Ἐγένετο ὅτε ἐτέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς διατάσσων τοῖς δώδεκα μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, μετέβη ἐκεῖθεν τοῦ διδάσκειν καὶ κηρύσσειν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν. (Matthew 11:1)
And it happened that when Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and to proclaim in their cities.
The Completion of Instruction
In Matthew 11:1, the narrative transitions from Jesus’ commissioning discourse to His continued public ministry. The verse begins with a formula familiar in Matthew: ἐγένετο ὅτε (“and it happened when”). This temporal phrase introduces a significant shift in activity. The aorist verb ἐτέλεσεν (“He finished”) signals the completion of a defined body of instruction. Jesus had been διατάσσων (present participle of διατάσσω, “commanding” or “ordering”) His twelve disciples, shaping their mission, conduct, and expectations. The participle indicates the nature of the activity just completed—He had been issuing authoritative directives. Matthew portrays Jesus not only as healer and preacher but as the One who forms disciples through deliberate, structured teaching. When His instruction reaches its intended end, the narrative shifts gears.
Jesus’ Movement into New Territory
The phrase μετέβη ἐκεῖθεν (“He departed from there”) indicates purposeful transition rather than escape. The verb μετέβη carries the sense of movement toward a new sphere of activity. Jesus does not remain with the Twelve after their commissioning; instead, He moves on, demonstrating the principle that disciples are not merely observers but participants now sent into mission. His departure underscores that Their ministry and His ministry proceed concurrently. The movement of Jesus becomes the movement of the gospel itself—dynamic, outward, ever advancing. This fits Matthew’s narrative pattern: moments of intense instruction are followed by decisive action.
Teaching and Proclaiming: Twofold Ministry
The purpose of Jesus’ departure is expressed in the infinitive phrase: τοῦ διδάσκειν καὶ κηρύσσειν. Matthew often pairs these verbs to summarize Jesus’ work. Διδάσκειν (“to teach”) emphasizes explanation, interpretation, and formation. Κηρύσσειν (“to proclaim”) highlights authoritative announcement, especially concerning the kingdom of God. Together, they depict a holistic ministry that shapes minds and stirs hearts. Jesus does not compartmentalize education and proclamation; He embodies both. This twofold ministry continues even after empowering the Twelve, revealing that His mission is not delegated away but extended.
In Their Cities: The Reach of Compassion
The concluding phrase, ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν (“in their cities”) suggests that Jesus goes into the towns associated with His disciples. This is a subtle but profound detail. The cities that shaped the disciples’ stories now receive the ministry of their Master. Jesus steps into their world, their relationships, their histories. The verse hints at the personal nature of His mission: He meets people where they live. It also emphasizes that the disciples’ calling is not abstract but deeply connected to their communities. As Jesus teaches and proclaims in “their cities,” the gospel penetrates the places that formed the very ones He is sending out.
The Rhythm of Sending and Continuing
Matthew 11:1 reveals a rhythm essential to Christian ministry: instruction, sending, and continued engagement. Jesus does not abandon His work after empowering others; He intensifies it. Nor does He hold His disciples back in perpetual observation. He equips, commissions, and then continues His mission alongside theirs. For modern readers, this verse portrays a Savior who teaches deeply, sends boldly, and moves purposefully. It reminds us that Christian formation is not an end in itself but preparation for participation in God’s ongoing work. The Teacher moves on, not because His work with the disciples is done, but because the mission now expands through them and beyond them, reaching their cities and, in time, the world.
