Jesus Teaching the Crowds
The Gospels present Jesus as a teacher whose words and actions drew multitudes. His teaching ministry is central to his identity and mission, and the crowds that followed him were often astonished by his authority, wisdom, and compassion. Yet, Jesus’ teaching was not simply about imparting information or offering moral advice; it was a radical call to discipleship, a reorientation of life around the kingdom of God. This article explores the content and significance of Jesus’ teaching to the crowds, with particular attention to his call to costly discipleship (Luke 14:26-33), the meaning of self-denial (Matthew 16:24), and the ethic of compassion (Matthew 25:40). Drawing on both Old and New Testament scriptures, we will see how Jesus’ teaching fulfills and transforms the hopes of Israel and continues to challenge and inspire today.
The Content of Jesus’ Teaching to the Crowds
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is depicted as a teacher who addresses both small groups and large crowds. His teaching covers a wide range of topics: the nature of God, the coming of the kingdom, the demands of discipleship, the meaning of the law, the reality of judgment, and the promise of salvation. The crowds are often described as “astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29).
One of the most famous examples is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), where Jesus proclaims the beatitudes, reinterprets the law, and calls his followers to a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. He teaches about prayer, forgiveness, generosity, and the dangers of hypocrisy. In parables, Jesus reveals the mysteries of the kingdom, using everyday images–seeds, soil, sheep, coins, trees and banquets–to invite his hearers into a new way of seeing and living.
Jesus’ teaching is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. He affirms the Shema, the central confession of Israel’s faith: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29). He summarizes the law and the prophets with the commands to love God and neighbor (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-40). Yet, he also claims a unique authority, declaring, “You have heard that it was said… but I say to you…” (Matthew 5:21-22), and inviting people to follow him as the way to life.
The Radical Call of Discipleship: Luke 14:26-33
One of the most challenging passages in Jesus’ teaching to the crowds is found in Luke 14:26-33. Here, Jesus addresses the cost of discipleship in stark terms: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple… So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
At first glance, Jesus’ words seem harsh, even shocking. The command to “hate” one’s family and even one’s own life is not a call to emotional hostility, but a Semitic expression meaning to love less by comparison (see, Genesis 29:30-31). Jesus is demanding absolute allegiance; following him must take precedence over all other relationships and attachments.
The imagery of bearing the cross would have been especially vivid in the Roman world, where crucifixion was a brutal form of execution reserved for the lowest criminals. To “bear one’s cross” is to embrace a path of self-denial, suffering, and even death for the sake of Jesus and his kingdom. Jesus warns the crowds to count the cost, using the examples of a builder and a king who must assess whether they can complete their task or win a battle.
The point of Jesus’ words is clear: discipleship is not a casual commitment or a part-time pursuit. It requires a willingness to surrender everything–family, possessions, even life itself–for the sake of Christ. This radical call echoes the Old Testament demand for exclusive loyalty to God (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 6:5) and anticipates the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus himself will endure.
The Meaning of Self-Denial: Matthew 16:24
In Matthew 16:24, Jesus further clarifies the nature of discipleship: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
To “deny oneself” is to renounce self-centeredness, self-reliance, and self-will. It is a call to place God’s purposes above personal desires, ambitions, and comforts. The cross, as noted above, is a symbol of suffering and death, but also of ultimate obedience and trust in God.
This teaching is not unique to the New Testament. The Old Testament calls God’s people to humility, repentance, and wholehearted devotion (Psalm 51:17; Micah 6:8; Isaiah 57:15). Jesus fulfills and intensifies this call, inviting his followers to participate in his own path of suffering and glory. As Paul later writes, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
Self-denial is not an end in itself, but a means to true life. Jesus promises, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). The paradox of the gospel is that in giving up our lives, we receive them back, transformed and renewed by the love of God.
The Ethic of Compassion: Matthew 25:40
Jesus’ teaching to the crowds is not only about the cost of discipleship, but also about the character of the kingdom–a kingdom marked by compassion, justice, and mercy. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes the final judgment, where the Son of Man separates the nations as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The criterion for judgment is how people have treated “the least of these my brothers.”
In verse 40, Jesus declares: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
This statement reveals the profound identification of Jesus with the marginalized, the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned. Acts of compassion and service to the needy are, in Jesus’ eyes, acts of love toward himself. This teaching echoes the Old Testament concern for justice and mercy (Isaiah 58:6-10; Micah 6:8; Proverbs 19:17) and fulfills the prophetic vision of a community where the vulnerable are cared for and the oppressed are set free.
Matthew 25:40 is not a call to works-righteousness, but a summons to embody the love and mercy of God in practical ways. It challenges the crowds–and all who would follow Jesus–to see the face of Christ in the poor and the suffering, and to respond with generosity and compassion.
The Fulfillment of Old Testament Hope
Jesus teaching the crowds is deeply rooted in the story of Israel. He fulfills the role of the prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22), the wise teacher of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:1-7), and the suffering servant of Isaiah (Isaiah 53). His call to repentance, faith, and justice echoes the message of the prophets, who called Israel back to covenant faithfulness and compassion for the vulnerable.
Yet, Jesus also transforms and transcends the Old Testament expectations. He inaugurates a new covenant, not based on external observance but on the transformation of the heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26-27). He gathers a new community, not defined by ethnicity or ritual, but by faith in him and love for one another (John 13:34-35).
Conclusion - What Did Jesus Teach the Crowds?
Jesus teaching the crowds is a call to radical discipleship, costly self-denial, and compassionate service. He invites all people to enter the kingdom of God, to count the cost, to take up the cross, and to follow him. His words challenge the complacent, comfort the afflicted, and call forth a new humanity marked by love, justice, and mercy. As the crowds listened to Jesus, they were confronted with a choice: to remain spectators, or to become disciples who embody the way of the kingdom. That choice remains for every generation.