warning them not to make Him known.
Matthew 12:16. And he threatened them. The expression used by Mark conveys, in a still more pointed manner, that he restrained the unclean spirits, “A scavoir qu’il menacoit et faisoit taire les esprits immondes;”— “namely, that he threatened and silenced the unclean spirits.” who were exclaiming, Thou art the Son of God. We have formerly explained the reason why he did not choose to have such witnesses.
The Pharisees raged at His miracles, not truly caring about the sabbath law they pretended to uphold, their real fury was that His doctrine opposed their pride and hypocrisy. They resolved not merely to imprison or banish Him, but to destroy Him, the very source of life, treating the Glory of Israel as an outlaw and plague.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 12:14-21
A bruised reed shall he not break,.... Various are the thoughts of interpreters, about what is meant by this, and by the smoking flax shall he not quench. Some think the Scribes and Pharisees are designed, whose power Christ could easily crush, and their wrath and fury restrain, but would not, till the time of his vengeance was come.