Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 15:29

"And Jesus departed thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there." — Matthew 15:29 (ASV)

And Jesus departed from there,

He is always on the move, for he always has something else to do. As soon as his deed of grace is done in one part, he hastens to another: And Jesus departed from there, –

He was always on the move. He “went about doing good.” He had gone to the border of the land. He was soon back again to headquarters. He does not waste a moment. He does not stay to be congratulated on His success, but hastens to other work, and so we often read, “And Jesus departed from thence.”

How He loved the mountains and the sea! By the lake of Galilee, He again chooses a rising knoll, selects a standing place with ground around it for an assembly, and opens another session of His ministry of mercy. He sat down there, for He had set His heart on blessing the people on that convenient spot. In imagination, we see Him taking His seat and then speaking ex cathedra, from the rising ground, “nigh unto the sea of Galilee.”

The mountain’s side was free to all, and no one could complain of trespassing, and it was far enough from busy towns to escape the noise of necessary labor. See how the people crowd! Our Lord’s presence will not long be unnoticed, though no sound of a churchgoing bell gave notice of a service. As a preacher, He never lacked a congregation. Where He sat down, the people came. If He “went up into a mountain,” they climbed after Him. If we preach Jesus in the most out-of-the-way village, in a region almost inaccessible, we shall not be left without hearers.