And he saith to them: Let us go into the neighbouring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am I come.
και λεγει αυτοις αγωμεν εις τας εχομενας κωμοπολεις ινα και εκει κηρυξω εις τουτο γαρ εξεληλυθα
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Moreover, when the people longed for Him and earnestly sought after Him, they did not fully devote themselves to Him. While they welcomed His presence, they turned instead to others in need of healing and guidance. The mission of teaching should not be limited to a single location; rather, the light of the Word should be spread far and wide.
When Simon and the other disciples approached Him during His time of prayer, they were motivated by the thought of the people awaiting Him in Capernaum. However, He was instead commanded, along with them, to go and proclaim the Good News in Galilee. The pleas of the residents of Capernaum did not sway the Savior's determination. Every step He took was guided by the will of the Father and the well-being of humanity. The specific locations where He preached on this journey are not detailed by the Evangelists, apart from the account of healing a leper, which He performed with both word and touch. After healing the man, He instructed him to offer a sacrifice according to the law and to present himself for examination by the priests.
By this time, the reputation of Jesus had spread beyond Galilee and into Syria, attracting large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and even from across the Jordan River. The multitude of miracles, His powerful teaching, and the novelty of His message had continually piqued the interest of the Jewish people, especially amid their anticipation of the Messiah.
The disciples who followed Jesus began to comprehend the significance of their calling as fishers of men. Before them lay Galilee, reminiscent of a sea abundant with fish, where they could catch countless numbers with just a cast of their net. However, the Lord recognized that this harvest would not come swiftly; He needed to prepare the fishermen themselves, instilling in them His teaching and elucidating the mysteries of the kingdom. Those surrounding Him harbored a limited view of the Messiah and His kingdom, meaning His teachings needed refinement. They had to reconsider their understandings and temper some of their unruly expectations in light of the truth. They had yet to realize that in the kingdom of the Messiah, a transformation must occur for all, and that those who assumed they were closest to Him were often the farthest away.
For these reasons, when speaking of the coming of the kingdom of heaven, the Savior did not directly reference the Messiah at that time, choosing instead to reveal Himself after the people had been suitably prepared. He also silenced the unclean spirits that acknowledged Him as the Messiah, instructing them not to disclose this truth. During His journey, He likewise commanded those He had healed, including the leper, not to share their miraculous recoveries and dissuaded them from following Him. He even directed the leper to present himself to the priests. Consequently, the Savior often withdrew from the crowd to engage more deeply in prayer with the Father. This is why He allowed well-respected leaders among the people to contest with Him openly, even if their principles were deserving of strong criticism.
When the day arrived, and while it was still early, Jesus Christ traveled to an isolated, barren place to engage in prayer. However, Simon and others with him, including Andrew, James, and John, sought Him out. Upon finding Him, they informed Him that the crowds were searching for Him. Subsequently, the people also approached Him, urging Him to remain with them. Yet the Lord explained that He needed to proclaim the Kingdom of God in other towns, and He began His journey, bringing the apostles along with Him. This depiction of that morning served as an introduction for the evangelists to the subsequent events, concluding with a summary: He preached in their synagogues throughout Galilee, casting out unclean spirits.
Jesus, while not dismissing their desires and seemingly spending some time back in Capernaum—upon the insistence of its inhabitants—communicated to His disciples and the crowd that His mission required Him to proclaim the message in other towns and villages, rather than remaining in a single location. He expressed, "for I came for that purpose, for that I was sent" (Lk. 4:43), to share the good news with everyone, not solely with the residents of Capernaum.
As dawn broke, He was prepared to resume His redemptive work. Yet, His grace was not intended to be limited to Capernaum. Numerous other towns and villages in the vicinity were also seeking enlightenment and kindness, and Christ desired to broaden His mission to these places. "Come," He instructed His disciples, "to the nearby villages and towns, so that I may proclaim the kingdom of God there as well; for this purpose I have been sent." However, prior to embarking on this journey to these cities, He deemed it fitting to add one more member to the circle of His devoted disciples, whose calling occurred under extraordinary circumstances (Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-32).
He aimed to travel to the neighboring towns around Capernaum, as well as to more distant cities throughout Galilee. His mission was divinely ordained; He was sent from heaven by God to proclaim the truth in the world. This is reflected in the context of His words: with so many individuals searching for Him to hear His teachings, it was essential to reach them not just in Capernaum but throughout all of Galilee, for this is the reason I have come.
After proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven in Capernaum and validating the message through remarkable signs, Christ the Savior recognized the necessity of sharing His teachings in other towns and villages. Consequently, early the following morning, while the residents of the city remained in deep slumber, He withdrew to a secluded location where, in solitude and silence, He prayed to prepare for His mission throughout Galilee. Prayer, especially when solitary, often provided the Lord with a means to rest and rejuvenate following His labor among the people or to prepare for significant undertakings. Meanwhile, the townsfolk gathered at Simon’s house but were unable to find the Divine Teacher.
Simon, along with Andrew, James, John, and possibly others, set out to search for Him in the wilderness. Upon locating Him, they said, “Ecu they seek You.” The Lord replied, “It is necessary for Me to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God to other towns and cities, for this purpose I have been sent—let us also journey to the nearby villages and preach there, ‘For this purpose I have come out.’”
After departing from Capernaum, Jesus Christ traveled across Galilee, teaching in synagogues and spreading the good news. Reports of Him resonated throughout Syria, beyond Palestine, which was part of the Syrian region under Roman governance. Individuals from various places brought to Him the sick, those afflicted with diverse ailments, the possessed, the tormented, and the paralyzed, and He healed them with His innate miraculous power, creating, in the words of St. John Chrysostom, “an indescribable sea of miracles.” A large crowd surrounded Him, following Him not only from Galilee but also from Tithegrad, Jerusalem, Judea, and even from the distant regions beyond the Jordan. This throng was drawn by the authority and freshness of His teachings and the miracles He performed, which piqued the Jews’ curiosity. Through the example set by their Master, the disciples recognized what it meant to fish for eternal souls in the heavenly kingdom, and this preaching experience imparted valuable lessons for their future ministry.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 17 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS