Matthew 19:1

King James Version (KJV)

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Beyond Jordan - Or, by the side of Jordan. Matthew begins here to give an account of Christ's journey (the only one he mentions) to Jerusalem, a little before the passover, at which he was crucified. See Mark 10:1; Luke 9:51.

Jesus came from Galilee (which lay to the north of Judea) into the coasts of Judea; and from thence, in his way to Jerusalem, he went through Jericho, ( Matthew 20:17, Matthew 20:29;), which lay at the distance of sixty furlongs, or seven miles and a half from Jordan, to the western side of it. See Joseph. War, book iv. chap. 8. sect. 3. It seems, therefore, most probable, that the course of Christ's journey led him by the side of the river Jordan, not beyond it. That the Greek word περαν, especially with a genitive case as here, has sometimes this signification, see on John 6:22; (note); see also Bp. Pearce.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Coasts of Judea beyond Jordan - The narrative here refers to the last journey of the Saviour from Galilee to Jerusalem, to attend the last Passover which he celebrated.

A considerable lapse of time occurred between his last discourse in the preceding chapter and what is recorded here, and several important events have been recorded by Luke and John which occurred in the interval, as the sending out of the seventy disciples Luke 9:51-56; John 7:2-10; the healing of the ten lepers Luke 17:11-19; the public teaching of Jesus at the feast of Tabernacles John 8:1; the reproof of the unbelieving Jews, and the escape of the Saviour from their hands Luke 10:28-37; the incidents in the house of Martha and Mary Luke 10:38-42; the return of the seventy Luke 10:17-24; the healing of the blind man on the Sabbath John 11:47-54. See Robinson‘s Harmony. Matthew and Mark now resume the narrative by relating that after Jesus had left Galilee he approached Jerusalem by passing through the country beyond Jordan. The country was, in general, called Perea, and appertained to Judea, being the region formerly occupied by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. The word “coasts” means regions or parts. See the notes at Matthew 2:16.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Great multitudes followed Christ. When Christ departs, it is best for us to follow him. They found him as able and ready to help elsewhere, as he had been in Galilee; wherever the Sun of Righteousness arose, it was with healing in his wings.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. Finished these sayings. [Final Departure From Galilee; Opening of the Samaritan-Peraean Ministry, Matt. 19:1, 2=Mark 10:1=Luke 9:51-56. Major comment: Matthew. See Early Peraean Ministry; The Duration of Christ’s Ministry, the Opening of the Galilean Ministry, The Ministry of Our Lord.] A formula frequently used by Matthew for marking the close of Jesus’ discourses (chs. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 26:1).

He departed from Galilee. Apparently a sequel to the statement that Jesus “departed into Galilee” (see on ch. 4:12). The Synoptic Gospels have passed over in silence Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles in the year a.d. 30 (see on John 7:10). Concerning this feast see on Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:2; Deut. 16:13. John provides a more or less extensive account of Jesus’ experiences at Jerusalem during and immediately after the Feast of Tabernacles (chs. 7:2 to 10:21). An attempt to arrest Him on the last day of the feast had failed (John 7:32, 37, 44-53; DA 459). The following morning the unfortunate woman taken in adultery was brought to Him as He was teaching in the Temple, “early in the morning” (John 8:2; DA 460.) It seems also that the discourse on “the light of the world” occurred immediately following this event (John 8:2, 12; cf. DA 463), as also the first attempt to stone Jesus (v. 59). There was a second attempt to stone Him “a few months later,” at the Feast of Dedication (DA 470; cf. John 10:22, 31, 33), and another attempt was made to arrest Him and terminate His ministry (John 10:39, 40).

After the close of the Feast of Tabernacles, probably the following Sabbath, though possibly a Sabbath shortly preceding the Feast of Dedication, Jesus healed the man born blind (John 9:1, 7, 14) and gave the discourse of John 10:1-18, on the Good Shepherd (DA 477). The fact that following the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus returned to Galilee for a time (DA 485), whereas following the Feast of Dedication He withdrew to Peraea (John 10:39, 40), together with the fact that the healing of the blind man seems to have followed closely the discourse on “the light of the world” (John 8:12-58), may imply that the healing of the blind man took place the following Sabbath (John 8:12, 59; 9:1, 5, 14).

A year and a half before this Jesus had healed the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda, was haled before the Sanhedrin, and had retired from Judea to Galilee (see on Matt. 4:12). Now He again left Jerusalem for Galilee, where He remained for a time because of the animosity of the priests and rabbis (see DA 485).

Late in the autumn Jesus again left Galilee, for the last time, and slowly made His way toward Jerusalem. His journey from Galilee to attend the Feast of Tabernacles had been made swiftly and secretly, but now He journeyed slowly and by a circuitous route (John 7:10). During this time He sent the Seventy forth (see on Luke 10:1-24), and after the close of their mission attended the Feast of Dedication. After this feast He again left the city, retired to Peraea, and entered upon His Peraean ministry (John 10:40; DA 485, 488). Depending upon whether the year a.d. 30/31 had 12 or 13 months (see pp. 255, 256), a period of approximately 16 or 20 weeks (4 or 5 months) elapsed between the Feast of Dedication and the Passover. This was the approximate duration of the Peraean ministry (cf. DA 488). For events of the Samaritan-Peraean ministry see on Luke 9:51 to 18:34.

The major chronological problem of the period of the Peraean ministry (see p. 190) lies in assigning events at the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-42) and those connected with the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-57) their proper places in relation to Luke’s account of this period of Jesus’ ministry (Luke 9:51 to 18:34). Reasons for placing the Feast of Dedication between the 10th and 11th chapters of Luke are set forth in comment on Luke 11:1. Reasons for placing the raising of Lazarus and related incidents between vs. 10 and 11 of Luke 17, are given in comment on Luke 17:1, 11 (see p. 199; cf. on John 10:40).

Coasts. See on ch. 15:22.

Beyond Jordan. This expression is commonly used to refer to regions east of the Jordan, though it sometimes refers to regions on the west side (see on ch. 4:15). Here it refers to the district of Peraea, across the Jordan from Judea. At this time Peraea and Galilee were both under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas (see on Luke 3:1).

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Cross References

that when

Mark 10:1

John 10:40

Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Journey to Jerusalem

Jesus' Journeys from Galilee to Judea

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Matthew 19:1