Matthew 12:16

and commanded them that they should not make him known:

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WEBBE

and commanded them that they should not make him known,

BSB

warning them not to make Him known.

ASV

and charged them that they should not make him known:

Original Greek

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The early church

On those whom He healed He enjoined silence, whence it follows, And he charged them that they should not make him known. For his restored health was a witness to each man. And by commanding them to hold their peace, He avoids all ostentation of Himself, and at the same time notwithstanding affords a knowledge of Himself in that very admonition to hold their peace; for the observance of silence proceeds from that very thing which is to be kept silent.
Hilary of Poitiers · d. 367Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
And He also gives them command that they should not make Him known, that they might not by persecuting Him be put into a worse state.
Remigius of Rheims · d. 533Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
In this also He instructs us, that when we have done any thing great we are not to seek praise abroad.
Rabanus Maurus · d. 856Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
"But when Jesus knew their devices, He withdrew Himself," it is said, "from them." Where now are they who say, miracles ought to be done? Nay, by these things He signified, that the uncandid soul is not even thereby persuaded; and He made it plain that His disciples too were blamed by them without cause. This however we should observe, that they grow fierce especially at the benefits done to their neighbors; and when they see any one delivered either from disease or from wickedness, then is the time for them to find fault, and become wild beasts. Thus did they calumniate Him, both when He was about to save the harlot, and when He was eating with publicans, and now again, when they saw the hand restored. But do thou observe, I pray thee, how He neither desists from His tender care over the infirm, and yet allays their envy. "And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all; and He charged them that were healed, that they should make Him known to no man." Because, while the multitudes everywhere both admire and follow Him, they desist not from their wickedness.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Matthew

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 14–21

The Pharisees took counsel to find some accusation, that Jesus might be condemned to death. Aware of their design, as his time was not come, he retired from that place. Face does not more exactly answer to face in water, than the character of Christ drawn by the prophet, to his temper and conduct as described by the evangelists. Let us with cheerful confidence commit our souls to so kind and faithful a Friend. Far from breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed; far from quenching the smoking flax, or wick nearly out, he will rather blow it up into a flame. Let us lay aside contentious and angry debates; let us receive one another as Christ receives us. And while encouraged by the gracious kindness of our Lord, we should pray that his Spirit may rest upon us, and make us able to copy his example.

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Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.