Matthew 9:30 - Exposition

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them ( ἐνεβριμήθη αὐτοῖς ) . The notion is of "coercion springing out of displeasure. The feeling is called out by something seen in another which moves to anger rather than to sorrow" (Bishop Westcott, on John 11:33 ). Saying, See that no man know it. Partly to avoid publicity for himself, partly for their own sake, for even the recital of the Lord's mercies towards us often becomes an occasion of spiritual harm, since it is apt to degenerate into "display" with its attendant evils. ̔ημᾶς διδάσκει φεύγειν τὸ ἐπιδεικτικὸν ὡς αἴτιον τῶν κακῶν (Origen, in Cromer's 'Catena'). The other occasions ( vide Matthew 8:4 , note) on which a similar command was given seem all to belong, with this, to the earlier part of his ministry.