Matthew 12:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Matthew advances his account in this manner: The Pharisees conspired against Him, seeking to annihilate Him. However, Jesus discerned their intentions and departed from the location. Many people followed Him, and He healed all of them. He instructed them not to reveal His identity in order to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, which states, "In His name shall the nations trust." Mark and Luke also recount additional events, yet Mark appears to maintain the sequence of occurrences. He notes that when Jesus became aware of the hostile thoughts the Jews harbored against Him, He retreated with His disciples to the sea, where a great crowd gathered, and He healed numerous individuals. Following this, Mark recounts events in a manner that does not adhere strictly to chronological order.

We should distance ourselves from the ungodly and not succumb to their folly, putting ourselves at risk. However, the hour of His crucifixion had not arrived, and numerous individuals still needed healing and the benefit of His teachings.

Following Him was a great crowd of people, as St. Matthew recounts after narrating the Lord's healing of the man with a withered hand, and He healed them all. The Compassionate One offered His divine assistance to everyone without exception, performing numerous miracles in their midst.

A large crowd accompanied Him to the sea from various regions including Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, the opposite side of the Jordan, and Tyre and Sidon—indeed, a vast throng. They pressed around Him as if He were their father, teacher, and healer. Those afflicted with various illnesses were so desperate that they threw themselves at Him just to touch Him. Upon reaching the shore, the risk of being engulfed by the crowd and the push from the sick became evident, prompting the Lord to request a boat from which He could teach the gathered multitude.

Matthew’s Gospel does not specify where Jesus withdrew from the Pharisees’ deadly conspiracy against Him. Instead, it emphasizes how, despite facing persecution, Christ continued to heal the afflicted, instructing them to remain silent about His identity and His miracles. The Evangelist sees this as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, which he cites from the Hebrew text, albeit not verbatim from Isaiah 42:1-4. In the Septuagint version of Isaiah 42:1, the phrases “My offspring, my chosen” were interpreted to refer to Jacob and Israel, reflecting their view that this prophecy pertained not to the Messiah, but to the nation itself.

After leaving the synagogue, Jesus made His way to the Sea of Galilee, followed by His disciples and a large throng of people. This multitude came not only from the region of Galilee but also from Judea and Perea, located east of the Jordan, as well as from the Gentile territories of Tyre, Sidon, and Idumea. Among them were numerous individuals afflicted with various illnesses, all eager to receive healing and keen to draw near to Jesus, whether to attract His attention or simply to touch Him. Many pressed close to Him, some even falling at His feet, which led Him to instruct that a boat be made ready for Him. He then embarked and sailed a short distance from the shore so He could teach the people gathered there. As He approached the sea, He healed all the sick individuals within the crowd that followed Him.

"He restored every one of them": every individual who was afflicted within this gathering experienced healing, undoubtedly through divine miracle.

When Jesus Christ became aware of the schemes devised by His adversaries, He chose to avoid putting His life at risk before the appointed time and relocated to the shores of the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd began to gather around Him, drawn not only from Jerusalem, Judea, and Galilee, but also from Idumea, the regions across the Jordan River, and the surrounding areas of Tyre and Sidon, all enticed by the reports of His miraculous deeds. They formed a dense throng, recognizing Him as their greatest Benefactor and Healer.