Matthew 8:18 (KJV)

Passage

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

Nearby Context

Matthew 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Matthew 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Matthew 8:18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

Matthew 8:19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jesus", "great", "multitudes", "gave", "commandment", "depart", "other", and "side". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jesus" and "great", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "That it might be fulfilled which was..." into verse 19's "And a certain scribe came and said...", so "jesus" and "great" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jesus" and "great" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.