And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed there to teach and to preach in their cities.
commanding.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
John 15:10,14 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love…
Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
he departed.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; …
He went on from there
This indicates a transition in Jesus' ministry. Jesus often moved from place to place, reflecting the itinerant nature of His mission. This movement is significant as it shows Jesus' commitment to spreading His message widely and not being confined to one location. It also demonstrates His proactive approach in reaching out to different communities, fulfilling His role as the Good Shepherd who seeks out His sheep.
to teach and preach
Teaching and preaching were central to Jesus' ministry. Teaching involves explaining and interpreting the Scriptures, while preaching is proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Jesus' dual role as teacher and preacher underscores His authority and the transformative power of His message. This dual focus is seen throughout the Gospels, where Jesus not only proclaims the coming of God's Kingdom but also provides instruction on how to live in accordance with God's will.
in their cities
The phrase "in their cities" refers to the towns and villages of Galilee, where many of the disciples were from. This highlights Jesus' strategy of starting His ministry in familiar territory, where His message could take root among those who knew Him and His disciples. It also reflects the fulfillment of prophecy, as Galilee was a region prophesied to see a great light (Isaiah 9:1-2). Jesus' presence in these cities signifies the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel, as He brings the message of salvation to His people.
- Scripture observes a clear pause: “After Jesus had finished instructing…”. Matthew often marks turning points this way (see Matthew 7:28; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).
- Jesus never leaves a task half-done; He fully equips before He deploys (compare John 17:8).
- The scene reminds us that divine instruction always precedes divine action—God first speaks, then sends (Exodus 4:12; Jeremiah 1:9).
- The focus is deliberately on “His” twelve (Matthew 10:1-4), underscoring relationship and authority.
- Twelve evokes the tribes of Israel, signaling that Jesus is forming a new covenant people (Luke 22:30; Revelation 21:14).
- Despite their limitations, these men become the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20), demonstrating that Christ uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.
- Jesus is never idle; once the disciples are briefed, He moves (Mark 1:38; Luke 4:43).
- The phrase shows mobility in ministry—obedience leads to motion, not stagnation (Acts 10:38).
- It models for believers that instruction should translate into mission, not mere information (James 1:22).
- Teaching clarifies truth; preaching calls for response (Matthew 4:23; 9:35). Jesus does both, offering head knowledge and heart invitation.
- Kingdom proclamation remains central; miracles follow but never replace the Word (Romans 10:17).
- The pairing validates every local church’s dual commitment to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:13) and evangelistic declaration (2 Timothy 4:2).
- “Their cities” refers to the Galilean towns where the Twelve lived and labored (Matthew 9:1; Mark 6:1).
- Jesus ministers where people actually reside, illustrating incarnational presence (John 1:14; Luke 8:1).
- By entering familiar streets, He dignifies everyday places as mission fields (Acts 1:8—“Jerusalem… Judea… Samaria… the ends of the earth”).
Matthew 11:1 captures a seamless flow: Christ completes His briefing, affirms His bond with the Twelve, moves forward, continues His dual ministry of teaching and preaching, and does so in the disciples’ home territory. The verse highlights Jesus’ strategic rhythm—equip, send, and keep modeling—inviting every believer to learn, go, and proclaim with the same purpose and faithfulness.
XI.(1) He departed thence--i.e., from the place from which He had sent forth the Twelve. Where this was St. Matthew does not tell us, but Matthew 9:36 makes it probable that it was not in Capernaum nor any other city, but from some spot in the open country where He had rested with them. Their return is narrated, or at least implied, in Matthew 11:25, and hence we must infer that the messengers of the Baptist arrived while He was carrying on His work without them. Their cities might seem grammatically to point to the towns where the Twelve had been, or to which they belonged; but it is probable that it was used here vaguely for the cities of Galilee in general.
Verse 1. - Matthew only. And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end. The same formula recurs in Matthew 7:28; Matthew 13:53; Matthew 19:1; Matthew 26:1. In all five cases it marks the end of important speeches.(1) The sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7:27);
(2) the charge to the disciples (Matthew 10:5-42);
(3) the parables (Matthew 13:1-52); . . .
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