Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 9:11

11 And the people when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

The Evangelists give us but a summary account of things, we read of the Mission, or sending out of the Apostles v. 1. Here we read of their return and giving their Lord an account of their discharge of the trust he had reposed in them; being returned, our Saviour goeth with them into a place near Bethsaida, not much inhabited, and therefore called Desart. He never wanted followers, nor an heart to receive them, and to take all opportunities to do them good. Many followed him, he receiveth them, and Preacheth to them for the good of their Souls, and healeth those amongst them that were Sick, to teach us to joyn Spiritual with bodily, and bodily, with spiritual Alms. Spiritual Alms such as instruction, reproof, counsel, are as much better then those that relieve only bodily wants, as the Soul is better then the Body. Spiritual Alms, without bodily relief, from such as are able to give them, are fittest for spiritual Persons; carnal ignorant People, that have no sense of spiritual things, must be like Children allur'd into a good opinion of the things, and ways of God by some bodily charity, and so taken by guile and enticed to the knowledge of God.