1Now seeing the crowds, he went up onto the mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2And opening his mouth, he was teaching them, saying:
MAT 5:1-2
The Sermon on the Mount
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman context, a teacher sitting down to instruct was a deliberate act signaling authority and the formal commencement of teaching. This posture was common among rabbis and philosophers, who often gathered disciples in a structured, master-apprentice relationship. The term , used here for the crowds, suggests a large, unstructured gathering, likely composed of people from various social strata—peasants, artisans, and perhaps even Roman soldiers or tax collectors. The mountain setting evokes associations with Moses receiving the Law on Sinai, positioning Jesus as a new Moses delivering divine instruction. The imperfect tense of ('He was teaching') indicates this was not a brief address but a sustained, deliberate act of instruction, typical of rabbinic or philosophical discourse. For the disciples, this moment marked their initiation into a deeper, more intentional following of their teacher, distinct from the transient curiosity of the crowds.
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How other translations render this
MAT 5:1
- KJV
- And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
- BSB
- When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
- Koinōnos
- Now seeing the crowds, he went up onto the mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
MAT 5:2
- KJV
- And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
- BSB
- and He began to teach them, saying:
- Koinōnos
- And opening his mouth, he was teaching them, saying:
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 5:1
- crowds:The word translated 'crowds' often referred to an undifferentiated mass of people, sometimes implying a degree of disorder or lack of individual distinction, rather than just a large gathering.
- when was sitting down:The phrase 'when he sat down' indicates a deliberate action of taking a seat, often signifying an intention to teach or speak with authority, rather than just casually resting.
- disciples:The term 'disciples' referred to a learner or pupil who followed a teacher, not just in their teachings, but often in their way of life, implying a deeper commitment than a mere student.
MAT 5:2
- He was teaching:The phrase 'He was teaching' implies an ongoing, continuous action of instruction, suggesting a sustained effort to impart knowledge and guidance, not just a single lesson.