Mat 8:4, 12:16-18, Mar 3:12, Luk 5:14 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 4. See thou tell no man . This command is to be understood as extending only to the time until he had made the proper representation to the priest. It was his duty to hasten to him immediately; not to delay by talking about it, but as the first thing to obey the laws of God, and make proper acknowledgments to him by an offering. The place where this cure was wrought was in Galilee, a distance of forty or fifty miles from Jerusalem; and it was his duty to make haste to the residence of the priest, and obtain his sanction to the reality of the cure. Perhaps, also, Christ was apprehensive that the report would go before the man, if he delayed, and the priest, through opposition to Jesus, might pronounce it an imposition. A testimony unto them . Not to the priest , but to the people. Show thyself to the priest , and get his testimony to the reality of the cure, as a proof to the people that the healing is genuine. It was necessary that he should have that testimony before he could be received to the congregation, or allowed to mingle with the people. Having this, he would be, of course, restored to the privileges of social and religious life, and the proof of the miracle , to the people, would be put beyond a doubt. (t) "See thou tell" (u) "Moses commanded"

Matthew 8:4

Verse 4. See thou tell no man. This command is to be understood as extending only to the time until he had made the proper representation to the priest. It was his duty to hasten to him immediately; not to delay by talking about it, but as the first thing to obey the laws of God, and make proper acknowledgments to him by an offering. The place where this cure was wrought was in Galilee, a distance of forty or fifty miles from Jerusalem; and it was his duty to make haste to the residence of the priest, and obtain his sanction to the reality of the cure. Perhaps, also, Christ was apprehensive that the report would go before the man, if he delayed, and the priest, through opposition to Jesus, might pronounce it an imposition.

A testimony unto them. Not to the priest, but to the people. Show thyself to the priest, and get his testimony to the reality of the cure, as a proof to the people that the healing is genuine. It was necessary that he should have that testimony before he could be received to the congregation, or allowed to mingle with the people. Having this, he would be, of course, restored to the privileges of social and religious life, and the proof of the miracle, to the people, would be put beyond a doubt.

(t) "See thou tell" Mt 9:30, Mk 5:43 (u) "Moses commanded" Lev 14:3

Matthew 12:16-18

Verse 16. And he charged them, etc. He was, at this time, desirous of concealment. He wished to avoid their plots, and to save his life. Verse 17. That it might be fulfilled, etc. Matthew here quotes a passage from Isa 43:1-4, to show the reason why he thus retired from his enemies, and sought concealment. The Jews, and the disciples also, at first, expected that the Messiah would be a conqueror, and vindicate himself from all his enemies. When they saw him retiring before them, and instead of subduing them by force, seeking a place of concealment, it was contrary to all their previous notions of the Messiah. Matthew, by this quotation, shows that their conceptions of him had been wrong. Instead of a warrior and an earthly conqueror, he was predicted under a totally different character. Instead of shouting for battle, lifting up his voice in the streets, oppressing the feeble-- breaking bruised reeds, and quenching smoking flax, as a conqueror--he would be peaceful, retiring, and strengthening the feeble, and cherishing the faintest desires of holiness. This appears to be the general meaning of this quotation here. Comp. Isa 42:1 and following.

(v) "saying" Isa 42:1 Verse 18. My servant. That is, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, called a servant, from his taking the form of a servant, or his being born in a humble condition, Php 2:7 and from his obeying or serving God. See Heb 10:9.

Shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. The word judgment means, in the Hebrew, law, commands, etc., Ps 19:9, 119:29,30. It means the whole system of truth; the law of God in general; the purpose, plan, or judgment of God, about human duty and conduct. Here it means evidently the system of gospel truth, the Christian scheme.

Gentiles. All who were not Jews. This prophecy was fulfilled by the multitudes coming to him from Idumea and beyond Jordan, and Tyre and Sidon, as recorded by Mk 3:7,8.

Mark 3:12

Verse 12.

(h) "him known" Mk 1:25,34

Luke 5:14

Verse 14. No entry from BARNES for this verse.

(l) "as Moses commanded Lev 14:4