QUESTION #16 Believe ye that I am able to do this?

QUESTIONS JESUS ASKED BIBLE STUDY 

 

 Read Matthew 9:27-31 KJV: 

 

  Believe ye that I am able to do this? (Matthew 9:28)

 

WHY DID JESUS SAY, “DON’T TELL” …?

Reference: Matthew 9:27-31; Mark 10:47; Luke 18:38

 

Jesus has just performed a great miracle of raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead and the fame of it has been spread throughout the land, even thou he had told them to tell no one (Mark 5:43). After leaving Jairus’ house two blind men call out to Him for mercy. But Jesus doesn’t stop. The two blind men call Him the “Son of David”. This is the first time Jesus is addressed this way, and it shows that these blind men recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 

 

He enters a house and they follow Him, but thus far he has not seemed to heed their cries, he enters the house as if he does not intend to regard them - possibly for the trial of their faith. They know that God is merciful and they know that the Messiah, being from God, would be too. So, they have faith in who He is and what He can do. They showed a determination to persevere until they obtained what they asked.

 

Since they already believe that He has mercy, Jesus inquires as to their belief in His ability, and asked, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” They respond, “Yes Lord”. He touches them and heals them, saying, “this has been done according to your faith”. He then tells them to tell no one. But they went and spread abroad His fame in all that country.

 

Why did Jesus say, “don’t tell” …?

 

We can only speculate about the reasons Jesus told those he healed not to tell. It’s a curious thing especially in light of the fact that Jesus has commissioned us to make him known. We find that on several occasions during his earthly ministry that Jesus told the people whom he healed not to let anyone know about it. 

§  In this message we read about the two blind men (Matthew 9:30) whom Jesus healed and the miracle he performed on Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:43) he tells them, “Tell no one”.  

§   In (Mark 1:43-44) we read of a leper who was healed, and Jesus told him, “See that you tell no one”.

§  On still another occasion, when Jesus healed a man who was deaf and mute, he charged the entire crowd to tell no one. “But the more he charged them,” it says, “the more zealously they proclaimed it” (Mark 7:36). 

This was often the case. People couldn’t keep it quiet, especially the ones who had been healed. And you can understand their excitement, not to mention their gratitude! 

But why did Jesus say that they should tell no one? I think we find a clue in the account of the leper who was cleansed in Mark 1:45. Even though he was told not to mention it to anyone, it says, “he went out and began to talk freely about it and to spread the news.”

If His miracles were widely known they would attract so much attention and create so much excitement that His movements would be inhibited. “Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and they came to him from every quarter” (Mark 1:45). He could no longer move about as He wished. This was while he was in the land of Israel, where he conducted almost all His earthly ministry. 

 

Many would be attracted to Jesus only for the sake of the miracles he performed. They would be attracted to him much like they would be attracted to a carnival sideshow. They would not be interested in the truth he came to teach, but in having their senses dazzled by seeing a miracle. They would be like Herod. When Jesus was on trial before Herod, we’re told that Herod was very glad to see him, “because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him” (Luke 23:8). 

 

Jesus now says, “To go forth teaching all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (which is Jesus!) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen!”

 

We are to spread the good news! The Gospel of Jesus Christ!

 

Notes: