Why does Jesus warn his disiples and the people he heals not to tell anyone who he is?

Question

Several times in the Gospels, Jesus tells people not to tell any one who he is. It actually says "warns" implying that it's urgent.

Hey - to those people who don't research before they answer, STOP. You are making fools of yourself. Jesus DID say not to tell people who he was. It's also silly to assume that he was using reverse psycology. Jesus doesn't say things he doesn't mean. Please only answer if you have valid knowledge in this area. There is a reason that Jesus said this. Once or even twice I would be able to dismiss it, but Jesus has given this warning several times throughout the Gospels.

Answer 1

It is because whenever people did tell about the miracles, He ended up getting mobbed.

"But when the man left, he began to proclaim it freely. He spread the word so widely that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, but had to stay out in deserted places. Still, people kept coming to him from everywhere." (Mark 1:45)

Answer 2

Prof. Jerry Camery-Hoggatt of Fuller Theological Seminary and Pacific University wrote a nice little book on this called "Irony in Mark's Gospel." Many scholars write about "The Messianic Secret" but JCH focuses specifically on the use of ironic reversal as a story-telling technique employed to focus the audience's attention on the story line and involve them. The audience is "in on the secret" that the players in the story are not in on, i.e. that Jesus' is Messiah, but Mark also adds a twist.

Throughout his ministry Jesus is trying to keep his activities low key to prevent his mission from being cut short, probably by Romans who knock down every Jewish leader that raises his head. Jesus repeatedly tells everyone he heals to tell no one, and they tell everyone. But when he resurrects, he tells the women at the tomb to tell everyone, but out of fear they tell no one.

The original manuscripts of Mark's gospel end with verse 16:8 and some later writer adds the following verses which in fact neutralize Mark's use of ironic reversal and make it indistinct to the audience, ruining the story-telling technique.

Answer 3

It was reverse psychology - he knew they would shoot off there mouths if he told them not to. after all, his goal was to be killed and that would never happen if his secret was actually kept.

Jesus often used psychology. All the parables are a psychological trick to get people to accept concepts presented obtusely that would be rejected if presented directly. He also understood human nature and knows it's diffcult for people to keep secrets. I guess you have it figured out so why not tell us - we need someone wise to interpret Jesus's actions for us.

Answer 4

... Then there are also times where he tells them to talk about him...

Mark 5:18 Jesus was getting into the boat. The man who had been controlled by demons begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him. He said, “Go home to your family. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you. Tell them how kind he has been to you.”

Answer 5

Good question!
I believe I have heard a sermon on this is the past.
Note: When He was asked by Pontius Pilate if He were the God/Messiah the Jews spoke of, He said "I AM" -- plain and simple... the Great I AM.... Jesus at this time professed to be God as well as when in the temple reading He said, "Today this prophecy has been fulfilled."

Jesus told His disciples not to tell others for in part for the reason that He would be swarmed by the mobs of people. Although Jesus is God in the flesh and He came soley for the purpose to die on the cross, it was difficult when the masses of people swarmed around Him. He also said even many who see the miracles.healing etc will still refuse to believe... even if they see with their own eyes. ( Men loved their own flesh rather than the truth.) So people not need to see the miracles of Christ (which still happen today), because people will on their own choose NOT to believe that He is God who came to earth to die for sin... And that He also came to earth that we might better relate to God as He has now 'walked our walk' so to speak. (the New Testament was written- 'The Word' of God)
People must "SEEK WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART and the promise of God is that, if they do, "YOU 'WILL' FIND HIM", in Christ Jesus.
It is ok that Jesus did not always want the masses of people around Him. He had a job to get done... and when it was done... He cried on the cross, "It is finished."

Please if you like, see my starred answers to the questions of others regarding questions of Christ. Many are chosen as 'best answers' and I have taken the time to share in the simplest ways to understand who Jesus really is.


!! ME !! there were no cameras in the day of Mohamed silly.

Answer 6

Jesus told his disciples to go out and tell about his good works, he never told them not to tell anyone. he told them, Go out and preach the Gospel and know that I am the Alpha, The Omega the Beginning and the End, no one can have everlasting life except through me Jesus Christ

Answer 7

there's also times when Jesus allowed that people tell others of what God did for others through him.

there's a time to speak.. and a time not to speak. - ecclesiastes 3:7

Answer 8

He only said this in hostile environments, where there was genuine fear of being killed for saying he was the Son of God.

Same thing happened later, when Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus.... for fear of being killed himself.

Answer 9

He healed privately and publically. He told some not to tell (this is my opinion) because he knew God's plan for him had to be fulfilled, and he healed even when he was not supposed to, and when it was not safe for him to do so.

Answer 10

perhaps the poor guy was just trying to spread his word through his actions and simply wanted no more than for the people to practice as he lived and spread it amongst themselves.