Matthew 9:30 kjv

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 9:30 nkjv

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it."

Matthew 9:30 niv

and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."

Matthew 9:30 esv

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, "See that no one knows about it."

Matthew 9:30 nlt

Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, "Don't tell anyone about this."

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 30 Meaning

Matthew 9:30 describes the immediate consequence of Jesus healing two blind men and His subsequent, stringent command for them to keep the miracle a secret. It highlights Jesus' divine power in restoring sight and His authoritative will concerning the timing and manner of His public revelation. The act of healing manifests His messianic authority, while the injunction reveals a strategic purpose related to the nature of His kingdom and mission.

Matthew 9 30 Context

Matthew 9:30 is the conclusion of Jesus healing two blind men in Capernaum (Matthew 9:27-31). This miracle is part of a larger section (chapters 8-9) in Matthew's Gospel, where the evangelist presents a series of Jesus' mighty works. These miracles – healing the sick, casting out demons, calming the storm, and even raising the dead – serve to demonstrate Jesus' supreme authority and power over all aspects of creation, affirming His identity as the promised Messiah.

Historically and culturally, blindness was a common affliction and seen as a grave misfortune, often associated with divine punishment or a mark of spiritual deficiency. The ability to restore sight was regarded as an exclusively divine act or a messianic sign (as prophesied in Isa 35:5). Thus, Jesus' opening of blind eyes profoundly affirmed His messianic claims to His audience, many of whom expected a conquering king. However, Jesus consistently sought to control the narrative surrounding His miracles, preventing their sensationalization and people misinterpreting His mission as purely political. This practice, known as the "Messianic Secret," aimed to avert a premature political uprising, manage opposition from religious leaders, and ensure His identity was truly understood after His suffering, death, and resurrection.

Matthew 9 30 Word analysis

• And their eyes were opened:

  • And: Kai (Greek). Connects the previous action (Jesus touching their eyes, Mt 9:29) to the immediate outcome.
  • their eyes: Refers to the two blind men who had cried out for mercy. The miracle directly addressed their specific affliction.
  • were opened: Aneōchthēsan (Greek, from anoigō). Aorist passive indicative. Emphasizes that this was an instantaneous, divinely effected action. The blindness was not slowly receding; their eyes were fully and completely opened by Jesus' power. This highlights the absolute nature of the miracle and the source of the power as divine.

• And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows about this!”

  • And: Kai (Greek). Introduces Jesus' direct, immediate reaction to the completed miracle.
  • Jesus: The divine Son, demonstrating His power and authority.
  • sternly warned them: Enebrimēthē autois (Greek, from embrimaomai). This is a strong verb, not a mild request. It carries the force of a sharp charge, a solemn warning, or a strict injunction. It conveys indignation or forceful restraint. Its usage here signifies the utmost seriousness of Jesus' command, perhaps due to the profound implications of publicizing this messianic sign prematurely, or to prevent misinterpretations of His mission as merely a miracle-worker. It implies urgency and importance beyond a mere polite request for discretion.
  • saying, “See that no one knows about this!”
    • See: Horate (Greek, from horao). An imperative command meaning "be careful," "look," "take heed," or "beware." It’s a strong admonition, urging vigilance.
    • that no one: Mē tis (Greek). An emphatic negative particle combined with an indefinite pronoun, forming a very strong prohibition against anyone making it known.
    • knows about: Gnoī (Greek, from ginōskō). Refers to a perceptive and informed understanding or recognition. Jesus wants to prevent the news of this specific, profoundly messianic miracle from spreading, especially its connection to Him.
    • this!: Touto (Greek). Refers directly and emphatically to the miraculous healing that had just occurred.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And their eyes were opened": This phrase represents the divine restoration, the instantaneous reversal of a grave affliction. It's a clear demonstration of Jesus' sovereign power over physical maladies and signifies the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah's coming (e.g., Isa 35:5). The passive voice emphasizes that the power was external, not of the men themselves.
• "And Jesus sternly warned them": This reflects Jesus' control over the unfolding of His divine plan and revelation. The strong word choice (embrimaomai) highlights the seriousness with which Jesus regarded the dissemination of information about His identity and power. This was not a gentle suggestion but a weighty command, demonstrating His authority over His followers even in matters of secrecy. It points to a profound purpose behind the injunction, rather than mere modesty.
• "saying, “See that no one knows about this!”": This is a prime example of the "Messianic Secret," a recurring theme in the Gospels. The imperative "See" combined with the emphatic "no one knows" indicates a stringent prohibition. The purpose behind this was multi-faceted: to avoid a premature popular uprising based on a misinformed, worldly expectation of a political Messiah; to prevent undue opposition from religious authorities before His designated time for suffering; to allow Jesus to control the timing and understanding of His true messianic identity, which would only be fully comprehended after His death and resurrection. He aimed for true faith, not a superficial following motivated by sensationalism.

Matthew 9 30 Bonus section

The profound emphasis Jesus places on secrecy through the term embrimaomai highlights His ultimate control and sovereign plan regarding His ministry's revelation. This was not a moment of modesty, but a calculated, divine strategy to shape the understanding of His kingdom. The fact that the healed men immediately disobeyed Jesus' stern command, as noted in Matthew 9:31, reveals a common human tendency to proclaim exciting news despite specific instructions. This human failure, paradoxically, still served to announce aspects of Jesus' glory, though perhaps in a manner less aligned with His immediate, precise objectives. It also foreshadows the challenge Jesus faced in getting His contemporaries to grasp the true, spiritual nature of His messianic role, distinguishing it from popular political expectations.

Matthew 9 30 Commentary

Matthew 9:30 is a concise yet deeply significant verse. It punctuates a miraculous demonstration of Jesus' unique, divine power to restore sight, fulfilling a profound messianic expectation. The instantaneous opening of the blind men's eyes underscores Jesus' authority over physical infirmities, an ability previously attributed solely to God.

Immediately following this incredible act, Jesus issues a "stern warning" (Gk. embrimaomai), signifying a weighty, even forceful command for secrecy. This is not a polite request but a strong injunction. "See that no one knows about this!" serves to prohibit public disclosure of the miracle and its source. This directive is a clear manifestation of the "Messianic Secret" strategy often employed by Jesus throughout His early ministry.

The reasons for this command were strategic: Jesus sought to manage perceptions of His mission. The people's primary expectation was often that of a conquering, political Messiah, and widespread news of such a powerful miracle could have fueled a premature uprising, leading to Him being forcibly declared king (as seen in John 6:15). Moreover, premature widespread acclaim might have intensified opposition from religious authorities before the divinely appointed time for His suffering and atonement. Jesus desired to cultivate a deeper, spiritual understanding of His kingdom, distinct from worldly power and fanfare. His true identity as the Christ, the suffering servant who brings salvation through self-sacrifice, could only be fully comprehended after His resurrection. The command to secrecy allowed Him to teach His disciples about the nature of true faith and the kingdom on His own terms, focusing on spiritual transformation rather than superficial spectacle.

Ironically, despite the severity of the command, the very next verse (Mt 9:31) tells us these men "went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole district." This disobedience highlights the inherent difficulty of controlling public reaction to such powerful divine acts, and perhaps, even served a paradoxical purpose in the broader divine plan, stirring public attention ahead of Jesus' climactic work.