord recognized that this transformation would not occur overnight; the fishermen themselves needed to be nurtured in His teachings and instructed in the mysteries of the kingdom.
Those around Him harbored specific notions about the Messiah and His kingdom that needed to be refined and corrected, requiring them to pay attention to previously overlooked truths while tempering some of their more fervent expectations that did not align with reality. They were yet unaware that anyone aspiring to be closer to Him than others might, in fact, be distanced from Him. Therefore, when speaking about the coming of the kingdom of heaven, the Savior refrained from revealing details about the Messiah until the people were adequately prepared. He even silenced the unclean spirits that recognized Him as the Messiah, commanding them against their declarations. Likewise, during His travels, He instructed those He healed, such as the leper, not to disclose their miraculous recoveries (Mk. 1:43-44; Lk. 5:14) and did not permit them to accompany Him. This led Him to withdraw more frequently from the crowds, devoting Himself to prayer and submission to the Father's will (Lk. 5:16). Moreover, He allowed recognized community leaders to confront Him openly, despite their teachings warranting severe criticism.
When the appointed day arrived, rising at dawn, Jesus Christ withdrew to a deserted and solitary location to engage in prayer. However, Simon and his companions, including Andrew, James, and John, sought Him out. Upon discovering Him, they informed Him that the crowd was searching for Him. Subsequently, as recorded by Luke, the people approached Him, urging Him to stay with them. Yet the Lord expressed the necessity to proclaim the kingdom of God to other towns, and He began His journey, inviting the apostles to accompany Him. This depiction of the morning also serves as a prelude for the evangelists, concluding with a summary that emphasizes His ministry: He preached in their synagogues throughout Galilee, expelling demons.
At dawn, He was prepared to resume His redemptive work. However, His blessings were not meant to be limited to Capernaum. Numerous other towns and villages in the vicinity required guidance and generosity, and Christ sought to broaden His ministry to these places. “Come,” He instructed His disciples, “into the nearby towns and villages, so that I may proclaim the kingdom of God there as well; for this is why I have been sent.”
Refer to Mark 1:35-39. The crowd was searching for Him; in the account by Mark, there is additional detail indicating that Simon and his companions pursued the Lord. The phrase “held Him back” is a detail noted solely by Luke, yet it is also implied in Mark’s narrative through the Lord’s response indicating a need to visit other towns. In Mark’s version, Peter and his companions are depicted as taking action, whereas Luke presents the situation differently. The distinction lies only in how the events are conveyed, not in the essence of the occurrence.
After proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven in Capernaum and validating His message through extraordinary miracles, Christ the Savior recognized the necessity of spreading His teachings to additional towns and villages. Thus, early the following morning, while the city's residents remained sound asleep, He retreated to a desolate place, where He engaged in prayer, seeking solitude and silence in preparation for His journey through Galilee. Solitary prayer frequently provided the Lord with an opportunity to refresh and recharge after serving the people (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16), or to ready Himself for significant endeavors (Matthew 26:36-42; Mark 14:35-39; Luke 9:28, 29; 22:41-44).
Meanwhile, the people of the town gathered at Simon's house in search of the Divine Teacher and Miracle Worker, but He was not there. Simon, along with Andrew, James, John, and possibly others, ventured into the wilderness to find Him. Upon locating Him, they said, ‘Everyone is searching for You.’ The Lord replied, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns as well, for that is why I was sent; let us go to the nearby villages and preach there too, “For this purpose I have come.”’
Having spent some time away from Capernaum, Jesus Christ journeyed throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues and sharing the Gospel. News of Him spread across Syria, extending beyond Palestine, which fell within the jurisdiction of the Roman proconsul. People from every direction brought the sick, those tormented by various maladies, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralyzed, and He healed them by His inherent miraculous power, creating, as St. John Chrysostom described, ‘an incomprehensible sea of miracles’ around Him. A large crowd followed Him, not only from Galilee but also from the regions of Tithegrad, Jerusalem, Judea, and even far-off lands across the Jordan. This throng was drawn by the strength and freshness of His teaching, as well as the miracles He performed, which the Jews pursued with special eagerness (Matthew 12:38-39). Through witnessing the example of their Master, the disciples He called began to grasp what it meant to draw immortal souls towards the heavenly kingdom (Matthew 4:19), and this ministry served as a vital learning experience, providing them with essential lessons for their future endeavors.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 21 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS