Matthew 8:4 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Some think that our Saviour only commanded him silence until he had showed himself unto the priest, and he, according to the law, Leviticus 13:1-59, should have pronounced him clean, lest their envy upon hearing of it should have caused them to have obscured the miracle, by delaying to pronounce him clean; but it is observable that this was not the only time when Christ commanded those upon whom he had wrought miracles to say nothing of it: see Matthew 2:30; Matthew 9:16 17:9. It is therefore more probable, that this precept was not to be understood with that limitation, but that Christ did it, either that he might not be thought to seek his own glory, or rather, because Christ judged it not yet time by his miracles to be publicly made known: but he sends him to the priest, both to teach him obedience to the law, and that the truth of the miracle might by a public record be confirmed. He also commands him to offer the gift appointed by the law, Leviticus 14:1-57, thereby both acknowledging his cure to be from God, and testifying his thankfulness. That Moses commanded; to show that he came not to oppose Moses. For a testimony unto them; that hereafter it may be a testimony unto them, that I am more than the Son of man, 1 Thessalonians 5:36.