Biblical commentary on the New Testament - The Christian ...

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Matthew VIII. 3, 4. 341
tiSn.] But that an actual and instantaneous removal of tlie disease
is intended in this case, is evident from the words " immediately
his leprosy departed from him" (evO^oyg dnijlOev i) Xsnpa) [Mark i.
42], which are explanatory of haOapiaOr}, teas cleansed. In Matthew,
too, the connecting of eKaOaplaOr) with i) Xti-npa avrov, requires
in the verb the idea of removing.)
Ver. 4.—All the narratives agree in recording, that the cure was
followed by the command of our Lord to tell no one of the event.
Similar prohibitions are often found in the Evangelical history. (See
Matth. ix. 30 ; xii. 16 ; xvi. 20 ; xvii. 9 ; Mark iii. 12 ; v. 43 ; vii.
36 ; viii. 26, 30 ; ix. 9 ; Luke viii. 5Q ; ix. 21.) The Saviour's
reasons for them were of various kinds. Sometimes he, doubtless,
meant, in that way, to guard against popular movements to make
him the Messiah-king ; at others, to withdraw the people's atten-
tion from the transactions, and prevent their rendering him external
homage ; or, as Luther observes, to give an example of humility.
But he may have often forbidden the announcement for the sake of
those who were cured. If these persons were in danger of distrac-
tion by outward occupation, it might be the intention of Jesus to
lead them thus to try themselves, and to turn their attention within.
That this was sometimes his motive, is especially probable from the
circumstance that we meet with instances of an opposite character,
where our Lord encourages them to declare what God had done by
him. (See Mark v. 19.) This appears to have been his practice
tow^ards those persons Avho, naturally reserved, and lost in undue
self-contemplation, needed prompting to outward activity for the
prosperity of their inward life. The circumstance last noticed
affords a glance into the profound wisdom of our Lord as a teacher,
who understood how to treat every one accordmg to his wants. In
the present case, it would seem from the account in Matthew, most
suitable to look for the reason of the prohibition in the person cured,
since the cure was wrought in the presence of many, and yet the
command to tell nothing of it was directed to the leper alone. It
is true, Mark had said nothing of the multitudes ; and from his
representation, it is more probable that the command was intended
to prevent popular tumults. His account is (i. 45), that the leper,
notwithstanding the prohibition, published the miracle diligently,
(jToXM often used in Mark
e. g., iii. 12 ; v. 23 ; xv. 3—in the
sense of " greatly," " zealously,") and that, by that means, such a
commotion arose, " that Jesus could no more openly enter into the
city"—viz., without giving encouragement to the carnal hopes of
the Messiah among the multitude. Perhaps Mark has also subjoined
the words^: Kal t:p,f3pinr]adjievog avroj evdio)g i^£(3aXev avrov, and
he straitly charged him, etc., to make the command more stringent.
('EiJ,l3pindoixai has here the meaning of "to command with solemnity