Two views of whether Jesus feared the Pharisees:
No, the tension of his divine power and omniscience with his withdrawal from the Pharisees’ threat is not from weakness. He is powerful, but he avoids his enemies as though he is powerless, because he is deliberately sparing them, preparing himself for their enmity—but on his own terms, in his own time. He does not destroy the source of hostility, but holds himself back for a later time.
Yes, Jesus’ divine omniscience is coupled with what seems to be human weakness in his avoiding his persecutors (Matthew 12:15). Just as when John the Baptist was arrested and Jesus withdrew to Galilee (Matthew 12:15), so now he retreats before the threat posed by his own people.
The focus in Matthew 4:12 is not on his identity, but on the healings mentioned at the end of Matthew 12:16. These were not to be made known (just as we read in Matthew 12:15 that Jesus’ name became known even at the court of Herod). The command not to make him known is not like the command at Caesarea Philippi that the disciples should not tell people that Jesus is the Christ; it is the paradox of his showing his power by healing literally everyone, but wishing to remain hidden.
Interpretation 1:
No, just as Jesus continues his work, the contrast between his divine power and omniscience on the one hand, and his notable withdrawal in the face of the Pharisees’ threat on the other, is sharpened even further. This conduct cannot possibly be explained as weakness. This is what makes it so mysterious. He is manifestly powerful, yet he avoids his enemies as though he is powerless. This can only mean that Jesus is deliberately sparing his enemies, preparing himself for their enmity—but on his own terms and in his own time. He does not annihilate the source of hostility, but holds himself in reserve for a later hour.1
Interpretation 2:
Yes, here we see Jesus’ divine omniscience coupled with what appears to be human weakness in that he withdraws and avoids his persecutors (Matthew 12:15). Just as when John the Baptist was arrested and Jesus withdrew to Galilee (Matthew 12:15), so now he retreats before the threat posed by his own people and his own kin.2
The focus here in Matthew 12:16 is not on Jesus’ identity as such, but rather on the healings that were mentioned at the end of Matthew 12:15. These were not to be made known (just as we read in Mark 6:14 that Jesus’ name became known even at the court of Herod). This prohibition not to make him known ought therefore not to be equated with, for example, the command at Caesarea Philippi that the disciples should not tell people that Jesus is the Christ. Here it is simply a matter of a very paradoxical action: Jesus making his power abundantly clear by healing literally everyone, and yet at the same time wishing to remain hidden and unnoticed. This revelation contains something of a mystery: that his power becomes public, and yet he seems to fear the publicity. He has the power of a lion, but behaves like a frightened, hunted deer.3
15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all