Matthew 13:1

The same day. [Sermon by the Sea, Matt. 13:1-53=Mark 4:1-34=Luke 8:4-18. Major comment: Matthew. See Middle Galilean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord; on parables pp. 203-207.] That is, the same day on which the incidents recorded in ch. 12:22-50 occurred (see on ch. 12:22). The events recorded in ch. 8:18-27 took place at the close of this same day (see Mark 4:35; see on Matt. 8:18). Though there is no proof that this day saw Jesus any busier than countless others, the rather complete record of it has earned for it the designation “the busy day.” It represented one of those common situations in which Jesus scarcely found time to eat or to snatch even a few moments of rest (see DA 333).

Out of the house. This implies that the incidents recorded in ch. 12:22-50, which occurred earlier the same day, had taken place in some dwelling — perhaps that of Peter in Capernaum (see on Mark 1:29) — near the northern limits of the Plain of Gennesaret, or possibly in some home at Magdala near its southern limits (see DA 405).

Sat. The usual position taken by the rabbis as they taught (see p. 58; see on Luke 4:20).

By the sea side. Probably somewhere along the shore of the Lake of Galilee between Capernaum and Magdala, where the Plain of Gennesaret meets the lake (see COL 34).