The first half of this verse is found verbally in Mark (Mark 6:34); comp. also Matthew 9:36, note. And Jesus went forth; came forth (Revised Version); i.e. from the more retired place where he had been conversing with his disciples.
And saw a great multitude. "The multitudes" of Matthew 9:13 have now become one body. And was moved with compassion toward them; and he had compassion on them (Revised Version). The true reading, ἐπ αὐτοῖς, regards the Lord's pity at, so to say, a later stage than the common reading, ἐπ αὐτούς.
It was not only directed towards them, but actually resting on them. And he healed ( ἐθεράπευσεν, Matthew 4:23, note) their sick ( τοὺς ἀῤῥώστους αὐτῶν). αῤῥωστος here only in Matthew, elsewhere in the New Testament in Mark 6:5,Mark 6:13 [Mark 16:18]; 1 Corinthians 11:30.
As compared with ἀσθενής, it "seems to point to diseases predominantly marked by loss of bodily power ('diuturno languore teneri,' Calvin), while the more common ἀσθενής is simply used to denote sickness generally" (Bishop Ellicott, on 1 Corinthians, loc.
cit.). But in our passage it is used without any such limitation (cf. Luke, "And he healed them that had need of healing"). Mark and John do not speak of miracles of healing on this occasion.