King James Bible
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:"
Jesus observes the large crowds that have gathered, likely drawn by his teaching and miracles. This moment marks a transition from public ministry to more focused instruction, as the crowds prompt him to seek a suitable teaching venue. The mountain setting deliberately echoes Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai, positioning Jesus as a new lawgiver. In Jewish tradition, mountains were places of divine revelation and encounter with God. The seated position was the customary posture for rabbis when formally teaching, signaling authority and the beginning of important instruction. The disciples' approach indicates this teaching, while delivered in the presence of crowds, was primarily intended for those committed to following Jesus.