Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 12:16
And charged them that they should not make him known:
Verse 16. Charged them that they should not make him known] See Mt 8:4. Jesus Christ, as GOD, could have easily concealed himself, but he chooses to do it as man, and to use no other than human means, as these were quite sufficient for the purpose, to teach us not to neglect them in our necessity. Indeed, he always used his power less on his own account, than on that of men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
16. And charged themthehealed.
that they should not make himknown(See on Mt 8:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And charged them that they should not make him known. This charge was given, either to the multitude that followed him, and were healed by him, that when they returned to the respective places from whence they came, they would not make it known to his enemies where he was, and what he had done to them; being neither desirous of popular applause and glory, nor willing to provoke them more, nor to fall into their hands as yet; or else, as Mark seems to intimate, to the unclean spirits, that they would not declare who he was, the Son of God, they confessed him to be: and very likely it was given to both, and that they should neither tell where he was, nor who he was; and this charge was a very severe one; for the word signifies a charge with threatenings, should they not observe his orders.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “And charged them,” (kai epetimesen autois) “And he warned them,” appealed to them, to those He healed.
2) “That they should not make him known:” (hina me phaneron auton poiesosin) “In order that (with the motive that) they should not make him manifest,” or known, not try to make an hero of Him, to incite further hate from those who plotted against His life, and hinder His teaching and preaching ministry, Mat 8:4; Mr 8:20,30.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mat 12:16
. And he threatened them. The expression used by M ark conveys, in a still more pointed manner, that he restrained the unclean spirits, (89) who were exclaiming, Thou art the Son of God. We have formerly explained the reason why he did not choose to have such witnesses. (90) And yet there is no room to doubt, that divine power extorted from the devils this confession; but having made it evident that they were subject to his dominion, Christ properly rejected their testimony. But Matthew goes farther, and states, that Christ discharged them from spreading the fame of the miracles which he was performing. Not that he wished that fame to be wholly repressed, (as we have pointed out on other occasions, (91) but to allow it to strike root, that it might bring forth abundant fruit at the proper season. We know that Christ did not perform miracles for the purpose of amusement, but had a distinct object in view, which was to prove that he was the Son of God, and the appointed Redeemer of the world. But he was manifested gradually, and by regular steps, and was not revealed in his true character
“
until the time appointed by the Father,” (Gal 4:2.)
At the same time, it deserves our attention, that when wicked men do their utmost to extinguish the glory of God, they are so far from gaining their wish, that, on the contrary, God turns their rebellious designs in an opposite direction. Though Christ withdrew from a populous district, yet in this very concealment (92) his glory continues to shine, and even bursts forth magnificently into its full splendor.
(89) “ A scavoir qu’il menacoit et faisoit taire les esprits immondes;”— “namely, that he threatened and silenced the unclean spirits.”
(90) Harmony, volume 1 p. 246.
(91) Harmony, volume 1, pp. 374, 418.
(92) “ Toutesfois mesmes en ceste cachete, (par maniere de dire;”)—”yet even in this hiding place, (so to speak.”)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) And charged them that they should not make him known.In other cases that have come before us we have seen reason to connect this command with the spiritual discipline which was best for those who had been healed. Here the generalised character of the command leads us to look for another explanation. The hour of final conflict and suffering had not yet come, and Jesus would not hasten it. The clouds were gathering, but the night had not yet come, and He sought to work while it was yet day, and therefore (again giving an example of His own precept that His disciples should be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, Mat. 10:16) sought to avoid premature occasions of offence.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Charged them not make him known Our Lord is now sensible that his enemies are aroused. His deeds of goodness must be in secret. He who came to save men must hide his benefactions from the eyes of men. See note on Mat 8:4.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Mat 12:16. And charged them, &c. To what we have observed concerning the reasons why our Lord desired to conceal his mighty works in the note on ch. Mat 8:4 we would add the following remarks: This concealment of himself may seem strange in one who was come to bring light into the world, and was to suffer death for the testimony of the truth. This reservedness may be thought to look as if he had a mind to conceal himself, and not to be known to the world for the Messiah, nor to be believed in as such; but we should be of another mind, and conclude this proceeding of his according to divine wisdom, and suited to a fuller manifestation and evidence of his being the Messiah, when we consider that he was to fill up the time foretold for his ministry; and, after a life illustrious in miracles and good works, attended with humility, meekness, patience, and suffering, and every way conformable to the prophesies concerning him; should be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and with all quiet submission be brought to the cross, though there was no guilt or fault found in him. This could not have been, if, as soon as he appeared in public and began to preach, he had presently professed himself to have been the Messiah, the king who owned that kingdom which he published to be at hand; for the Sanhedrim would then have laid hold of it, to have got him in their power, and thereby have taken away his life; at least they would have disturbed his ministry, and hindered the work he was about; unless he had exercised his Almighty power in a way that we have no right to expect. That this induced him to avoid the occasions of provoking them, and falling into their hands, is plain from Joh 7:1. Such was the will of our Blessed Saviour, who could have called for legions of angels to have assisted him, or done himself what he pleased in heaven, in earth, and in hell.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
Ver. 16. That they should not make him known ] This, his ambitious kinsmen, who sought to get credit and glory among men by his worthy works, upbraid him with, Joh 7:4 ; “If thou do these things, show thyself to the world,” say they; and so proclaim that they believed not in him, Joh 7:7 ; cfJoh 5:44Joh 5:44 ; Joh 12:43 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
16. ] see ch. Mat 8:4 , and note.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
known = publicly known. Greek. phaneros. Compare App-106.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
16. ] see ch. Mat 8:4, and note.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 12:16. , that they should not) Such was the authority of Jesus, even commanding silence to the multitude.[558]
[558] Mat 12:17. ) The calm (placid) and most salutary mode of action, which Jesus employed, is intimated by these words.-Vers. Germ. How widely does this in truth differ from the ways and modes of action of His adversaries!-Harm., p. 310.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 9:30, Mat 17:9, Mar 7:36, Luk 5:14, Luk 5:15
Reciprocal: Isa 42:2 – General Mat 2:15 – that Mat 8:4 – See Mar 3:12 – General Mar 5:43 – he charged Mar 8:26 – Neither
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:16
Not make him known. See the comments at Mat 9:30.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
And charged them that they should not make him known:
[That they should not make him known.] But this, not that he refused to heal the sick, nor only to shun popular applause; but because he would keep himself hid from those who would not acknowledge him. This prohibition tends the same way as his preaching by parables did, Mat 13:13; “I speak to them by parables, because seeing they see not.” He would not be known by them who would not know him.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mat 12:16. And charged them, etc. Mark tells of the similar command given to evil spirits. This more general prohibition was probably given to prevent a rupture between His carnal followers and the Pharisees, so early in His ministry.
Make him known, as the Messiah.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mat 12:16-21. And charged them that they should not make him known Partly that he might avoid the envy and rage of his persecutors, and partly because the time was not yet come for him to declare himself openly to be the Messiah. That it might be fulfilled, &c. Here the evangelist assigns another reason why the Lord Jesus prosecuted his ministry in this humble, meek, quiet, and unostentatious way: it was, that he might fulfil Isaiahs prophecy, Isa 42:1-4, in which it was foretold that he should conduct himself in this manner. It must be observed, that the passage here referred to is not quoted exactly according to the Hebrew original, the evangelist contenting himself with giving us the substance of it in a contracted form: nor is it quoted according to the version of the LXX., who have given but a very indifferent interpretation of it. He shall show judgment The word , judgment, here used by Matthew, answers to , in the prophet, a word which, in the Old Testament, is often put for the laws of God in general. And by Christs showing judgment to the Gentiles, is evidently meant his declaring the laws of religion, the eternal rules of righteousness, or the will of his heavenly Father, not only to the single nation of the Jews, but also, and especially, to the Gentile nation. He shall not strive, nor cry, &c. He shall not be contentious, noisy, or ostentatious; but gentle, quiet, and lowly. A bruised reed shall he not break Such as are convinced of their sinfulness and guilt, and bruised under the weight thereof. Smoking flax shall he not quench The least good desire, the faintest spark of grace. He alludes to the wick of a lamp when it is first beginning to kindle, and is put out by any little motion. Till he send forth judgment unto victory Till he make righteousness completely victorious over all its enemies. And in his name, that is, in him, shall the Gentiles trust, for salvation, present and eternal. See notes on Isa 42:1; where the original passage is explained at large.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Verse 16
Make him known; make known the place of his retreat, and thus betray him to the anger and violence of his enemies.