Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 8:30

"And he charged them that they should tell no man of him." — Mark 8:30 (ASV)

He wished, at that time, to remain in comparative retirement; he was not anxious that his miracles should be widely proclaimed. Later, he was to die; and he preferred to derive his fame from his death rather than from his life, and to gather his honors from his cross rather than from his miracles.

He never commanded any man to be silent about his death on the cross; but when honor was likely to come to him among men from his miracles, he frequently charged them that they should tell no man of him. That restriction is no longer in force; it was entirely abrogated after our Lord's resurrection, when he said to his disciples, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.