Large crowds followed him (see also 4.25; 8.1; 12.15; 14.13; 20.29; 21.9) differs from Mark, which states “crowds gathered to him” (10.1). In the Gospel of Matthew the masses are always receptive to Jesus and his message until 27.25, where they reject him under the influence of their leaders.

And he healed them there differs from Mark, which has “he taught them.” For Matthew healing is a significant part of Jesus’ ministry. He healed them there can give the impression that everyone in the crowd was sick. “He healed the sick people (among them)” will then be necessary. There in some languages may occur at the beginning of the sentence: “There he healed the sick people (among them).”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .