The disciples are commanded not to disclose the fact that Jesus is the Christ. This title, though true, had certain connotations among the Jews that were different from the ministry work which Jesus had been called to do. The popular concept of Messiah involved political and revolutionary hopes of freedom from Roman rule and the establishment of a Jewish kingdom similar to that of King David.1 If all the crowds knew that Jesus was the Messiah, they would get in the way of him doing the work that he came to do.
30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.