Matthew 12:15-17

Jesus withdrew when opposition became intense before His time to go to the cross had arrived (cf. Matthew 4:12; Matthew 14:13; Matthew 15:21).

"This is the pattern of His ministry until His final and open rejection in chapters twenty-one to twenty-seven-opposition, withdrawal, and continued ministry." [Note: Toussaint, Behold the . . ., p. 161.]

He had instructed His disciples to follow a similar procedure (Matthew 10:11-14; Matthew 10:23-24). He withdrew specifically to avoid open conflict with the Pharisees. [Note: John Henry Bennetch, "Matthew: An Apologetic," Bibliotheca Sacra 103 (October 1946):480.] His extensive ministry continued (cf. Matthew 4:23; Matthew 8:16; Matthew 9:35), as did His encouragements to those He healed to keep quiet about what had happened to them but with no greater cooperation (cf. Matthew 8:4; Matthew 9:30). His conduct fulfilled Scripture.