Matthew 13:1 stresses connection to what went before (That same day
)—the day of a radical confrontation. The crowd is close to acknowledging the Son of David, but the Pharisees and scribes draw the people back from Jesus with slander, and even conspire to kill him. Jesus discusses this clear division openly. On that day he leaves the house and sits down as Teacher by the sea, to continue his instruction. He and his kingdom are still at hand.
In Matthew 13:1 the evangelist draws an emphatic connection with what went before (That same day
). It is as if he is demanding extra attention for it. It is the day on which a radical confrontation happens. The crowd was on the verge of acknowledging the Son of David, but the Pharisees and scribes drew the people back from Jesus with slander and on top of that conspired to kill him. Jesus discussed this openly. The division becomes visible—and it is on that day that he leaves the house and sits down as Teacher by the sea. Here he continues his instruction. He is accessible; the kingdom is at hand.1
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.