Matthew 16:20

Matthew 16:20, in plain English

Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Christ. The timing isn't right yet, and the people would misunderstand what kind of Messiah He is.

Why it's here

God's timing matters. Sometimes He asks you to hold a truth close to your heart before sharing it with the world. Not every revelation is meant for immediate broadcast.

Who's speaking

Jesus gives the disciples a command of silence.

Where it sits in the story

The greatest truth in the world must be kept secret for now. Jesus knows that declaring His messiahship prematurely would derail His mission.

The scholarly reading

The command to secrecy (diestelato, 'admonished/ordered') about Jesus being the Christos reflects the messianic secret motif. Premature public declaration of messiahship risked political misunderstanding and interference with Jesus' mission.

Language and setting

The messianic secret in Matthew is less prominent than in Mark but still present. Jesus suppresses the title at this point because popular messianic expectations (military deliverer) conflict with His suffering-servant identity.

Voice

Jesus instructs the disciples to keep His identity secret.

Significance

Immediately after the great confession, Jesus orders silence. The world is not yet ready to hear this truth because they would misunderstand what kind of Messiah He is.

18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

21From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

Read all of Matthew 16 — Peter makes the greatest confession in history — then immediately tries to talk Jesus out of the cross. Both responses are profoundly human.