Jesus' Ministry in Galilee

The extent of His influence in the land is the chief concern of this passage.

The area we typically see depicted in a map of "the holy land" is the rough equivalent of what is being described in this passage. It includes all Judea, but also Edom in the south (Idumaea), the coastlands west and north, and even the lands east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea.

His fame spreads very quickly for the time. The number of eye witnesses to His teaching and miraculous power is steadily increasing, as well, so that He has someone who can say they've seen what He can do practically everywhere. Remember that miracles are how God bears witness.

Jesus is making an effort to contain the crowds so He can continue to teach in populated areas. Mark 3:9 below shows there was a danger that the crowd could crush Him and the disciples.

If we were thinking His purpose was to heal everyone who needed to be healed, we might have a hard time interpreting His reason for trying to limit the spread of His fame. But providing relief to everyone who might need it is not in fact His purpose. God's purpose in the miracles is to establish a sufficient testimony to His Son in the land. Knowing God's purpose, we can recognize that He does not need to heal everyone; some healing is enough to accomplish the purpose.

Touch is a very important aspect of healing (James 5:14).

The need for closeness and personal interaction cannot be overlooked, especially in a world filled with fear of contagion.

Jesus does not need or seek the testimony of unclean spirits. See the comment on Luke 4:35 in the pericope, "Healing of the Demoniac in the Synagogue."

The word here translated "level place" (πεδινός) does not have to mean an open plain, but merely a spot where one can stand on one's own feet.

Because this is the place from which Jesus preaches the "sermon on the mount" (Matthew 5:1), harmony of the gospels requires us to render the word as a spot rather than a plain.

When we put Matthew's account together with Luke's we can see Jesus first ascended the mountain to pray, then descended the mountain until He reached a spot from which He could stand and begin to teach the people. This sequence is consistent with Moses's ascent onto Sinai and return with the 10 commandments.

Jesus is so invested with the power of God that a mere touch is enough to unleash it. There is something quick, bold, and almost frightening about His power going out from Him. His power going out is like an armed force deploying.

Luke speaks of Jesus's power and the spread of His fame throughout his writings.

Luke 1:31, 34-35

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus...." And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God."

Luke 4:13-15

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Luke 4:36-37

And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Acts 2:22

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, [is] a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know...."

Acts 10:36-38

"As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."