Jesus went to the mountain to teach, as he did right before the Sermon on the Mount. The Greek phrase eis to oros (into/to the mountain
), means going toward the hill country rather than specifically climbing up on the mountain,
as rendered in the English Standard Version, so he moved from the low-lying coastal area to a mountainous area, where he often spent time with his disciples and at times also with the crowds (most recently at the feeding of the five thousand recorded in Matthew 14:13–23).
Jesus went to the mountain to teach following his return from Tyre and Sidon—just as he did right before the Sermon on the Mount. The Greek text uses the phrase eis to oros (into/to the mountain
), which literally signifies going toward the hill country rather than specifically climbing up on the mountain,
as rendered in the English Standard Version. He therefore moved from the low-lying coastal area to the mountainous region, seeking the mountain where he so often spent time with his disciples and at times also with the crowds (most recently at the feeding of the five thousand recorded in Matthew 14:13–23). There he sat down, taking the position of a teacher in relation to his audience. Here, in his own familiar place of prayer and instruction, he now held a gathering to teach1.
29 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.