Matthew 12:16 - God's Chosen Servant

Audio Bible

Context

God's Chosen Servant
15Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, 16 warning them not to make Him known. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:…

Cross References

Isaiah 42:1-4
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. / He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets. / A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. ...Mark 3:12
But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.Luke 9:21
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.Matthew 8:4
Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”John 7:10
But after His brothers had gone up to the feast, He also went—not publicly, but in secret.John 11:54
As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples.Matthew 17:9
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”Isaiah 53:2-3
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. / He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.John 6:15
Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.John 5:41
I do not accept glory from men,Matthew 16:20
Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.John 8:59
At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.John 12:36
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.Matthew 9:30
And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one finds out about this!”John 2:24-25
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. / He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.

Matthew 9:30
And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 17:9
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Mark 7:36
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

Jump to Previous

Jump to Next

Matthew 12

warning them
In this passage, Jesus instructs those He healed not to publicize His identity. This directive is consistent with His approach during His early ministry, where He often sought to avoid drawing premature attention to Himself. This reflects His desire to fulfill His mission according to God's timing, avoiding unnecessary confrontation with religious leaders or political authorities. The Greek word used here for "warning" can also imply a stern charge, indicating the seriousness of His instruction.

not to make Him known
Jesus' command to maintain secrecy about His identity and works is often referred to as the "Messianic Secret." This concept is seen throughout the Gospels, where Jesus frequently tells those He heals or His disciples not to reveal His identity as the Messiah. This strategy allowed Him to control the spread of His message and avoid the political and social upheaval that might arise from a premature declaration of His messianic role. It also aligns with prophecies such as Isaiah 42:1-4, which speak of the Messiah as a servant who would not cry out or raise His voice in the streets. This approach ensured that His ministry would unfold according to divine timing, ultimately leading to His sacrificial death and resurrection.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is performing miracles and teaching, demonstrating His divine authority and compassion.

2. The Crowds
Large groups of people who followed Jesus, witnessing His miracles and teachings. They were often amazed and spread news about Him.

3. Pharisees
Religious leaders who were often in opposition to Jesus, seeking to undermine His ministry and authority.

4. Galilee
The region where much of Jesus' ministry took place, including the events leading up to this verse.

5. Miracles
Acts performed by Jesus that demonstrated His divine power and authority, often leading to increased attention and following.

Teaching Points

Humility in Service
Jesus' instruction not to make Him known reflects His humility. As followers of Christ, we are called to serve with humility, not seeking personal glory.

Divine Timing
Jesus understood the importance of timing in His ministry. We should seek God's timing in our lives, trusting His plan and purpose.

Focus on Mission
Jesus' primary mission was to fulfill God's will, not to gain popularity. We should remain focused on our mission as Christians, prioritizing God's will over worldly recognition.

Avoiding Distraction
By instructing others not to make Him known, Jesus avoided unnecessary distractions from His mission. We should be mindful of distractions that can divert us from our spiritual goals.

Trust in God's Plan
Jesus' actions demonstrate trust in God's plan. We are encouraged to trust in God's sovereignty, even when we don't fully understand His ways.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 12Is wealth and fame appropriate for Christians?Why do prophecies from other religions sometimes appear accurate?Who was Herod Agrippa II?Why does Jesus deny some who call him 'Lord'?

(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," Matthew 10:16) sought to avoid premature occasions of offence.

Verse 16. - And charged them that they should not make him known. Publicity as such was rather hindering to his work than otherwise. Only those who had no spiritual affinity with him (John 7:3-5), or at most but little (Matthew 9:31), desired him to have it. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

warning
ἐπετίμησεν (epetimēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2008: From epi and timao; to tax upon, i.e. Censure or admonish; by implication, forbid.

them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

to make
ποιήσωσιν (poiēsōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

Him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

known.
φανερὸν (phaneron)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5318: Apparent, clear, visible, manifest; adv: clearly. From phaino; shining, i.e. Apparent; neuter publicly, externally.

Links

Matthew 12:16 NIV
Matthew 12:16 NLT
Matthew 12:16 ESV
Matthew 12:16 NASB
Matthew 12:16 KJVMatthew 12:16 BibleApps.com
Matthew 12:16 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 12:16 Chinese Bible
Matthew 12:16 French Bible
Matthew 12:16 Catholic BibleNT Gospels: Matthew 12:16 And commanded them that they should not (Matt. Mat Mt)