Matthew 14:23
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.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Mountains held spiritual significance in Jewish tradition: Sinai (law given), Carmel (Elijah's victory), Horeb (Elijah's encounter with God). Jesus frequently withdrew to mountains/deserted places for prayer (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:28). These weren't brief prayers but extended communion—Luke records Jesus praying all night before choosing apostles (Luke 6:12). After feeding 5000 and managing crowd's kingship attempt, Jesus needed Father's perspective, strength, guidance. His prayer life demonstrates that divine power operates through dependence, not independence. Early church followed this pattern: Acts repeatedly records believers praying before major decisions, during crises, for direction. Throughout history, spiritual giants have maintained rigorous prayer disciplines: early Christians' daily hours, monastics' liturgical prayers, Reformers' prayer emphasis, Puritans' 'closet prayer,' revival leaders' intercession. The pattern holds: powerful ministry emerges from deep prayer. Modern activism often reverses this, attempting ministry without adequate communion with God.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Jesus's example teach about balancing ministry activity with prayer and solitude?
- How do you prioritize communion with God even during intense ministry or busy seasons?
- What happens to your ministry effectiveness when prayer is neglected versus prioritized?
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Analysis & Commentary
'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.' After intensive ministry—teaching, healing, feeding 5000, managing messianic fervor—Jesus seeks solitude for prayer. He went 'up into a mountain' (εἰς τὸ ὄρος/eis to oros), 'apart' (κατ᾽ ἰδίαν/kat' idian, privately, alone), 'to pray' (προσεύξασθαι/proseuxasthai). Reformed theology sees this demonstrating:
Mountains were traditional prayer locations (Moses, Elijah), symbolizing nearness to God. Jesus's prayer life was constant, deliberate, essential—modeling dependence on Father despite His deity. This challenges activism valuing constant ministry over spiritual disciplines. Effective service flows from communion with God.