Matthew 14:23

KJV

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} when he had sent {G630} the multitudes {G3793} away {G630}, he went up {G305} into {G1519} a mountain {G3735} apart {G2596}{G2398} to pray {G4336}: and {G1161} when the evening {G3798} was come {G1096}, he was {G2258} there {G1563} alone {G3441}.

Complete Jewish Bible

After he had sent the crowds away, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night came on, and he was there alone.

Berean Standard Bible

After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,

American Standard Version

And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
After miraculously feeding thousands, Jesus deliberately withdrew from the clamoring crowds and even His disciples, ascending a mountain to engage in solitary prayer as evening fell. This intentional act highlights His profound reliance on the Father, His need for spiritual replenishment, and His consistent prioritization of communion with God amidst intense public ministry.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the miraculous [feeding of the five thousand](/matthew/14-15-21 "Matthew 14:15-21 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand"), one of Jesus' most public and impressive displays of divine power. The sheer scale of the miracle, involving thousands of people fed from a meager supply, would have generated immense excitement and perhaps even political fervor, as evidenced by the crowd's desire to make Jesus king ([John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Crowd Seeks to Make Jesus King")). In response to this overwhelming attention and the physical demands of ministry, Jesus takes proactive steps to disperse the crowds and send His disciples ahead by boat. This strategic withdrawal sets the stage for a period of personal communion with God, demonstrating a pattern of retreating for spiritual refreshment before significant events, such as the subsequent dramatic [walking on water](/matthew/14-24-33 "Matthew 14:24-33 - Jesus Walks on Water").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Mountains in the biblical narrative often serve as places of divine encounter, revelation, and prayer. From Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai ([Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - Moses on Mount Sinai")) to Elijah's encounter with God on Mount Horeb ([1 Kings 19](/1_kings/19 "1 Kings 19 - Elijah on Mount Horeb")), these elevated spaces symbolized proximity to God and separation from the mundane. For Jesus, withdrawing to a mountain would have resonated with this established spiritual tradition, signifying a deliberate ascent not just geographically, but spiritually. Furthermore, the constant demands of a public ministry in ancient Israel, where crowds would follow a revered teacher relentlessly, made intentional solitude a vital, though often challenging, practice for maintaining spiritual focus and avoiding the pitfalls of popular acclaim.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 14:23 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the **priority of prayer** in Jesus' life, revealing that even the Son of God, despite His divine nature and recent triumph, relied completely on His Father. This consistent practice of prayer is seen throughout His ministry, as highlighted in passages like [Luke 5:16](/luke/5-16 "Luke 5:16 - Jesus Often Withdrew to Pray"). Secondly, the verse emphasizes the **necessity of solitude** for spiritual renewal and clarity, modeling a counter-cultural discipline in a world filled with distractions and demands. Thirdly, it illustrates Jesus' profound **humility and dependence** on God, choosing communion with the Father over the adulation of the masses or the immediate needs of His disciples. This act of withdrawal serves as a quiet preparation for the powerful demonstration of His authority over creation that immediately follows.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sent away (Greek, _apolýō'_):** G630. This verb means "to free fully, i.e. (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively, depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon or (specially) divorce." In this context, it signifies Jesus' deliberate act of dismissing the large crowds, not merely a casual departure. It implies a purposeful separation, creating space for His own spiritual need and preventing the crowds from imposing their agenda (e.g., making Him king, as in [John 6:15](/john/6-15 "John 6:15 - Crowd Seeks to Make Jesus King")).
* **apart (Greek, _ídios'_):** G2398. Derived from a word meaning "pertaining to self," this term conveys "one's own; by implication, private or separate." When combined with the preposition `katá` (G2596, "down" or "according to"), as in the phrase `kat' idian`, it strongly emphasizes Jesus' intentional seeking of privacy and isolation. It was not a coincidental aloneness but a deliberate, personal withdrawal for a specific purpose.
* **alone (Greek, _mónos'_):** G3441. Meaning "remaining, i.e. sole or single; by implication, mere," this word reinforces the complete isolation Jesus sought. It highlights His singular focus on communion with God, free from the presence of even His closest disciples. This state of being "alone" underscores the depth and intimacy of the prayer He was about to engage in.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he had sent the multitudes away":** This clause describes Jesus' active and intentional dismissal of the large crowds that had just witnessed the miracle of the feeding. It signifies His control over the situation and His prioritization of spiritual discipline over continued public engagement or the potential for political uprising.
* **"he went up into a mountain apart to pray":** This phrase reveals Jesus' destination and His explicit purpose. Ascending a mountain suggests a deliberate move away from the populated areas, seeking an elevated, secluded place. The phrase "apart" (Greek `kat' idian`) emphasizes the privacy and solitude of this withdrawal, which was specifically "to pray"—highlighting the central motivation for His isolation.
* **"and when the evening was come":** This temporal marker indicates the passage of time, suggesting that Jesus spent a significant portion of the afternoon or early evening in this solitary ascent and initial period of prayer. It sets the scene for the subsequent events that would unfold under the cover of darkness.
* **"he was there alone":** This final clause reiterates and emphasizes the complete solitude of Jesus. It confirms that His intentional dismissal of the crowds and disciples resulted in a state of utter aloneness, allowing for unhindered and intimate communion with His Heavenly Father.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 14:23 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The **Contrast** between the preceding scene of thousands of people and Jesus' subsequent state of utter solitude ("alone") powerfully highlights His intentional withdrawal and the counter-cultural nature of His spiritual discipline. The **Symbolism** of the "mountain" is significant; throughout Scripture, mountains are places of divine encounter, revelation, and prayer, suggesting a spiritual ascent and a direct communion with God. This setting foreshadows the divine power Jesus will display shortly thereafter by walking on water. The repeated emphasis on Jesus being "apart" and "alone" serves as **Emphasis**, underscoring the deliberate and profound nature of His need for isolated prayer, not merely a casual retreat. This deliberate action also serves as **Foreshadowing** for the subsequent dramatic event of Jesus walking on water, implying that periods of deep communion with God often precede powerful demonstrations of His presence and authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is a profound theological statement about the nature of Jesus' humanity and His divine relationship with the Father. It reveals that even the Son of God, fully divine, lived a life of complete dependence on the Father, modeling for humanity the absolute necessity of prayer and solitude for spiritual vitality. His withdrawal after a major miracle, rather than basking in acclaim or continuing ministry, demonstrates His unwavering focus on the Father's will above all else. This practice of retreating to pray was a consistent pattern for Jesus, underscoring that spiritual power and effectiveness flow from intimate communion with God, not from human effort or public success.

* [Mark 1:35](/mark/1-35 "Mark 1:35 - Jesus Prays in the Morning")
* [Luke 5:16](/luke/5-16 "Luke 5:16 - Jesus Often Withdrew to Pray")
* [Luke 6:12](/luke/6-12 "Luke 6:12 - Jesus Prays Before Choosing Disciples")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In an age characterized by constant connectivity, relentless demands, and the pervasive noise of digital distractions, Matthew 14:23 offers a compelling and counter-cultural model for spiritual health. Jesus, despite His divine power and the pressing needs of the multitudes, intentionally sought solitude for prayer. This teaches us that true spiritual strength and clarity are cultivated not in the clamor of activity, but in the quiet space of communion with God. It challenges us to re-evaluate our priorities, asking whether we genuinely carve out dedicated, undistracted time to be "apart" and "alone" with our Heavenly Father. This practice is not a luxury but a necessity for spiritual growth, discernment, and resilience in the face of life's challenges, preparing us for whatever "storm" may come next, just as Jesus' prayer preceded His walking on water.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How intentionally do I seek solitude and quiet time for prayer in my daily life?**
* **What distractions or demands prevent me from prioritizing personal communion with God, and how can I address them?**
* **In what ways does Jesus' example of dependence on the Father challenge my own tendency to rely on self-sufficiency or external validation?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus need to pray if He was God?**

Answer: Jesus' need for prayer, as demonstrated in [Matthew 14:23](/matthew/14-23 "Matthew 14:23 - Jesus Prays Alone"), highlights His perfect humanity and His complete reliance on the Father as part of the Trinity. While fully God, Jesus also fully embraced His human nature, which included dependence on God for strength, guidance, and communion. His prayer life was not a sign of weakness or a lack of divine power, but rather an example for us. It showed His submission to the Father's will, His deep intimacy within the Godhead, and His consistent practice of seeking spiritual replenishment to fulfill His mission. It underscores that even the Son of God lived a life of perfect obedience and dependence, modeling the very relationship with God that He came to restore for humanity.

**What is the significance of Jesus going "into a mountain apart" to pray?**

Answer: The choice of a "mountain apart" for prayer carries significant biblical and theological weight. Throughout Scripture, mountains are often depicted as places of divine encounter and revelation, such as Mount Sinai where Moses received the Law ([Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - Moses on Mount Sinai")) or Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal ([1 Kings 18](/1_kings/18 "1 Kings 18 - Elijah on Mount Carmel")). By ascending a mountain, Jesus was not merely seeking physical solitude but also engaging in a spiritual ascent, separating Himself from the clamor of the world to draw closer to the Father. The phrase "apart" (Greek `kat' idian`) emphasizes this intentional privacy, signifying a deliberate withdrawal from public ministry and even His disciples to engage in unhindered, intimate communion with God. This setting underscores the sacredness and intensity of His prayer.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 14:23, depicting Jesus' solitary prayer on the mountain, profoundly illuminates His identity and mission as the Christ. This act of withdrawal and dependence on the Father is not merely an admirable spiritual discipline but a vital aspect of His redemptive work. As the perfect human, Jesus models the absolute dependence on God that humanity lost in the Fall, demonstrating what it means to live a life fully surrendered to the Father's will. His prayer life, particularly in moments of intense pressure or before significant events, reveals His constant communion with the Father, which was essential for His messianic task. This intimate relationship empowered Him to perfectly fulfill His role as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), and as the [Great High Priest](/hebrews/4-14-16 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus Our Great High Priest") who intercedes for us. His solitary prayer on the mountain foreshadows His ultimate agonizing prayer in [Gethsemane](/matthew/26-36-46 "Matthew 26:36-46 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane"), where He again sought the Father's will before His ultimate sacrifice. Thus, His solitude and prayer here are not only an example but a demonstration of the perfect Son's complete reliance on the Father, a reliance that secured our salvation and opened the way for us to enter into that same communion through Him ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 6:12

¶ And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Mark 6:46

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

John 6:15

¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

John 6:17

And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

Matthew 6:6

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 26:36

¶ Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

Acts 6:4

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.