When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. When he sat down, his disciples came to him.
This passage describes the moment when Jesus goes up the mountain to begin His great teaching. His sitting symbolizes the position and authority of a teacher, with which He speaks as a divine Lawgiver. The disciples’ coming near shows their readiness to listen to and follow the Lord’s word. From this moment the Sermon on the Mount begins, Jesus’ most renowned teaching, in which He reveals the principles of the kingdom of heaven concerning meekness, righteousness, and love. This scene shows Jesus’ authority as the true Teacher and the compelling power of His word, for which the people go up the mountain to hear these words.