After Peter's confession, Jesus charged the disciples to tell no man that He was the Christ. This charge was given because of the determined opposition of the scribes and Pharisees. More than this, the people, and even the disciples, had so false a conception of the Messiah that a public announcement of Him would give them no true idea of His character or His work. But day by day He was revealing Himself to them as the Saviour, and thus He desired to give them a true conception of Him as the Messiah.

Efter Peters bekendelse pålagde Jesus disciplene ikke at fortælle nogen, at han var Kristus. De fik dette påbud på grund af de skriftkloges og farisæernes målbevidste modstand. Og desuden havde folket og endog disciplene en så forkert opfattelse af Messias, at en offentlig kundgørelse om ham ikke ville give dem den rette forståelse af hverken hans karakter eller hans gerning. Men dag efter dag åbenbarede han sig for dem som Frelseren, og således ønskede han at give dem den rette opfattelse af ham selv som Messias.