Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 13:2

"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 13:2 (ASV)

Great multitudes longed to hear His teaching and see His miracles. They pressed upon Him so eagerly that there was a danger of His being pushed into the sea, especially because it was not a scattered crowd, but they were gathered together to Him—pressing about His person. The ship became His pulpit, and the small space between it and the shore gave Him breathing-space and enabled more people to hear Him. The shelving beach and the blue sky would make a grand auditorium, with room for “the whole multitude,” a finely comprehensive expression. The teacher sat and the people stood. We would have less sleeping in congregations if this arrangement still prevailed.