What does Matthew 16:20 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 16:20 is a verse in which Jesus instructs His disciples to keep His identity as the Christ, or Messiah, secret. This command follows Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:16).

The verse reads as follows: "Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ." This suggests that Jesus wanted to avoid a premature declaration of His messianic role to the public.

The directive to maintain secrecy is known as the Messianic Secret and likely served several purposes, including controlling the timing of the public acknowledgment of His identity, preventing misunderstandings about His mission, and fulfilling His work without the hindrance of popular messianic expectations.

Historical Context

Matthew 16:20 was written in a time when political and religious tensions were high. During the first century, Israel was under Roman occupation, and there was an intense expectation of a coming Messiah who would overthrow the Roman rule and restore the kingdom of Israel.

The concept of the Messiah at that time was commonly tied to a triumphant, military leader.

Therefore, Jesus’ mission as a suffering servant (as depicted in Isaiah 53) was contrary to the popular expectation.

By instructing His disciples to keep His identity secret, Jesus could continue His ministry without the immediate backlash and misunderstanding from crowds seeking a political liberator.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse speaks to several key elements of Christ's ministry:

The Messianic Secret – This concept focuses on Jesus' efforts to keep the full revelation of His messianic identity concealed until the right moment.

The delay allowed Him to teach about the Kingdom of God without the political ramifications of the messianic title.

The Incarnation – Recognizing Jesus as 'the Christ' means acknowledging Him as the incarnate Word of God, sent to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.

1. Discipleship – By charging His disciples with silence, Jesus taught them about the timing and discretion necessary for effective ministry.

Practical Applications

This verse can provide insight into modern discipleship:

1. The Importance of Timing – Followers of Jesus can learn that there is a right time to speak and a right time to remain silent.

2. Obedience to Divine Instruction – This teaches the value of following Jesus’ instructions, even when they may not align with our understanding or expectations.

3. Humility – Jesus demonstrates the value of humility by choosing not to flaunt His identity, illustrating that God's plan doesn't always align with worldly expectations of power and glory.

Cross-References

• Mark 8:30: "And he charged them that they should tell no man of him."
• Mark 9:9: "And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead."
• John 6:15: "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse are:

"Charged" (diesteilato) – A strong word often used in a military context, implying a strict command or order.

"Disciples" (mathētais) – Refers to learners or followers who are under a teacher's instruction.

"Tell no man" (mēdeni eipōsin) – A directive to absolutes silence regarding the information.

"Jesus the Christ" (Iēsoun Christon) – "Jesus" is His personal name, and "Christ" is the Greek for "Anointed One" or "Messiah".

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient myths and religions, secrecy is sometimes used as a plot device or as a way to ascribe special knowledge or power to an individual.

However, in the case of Jesus' ministry, the Messianic Secret serves a specific prophetic purpose and is not used to suggest Jesus possesses a mysterious or esoteric knowledge.

Scientific Perspectives

The instruction of Jesus to remain silent about His identity as the Christ is less of a scientific matter and more of a historical and psychological one.

However, the study of human behavior and crowd dynamics can offer insight into why such a strategy would be necessary for Jesus to avoid premature clashes with authorities or misrepresentation of His mission.

Commentaries

Bible scholars and theologians have interpreted this passage in various ways:

1. William Barclay suggests that Jesus wanted His disciples to come to a gradual and personal understanding of who He was, rather than rely on popular acclaim or rumors.

2. D. A. Carson posits that Jesus needed to redefine messianic expectations and that this was better done privately with His disciples rather than publicly with the multitudes.

3. R. T. France emphasizes that Jesus commanded confidentiality to prevent any interference with His divine mission leading up to the crucifixion, which was the ultimate fulfillment of His role as the Messiah.