Drawing Near to Jesus
A Devotional on Matthew 5:1
“Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him.” — Matthew 5:1
Matthew 5:1 introduces one of the most powerful teachings in the Bible: the Sermon on the Mount. Before Jesus speaks about the Beatitudes, prayer, forgiveness, worry, or loving our enemies, Matthew gives us a simple but meaningful picture. Jesus sits down, and His disciples come close to Him.
Crowds surrounded Jesus because they had heard about His miracles. Many were seeking healing, answers, or hope. Jesus saw every person in that crowd. He understood their struggles, needs, and deepest longings.
Jesus still sees the crowd today—but He also sees each individual within it. He sees you.
He knows when you feel overwhelmed, discouraged, forgotten, or uncertain. Nothing about your life escapes His attention. You are never just another face in the crowd to Jesus.
Come Close and Listen
When Jesus sat down, His disciples gathered around Him. They recognized that He had something important to teach them, so they positioned themselves close enough to hear.
This is also an invitation for us.
Following Jesus is more than knowing who He is or admiring His works. It means drawing near, listening carefully, and allowing His words to shape our lives. The disciples did not yet understand everything, but they came to Him with teachable hearts.
We can do the same through prayer, Scripture, worship, and quiet time with God. We do not need to have everything figured out before approaching Jesus. We simply need to come.
The Importance of a Teachable Heart
Matthew 5:1 reminds us that disciples are learners. A disciple does not only listen to Jesus when His words are comforting. A disciple is also willing to hear teachings that challenge old attitudes and call for change.
The Sermon on the Mount would teach the disciples a radically different way to live. Jesus would show them that true righteousness begins in the heart. He would teach them about humility, mercy, purity, forgiveness, generosity, and trust.
Before we can live according to Jesus’ teaching, however, we must be willing to sit at His feet and listen.
We can ask ourselves:- Am I making time to listen to Jesus?- Am I willing to let His Word correct me?- Do I approach Scripture with an open and teachable heart?- Am I following Jesus closely, or only watching Him from the crowd?
Jesus Has Something to Teach Us
The world is filled with competing voices telling us what success, happiness, and goodness should look like. Jesus invites us to step away from the noise and learn from Him.
His way may look different from the world’s way, but it leads to genuine peace, purpose, and spiritual life. When we draw close to Jesus, we begin to see ourselves, other people, and our circumstances through His eyes.
Matthew 5:1 is only the beginning of the sermon, but it contains an important lesson: transformation begins when we come close enough to listen.
A Simple Step for Today
Set aside a few quiet minutes today. Put away distractions, open your Bible, and ask Jesus to teach you. You do not need an elaborate routine. Begin with a willing heart.
Read His words slowly. Think about what they reveal about God. Ask how you can put them into practice.
Jesus sees you, welcomes you, and invites you to learn from Him.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for seeing me and caring about every part of my life. Help me step away from the noise and draw closer to You. Give me a humble, teachable heart that is ready to hear and obey Your Word. As I continue studying the Sermon on the Mount, show me how to live as Your faithful disciple. Amen.
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