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In a number of places in the Gospel accounts, Jesus performs a miracle and then tells the healed person and others who witnessed it not to spread the word. For example,

• After healing a leper,

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:43-44, ESV)

• After curing a death and dumb man,

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. (Mark 7:36)

• After curing two blind men,

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it. (Matthew 9:30)

Likewise, in several places Jesus tells people, especially his disciples, not the share that he is the Messiah. For example,

• After Peter's declaration,

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)

• After the transfiguration,

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)

And in addition, Jesus also told demons not to reveal his identity:

“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
...
and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. (Mark 1:24-25, 34, NIV)

What is an overview of explanations offered for these passages? That is, why does Jesus make these commands according to notable scholars and Biblical commentators?

In a number of places in the Gospel accounts, Jesus performs a miracle and then tells the healed person and others who witnessed it not to spread the word. For example,

• After healing a leper,

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:43-44, ESV)

• After curing a deaf and dumb man,

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. (Mark 7:36)

• After curing two blind men,

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it. (Matthew 9:30)

Likewise, in several places Jesus tells people, especially his disciples, not the share that he is the Messiah. For example,

• After Peter's declaration,

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)

• After the transfiguration,

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)

And in addition, Jesus also told demons not to reveal his identity:

“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
...
and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. (Mark 1:24-25, 34, NIV)

What is an overview of explanations offered for these passages? That is, why does Jesus make these commands according to notable scholars and Biblical commentators?

In a number of places in the Gospel accounts, Jesus performs a miracle and then tells the healed person and others who witnessed it not to spread the word. For example,

• After healing a leper,

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:43-44, ESV)

• After curing a death and dumb man,

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. (Mark 7:36)

• After curing two blind men,

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it. (Matthew 9:30)

Likewise, in several places Jesus tells people, especially his disciples, not the share that he is the Messiah. For example,

• After Peter's declaration,

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)

• After the transfiguration,

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)

What is an overview of explanations offered for these passages? That is, why does Jesus make these commands according to notable scholars and Biblical commentators?

(Note: I have purposely left aside a third class of secrecy commands - those made to demons, since at least in principle these passage could have a different explanation. See this question for those cases.)

In a number of places in the Gospel accounts, Jesus performs a miracle and then tells the healed person and others who witnessed it not to spread the word. For example,

• After healing a leper,

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:43-44, ESV)

• After curing a death and dumb man,

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. (Mark 7:36)

• After curing two blind men,

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it. (Matthew 9:30)

Likewise, in several places Jesus tells people, especially his disciples, not the share that he is the Messiah. For example,

• After Peter's declaration,

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)

• After the transfiguration,

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)

And in addition, Jesus also told demons not to reveal his identity:

“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
...
and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. (Mark 1:24-25, 34, NIV)

What is an overview of explanations offered for these passages? That is, why does Jesus make these commands according to notable scholars and Biblical commentators?

In a number of places in the Gospel accounts, Jesus performs a miracle and then tells the healed person and others who witnessed it not to spread the word. For example,

• After healing a leper,

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:43-44, ESV)

• After curing a death and dumb man,

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. (Mark 7:36)

• After curing two blind men,

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it. (Matthew 9:30)

Likewise, in several places Jesus tells people, especially his disciples, not the share that he is the Messiah. For example,

• After Peter's declaration,

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)

• After the transfiguration,

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)

What is an overview of explanations offered for these passages? That is, why does Jesus make these commands according to notable scholars and Biblical commentators?

(Note: I have purposely left aside a third class of secrecy commands - those made to demons, since at least in principle these passage could have a different explanation. See this question for those cases.)

In a number of places in the Gospel accounts, Jesus performs a miracle and then tells the healed person and others who witnessed it not to spread the word. For example,

• After healing a leper,

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mark 1:43-44, ESV)

• After curing a death and dumb man,

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. (Mark 7:36)

• After curing two blind men,

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it. (Matthew 9:30)

Likewise, in several places Jesus tells people, especially his disciples, not the share that he is the Messiah. For example,

• After Peter's declaration,

Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:20)

• After the transfiguration,

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:9)

What is an overview of explanations offered for these passages? That is, why does Jesus make these commands according to notable scholars and Biblical commentators?

(Note: I have purposely left aside a third class of secrecy commands - those made to demons, since at least in principle these passage could have a different explanation. See this question for those cases.)