Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 16:20

"Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ." — Matthew 16:20 (ASV)

At that time, they were to be silent about our Lord’s highest claims, for fear that the people might in rash zeal set Him up as king by force of arms. It was dangerous to tell such a poorly instructed multitude what they would certainly misunderstand and misuse.

The command to tell no one must have sounded very strange to the disciples. It was not their place to discover the reason for their Lord’s orders; it was enough for them to do as He commanded them.

We are under no such restriction and therefore will tell everyone that our Lord is the Savior, the Anointed of God, or as He Himself worded it, Jesus the Christ.