Why did Jesus say, "Don't Tell"?
Why did Jesus tell the people he healed not to tell anyone?
This is a curious thing, isn’t it? Especially in light of the fact that Jesus has commissioned us to make him known. We find that on several occasions during his earthly ministry that Jesus told the people whom he healed not to let anyone know about it.
This was not always the case, however. For instance, when Jesus delivered the Gerasene demoniac from the power of Satan, and the man “begged that he might be with him… Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you’” (Lk. 8:38-39). So here’s one time, at least, when Jesus told a man to tell everyone.
But on most other occasions he told people not to tell. In Matthew 9 we read about two blind men whom Jesus healed. It says,
We also find that when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, her parents were astonished, but he “strictly charged them that no one should know” about it (Mk. 5:43).
On still another occasion, when Jesus healed a man who was deaf and mute, he charged the entire crowd to tell no one. “But the more he charged them,” it says, “the more zealously they proclaimed it” (Mk. 7:36).
This was often the case. People couldn’t keep it quite, especially the ones who had been healed. And you can understand their excitement, not to mention their gratitude! But why did Jesus say that they should tell no one? I think we find a clue in the account of the leper who was cleansed. Even though he was told not to mention it to anyone, it says,
I should also point out that there was undoubtedly a concern on Jesus’ part that people’s attention would be distracted from what he regarded as a more important aspect of his ministry than that of working miracles, namely the ministry of the word. He came as a prophet and a teacher. But many would be attracted to Jesus only for the sake of the miracles he performed. They would be attracted to him much like they would be attracted to a carnival sideshow. They would not be interested in the truth he came to teach, but in having their senses dazzled by seeing a miracle. They would be like Herod. When Jesus was on trial before Herod, we’re told that Herod was very glad to see him, “because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him” (Lk. 23:8).
These are the main reasons why he told people not to tell. But the thing we should remember is that circumstances have changed and we should now do what Jesus told the Geresene demoniac. We should now declare to everyone how much God has done for us.
This is a curious thing, isn’t it? Especially in light of the fact that Jesus has commissioned us to make him known. We find that on several occasions during his earthly ministry that Jesus told the people whom he healed not to let anyone know about it.
This was not always the case, however. For instance, when Jesus delivered the Gerasene demoniac from the power of Satan, and the man “begged that he might be with him… Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you’” (Lk. 8:38-39). So here’s one time, at least, when Jesus told a man to tell everyone.
But on most other occasions he told people not to tell. In Matthew 9 we read about two blind men whom Jesus healed. It says,
And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it” (Matt 9:30).In the first chapter of Mark we read of a leper who was healed; and it says,
Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them” (Mark 1:43-44).Jesus told him to tell the priests because the law required that people who were healed of leprosy were to be thoroughly checked out by the priests and were to offer certain sacrifices and perform certain rituals (Lev. 14:1-32); but Jesus told him to tell no one else.
We also find that when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead, her parents were astonished, but he “strictly charged them that no one should know” about it (Mk. 5:43).
On still another occasion, when Jesus healed a man who was deaf and mute, he charged the entire crowd to tell no one. “But the more he charged them,” it says, “the more zealously they proclaimed it” (Mk. 7:36).
This was often the case. People couldn’t keep it quite, especially the ones who had been healed. And you can understand their excitement, not to mention their gratitude! But why did Jesus say that they should tell no one? I think we find a clue in the account of the leper who was cleansed. Even though he was told not to mention it to anyone, it says,
But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter (Mk. 1:45)If his miracles were widely known they would attract so much attention and create so much excitement that his movements would be inhibited. He “could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places.” He could no longer move about as he wished. This was while he was in the land of Israel, where he conducted almost all his earthly ministry. When he told the Geresene demoniac to tell everyone about the miracle he received, it was in a land that Jesus visited once, and then only very briefly. It would not hinder his movements there if everyone knew about it because he was not planning to stay there.
I should also point out that there was undoubtedly a concern on Jesus’ part that people’s attention would be distracted from what he regarded as a more important aspect of his ministry than that of working miracles, namely the ministry of the word. He came as a prophet and a teacher. But many would be attracted to Jesus only for the sake of the miracles he performed. They would be attracted to him much like they would be attracted to a carnival sideshow. They would not be interested in the truth he came to teach, but in having their senses dazzled by seeing a miracle. They would be like Herod. When Jesus was on trial before Herod, we’re told that Herod was very glad to see him, “because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him” (Lk. 23:8).
These are the main reasons why he told people not to tell. But the thing we should remember is that circumstances have changed and we should now do what Jesus told the Geresene demoniac. We should now declare to everyone how much God has done for us.
Comments
Why would Jesus not want people to know he was the Messiah? As ironic as it is, a demon was perhaps that most credible source to speak to the authenticity of Jesus. Why then not let them speak and allow them to give proof?
There is a deeper reason. I think it has to do with Faith. It takes faith to please God. If the people had hardcore evidence, they wouldn't need faith.
alaysia
"Quite" should be "quiet"
Thanks for the nice post.
from their minds when sickness..disabilities. or death was upon them or their families. ..it was probably like a huge outdoor show. .
But leave the announcement to God,what is done in secret will be revealed in the open,you cannot hide a light under the bushel for long.
"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom I am pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He WILL NOT WRANGLE OR CRY ALOUD, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering eick until he brings justice to victory. In his name the Gentiles will hope."
Hope this helps clear up your question. God bless.
This would allow Him more time make disciples before going to the cross.
Just do it in love!
Matthew 6: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Jesus was applying this very law to the good deeds he did for others. He was not "self seeking" and instead deliberately avoiding drawing attention to his good deeds or praise and honour for his good deeds. He only ever told people to thank god for what they received and he told only those who were necessary to tell and did not request thanks or payment for any of his works.
As Christians would say .... he was living the word.
Reading the responses reminds me of when on Palm Sunday, the Pharisees ordered Jesus to shut people up, because it offended them so. He said that it was useless because even if they did stop shouting praises to the Messiah, Him, the very stones would cry out.
I wonder if one of the things that was hard for Jesus in His preaching, as a humble man who never sinned by pride in His accomplishments was to put up with the adulation He knew was coming from human attraction? It can't be helped that we just fall in love with attractive powerful people who are kind to us. Brotherly love is a gift from God, too, but it's not enough, is it. No matter how hard we try to obey, we don't know all the answers or how to "do it right," and get it wrong, and thus, disobey even if we have a personal miracle, we want to shout it out. I was told don't do that because people will think you are crazy, which is true, people do react to extreme testimonies because they aren't "cool."
David, Richmond, VA
A key theme in the OT is the "I, the Lord, am your healer." (Exod 15:26b) The context of the claim that the Lord of the covenant is "healer" is the prevention of the diseases which afflicted the Egyptians. Obedience to the Lord would prevent God from bringing diseases upon the covenant people (Exod 15:26a).
In Israel, the priest was a religious functionary, but not a physician. This stands in sharp contrast to the priest-physicians in ancient Egypt, who, according to literary and pictorial materials are known to have functioned as early as the 3d millennium B.C.
Below is are verses from Deuteronomy that make it a virtual crime to heal without priests. It is my opinion that Jesus did not want anyone to tell because he would be killed BEFORE His mission and message were finished. Obviously, Jesus would be seen as a man "worshipping other Gods" to carry out his miraculous healings. He KNEW they would not accept Him as the Messiah and be arrested a lot sooner. It is why he had to travel always to avoid confrontation. In other words, as Leviticus points out, ALL THOSE WITH DISEASE ARE GUILTY OF SIN AND NEED FORGIVENESS AND ONLY GOD IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THAT CURE. It is why Jesus "sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them" (Mark 1:43-44). Jesus knew that in order for the man to be accepted back in society as a healed leper, he HAD to have BEEN HEALED by God and NOT AS PHYSICIAN.
Leviticus 5:2 Or if a person touches anything unclean--whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature--even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and GUILTY.
In Deuteronomy 17:2 Suppose a man or woman is discovered among you – in one of your villages that the Lord your God is giving you – who sins before the Lord your God and breaks his covenant 17:3 by serving other gods and worshiping them – the sun, moon, or any other heavenly bodies which I have not permitted you to worship. 17:4 When it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done in Israel, 17:5 you must bring to your city gates that man or woman who has done this wicked thing – that very man or woman – and you must stone that person to death. 17:6 At the testimony of two or three witnesses they must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 17:7 The witnesses must be first to begin the execution, and then all the people are to join in afterward. In this way you will purge evil from among you.
A key theme in the OT is the "I, the Lord, am your healer." (Exod 15:26b) The context of the claim that the Lord of the covenant is "healer" is the prevention of the diseases which afflicted the Egyptians. Obedience to the Lord would prevent God from bringing diseases upon the covenant people (Exod 15:26a).
In Israel, the priest was a religious functionary, but not a physician. This stands in sharp contrast to the priest-physicians in ancient Egypt, who, according to literary and pictorial materials are known to have functioned as early as the 3d millennium B.C.
Below is are verses from Deuteronomy that make it a virtual crime to heal without priests. It is my opinion that Jesus did not want anyone to tell because he would be killed BEFORE His mission and message were finished. Obviously, Jesus would be seen as a man "worshipping other Gods" to carry out his miraculous healings. He KNEW they would not accept Him as the Messiah and be arrested a lot sooner. It is why he had to travel always to avoid confrontation. In other words, as Leviticus points out, ALL THOSE WITH DISEASE ARE GUILTY OF SIN AND NEED FORGIVENESS AND ONLY GOD IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THAT CURE. It is why Jesus "sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them" (Mark 1:43-44). Jesus knew that in order for the man to be accepted back in society as a healed leper, he HAD to have BEEN HEALED by God and NOT AS PHYSICIAN.
Leviticus 5:2 Or if a person touches anything unclean--whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature--even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and GUILTY.
In Deuteronomy 17:2 Suppose a man or woman is discovered among you – in one of your villages that the Lord your God is giving you – who sins before the Lord your God and breaks his covenant 17:3 by serving other gods and worshiping them – the sun, moon, or any other heavenly bodies which I have not permitted you to worship. 17:4 When it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done in Israel, 17:5 you must bring to your city gates that man or woman who has done this wicked thing – that very man or woman – and you must stone that person to death. 17:6 At the testimony of two or three witnesses they must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 17:7 The witnesses must be first to begin the execution, and then all the people are to join in afterward. In this way you will purge evil from among you.
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Thank you