Luke 6:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The phrase 'They came to hear Him' signifies the restoration of souls, while "and to be healed of their diseases" represents the healing of physical ailments.

After sending forth the holy apostles, He worked numerous wonders, expelling evil spirits and healing those suffering from chronic ailments who came to Him, while demonstrating His divine authority.

And after coming down from the mountain with His disciples, He took His place on a level area. Reflect on this: He ascends with His followers and then descends to the multitude. Would the crowd have been able to see Him had He remained at a high elevation? They did not follow Him to the summit, nor did He climb to great heights. It is only by descending that He encounters those who are afflicted—those who are weak cannot reach the heights! Matthew illustrates this by showing (see Matthew 8:1) that the suffering receive healing in the lowlands: initially, an individual is restored, and progressively, as they grow in virtue, they are able to ascend the mountain. Thus, the Lord, in His compassion for our suffering, brings healing to those below.

He possessed a sacred authority that restored health to all who reached out to Him.

A vast crowd gathered here with the intention of approaching and, as much as possible, connecting with the holiness and might of God, seeking to be healed through this divine encounter. In the spirit of Hebrews, they came to honor the memory of the righteous Saint and Miracle Worker, offering prayers to the God who is wondrous in His Saints, in hopes of receiving healing. It is my belief that they arrived, or at least should have come, with the desire to absorb the teachings of Christ.

He then joined them as he spoke to the gathered crowd, providing an extensive teaching. Since the individuals forming this new Israel were not of earthly lineage but rather of a spiritual nature, the Lord took this opportunity to highlight certain traits of the children of the new Israel. He predominantly drew from the principles and examples of the piety exhibited by Israel during that era, contrasting those admirable qualities with those that were unworthy, and elevating the commendable aspects to their utmost ideal.

Once the apostles were selected, the Lord descended from the mountain and positioned Himself on a flat area. The other disciples and a large crowd gathered from all over Judea, including Jerusalem and the coastal regions of Tyre and Sidon, eagerly anticipated His arrival. Some had journeyed great distances to absorb His teachings, while others sought healing from ailments and liberation from unclean spirits. He healed every one of them, and the multitude, filled with joyful anticipation, attempted to touch Him, drawn by the life-giving miraculous essence emanating from Him.