Matthew 8:4

Friday, 28 February 2025

 

And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Matthew 8:4

 

“And Jesus, He says to him, ‘You see you tell none, but you go, you show yourself to the priest, and you present the gift that Moses, he commanded, for a testimony to them’” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus reached out His hand and willingly touched the leper. In this act, the leper was immediately cleansed. Next, it says, “And Jesus, He says to him, ‘You see you tell none.”

 

The reason for this injunction is debated. The Pulpit Commentary refers to several different views to consider –

 

(1) to save the man from temptation to self-importance; or

 

(2) to prevent any rumour of the miracle coming to the ears of the recognized authorities, and thus prejudicing them in their verdict upon his case; or, and more probably,

 

(3) for the Lord's sake, for this seems to be the reason for the command in all the other occasions when it is given (Matthew 9:30; Matthew 12:16; Matthew 17:9; Mark 5:43; Mark 7:36; Mark 8:26; cf. Mark 1:34; Mark 3:12). The Lord did not desire to be thronged with multitudes who came only to see his miracles; he would work in quiet (cf. the quotation from Isaiah in Matthew 12:18-21).

 

Although the Pulpit Commentary’s third point receives their note of it being the likely explanation, it actually seems unlikely. The reason for this is what it just said as the chapter opened –

 

“When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’” Matthew 8:1, 2

 

The note that “great multitudes followed Him” is a part of the surrounding context and was stated purposefully. His miracle was, in fact, viewed by many people. This is attested to again in Matthew 8:10 where it notes that Jesus spoke to those who followed, implying the crowd was still there.

 

So why would Jesus instruct this man to tell no one then? The answer is found in the rest of the verse, beginning with, “but you go, you show yourself to the priest.”

 

This is the first mention of the hiereus, priest, in the New Testament. The word is derived from hierós, meaning sacred, holy, set apart, etc. This is a person set apart, belonging to the temple, thus, a priest. Jesus told the man to go to the priest because, as is recorded in Leviticus 14, it says –

 

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 ‘This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest.’” Leviticus 14:1, 2

 

From there, the ritual required for the cleansed leper is recorded all the way through Leviticus 14:32. The reason why Jesus instructed the man to tell no one is that if he ran home and started telling his family and friends he was back, cleansed from his uncleanness, he would be in violation of the law.

 

First and foremost, his responsibility was to receive the rites of the law. As it says in Leviticus 14:20, “So the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.” The validation of his cleansing was necessary for him to be deemed clean. If he was at home celebrating without this validation, then there would be a person not yet deemed clean among the people.

 

Jesus purposefully spoke to the man in this way in front of the thronging crowd to show that the man was instructed to be fully obedient to the Law of Moses. Thus, Jesus was not promoting disobedience but full obedience. That continues to be seen with the next words, “and you present the gift that Moses, he commanded, for a testimony to them.”

 

Here is another new word, marturion, a witness or testimony. It speaks of something evidential. It is where our modern word martyr is derived from. A martyr’s life is something evidential concerning the witness he bears.

 

As for the gift Moses commanded, that is what is recorded in Leviticus 14 as noted above. It was a requirement set forth in the law. To not offer this would be a violation of the law.

 

Life application: The proverb says –

 

“The first one to plead his cause seems right,
Until his neighbor comes and examines him.” Proverb 18:17

 

Several views concerning Jesus’ words about telling no one were presented above. Any of them might seem correct when someone presents his case concerning the meaning. You might say, “Yeah, that makes sense.” But then someone else will say, “No, the reason must be this...” From there you might say, “Yeah, that makes more sense.”

 

When someone adds in their thoughts with the word probably attached to them, then you might say, “Well, he is an authority, and he has checked out the possibilities. Therefore, he is probably right. That makes the most sense of all.” However, words like probably are subjective and need to still be considered carefully.

 

By checking the context, it is seen that their “probably” is completely incorrect. Many people saw and heard. They would have gone and told what they saw. Jesus was purposefully doing what He was doing in front of many so that they would bear witness that He was doing everything in accord with the law.

 

Be sure to not get caught up in the first opinion you read. Check many views, reread the passage along with the surrounding context, and then come to your conclusion. You may find what seemed right at first is actually incorrect.

 

Lord God, help us to carefully consider Your word as we read it. May we not be sent down wrong paths of understanding, but give us the wisdom to check what we are told and to verify if it is right. Help us to be responsible in our understanding of Your word through right doctrine. Amen.