Matthew 13:2

2 And great numbers of people came together to him, so that he got into a boat; and the people took up their position by the sea.

Matthew 13:2 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 13:2

And great multitudes were gathered unto him
Some on one account, and some on another; some to see his person, others his miracles; some healing for their bodies, and others for their souls; some for the loaves, and others to hear him preach; and of these there were several sorts, as the following parable shows.

So that he went into a ship:
both for his own advantage, that he might not be crowded, and pressed by the people, and have more room, and a freer air to speak in, and for theirs, that they might both see and hear him better. And sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore;
as was the then custom of the Jewish doctors and hearers, the one to sit, and the other to stand. (See Gill on Matthew 5:1). Christ sat upon the deck of the ship; or perhaps this ship was no other than an open boat, which was put to sea, some little distance from the shore; upon which the people stood in great numbers, with much convenience and attention.

Matthew 13:2 In-Context

1 On that day Jesus went out of the house and was seated by the seaside.

2 And great numbers of people came together to him, so that he got into a boat; and the people took up their position by the sea.

3 And he gave them teaching in the form of a story, saying, A man went out to put seed in the earth;

4 And while he did so, some seeds were dropped by the wayside, and the birds came and took them for food:

5 And some of the seed went among the stones, where it had not much earth, and straight away it came up because the earth was not deep: