Tell No Man that Jesus is the Christ - Matthew 16:20

Matthew the apostle wrote, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said unto them, But whom say you that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus charges His disciples to, “tell no man that He is Jesus the Christ” where we read:

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

The verse reads, “Then charged he his disciples ...”. Matthew began with the words, “then charged he” or “at that time and moment Jesus admonished, ordered and disposed” “his disciples” which refers to “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants”. Matthew shared how Jesus gave instruction to His disciples concerning the following.

The verse continues, “... that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.” Matthew added the words, “that they should tell” which means “that Jesus' disciples should speak, bring word and bid” “no man” or “not one person whether male or female” “that he was Jesus” or “that Jesus was” “the Christ” which means “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the “Christ” and “Messiah” of God.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we may wonder why Jesus did not want people to know that He was “the Messiah”, however, this timing would have been early to do so. Jesus' disciples were to follow His directive, and when they had opportunity to share about Him with others, at this point they were to be silent about Him. God has His plan of salvation for people, and when He reveals Himself as a personal “Savior and Lord”, the best response is to yield in “belief and trust” in Him.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “from that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how he must go into Jerusalem … and be killed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.