Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 13:1-2

"On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach." — Matthew 13:1-2 (ASV)

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

He had thus a little breathing space between him and the people – a better opportunity for his being both heard and seen. A noble instance of open-air preaching. And if our climate would permit, what a blessing it would be if we could turn out of these houses and sit in a boat or stand on the sea-shore.

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

I think I can see the little ship at a convenient distance from the shore, so as to keep off the multitudes of people, so that the Savior might speak more freely; there he sits with a boat for a pulpit. There were no conventionalities about the Lord Jesus when he was on earth; he was willing to speak to the people anywhere from any pulpit whatsoever.