Matthew 9:9-38, Call of Matthew & Healings of Jesus
There are several good stories in chapter 9, but an important takeaway is that Jesus was on a mission. His mission involved lots of people and it was impossible not to draw attention to what He was doing. Along the way, there were even those who knew who He was and let it slip. Word getting out about what He was doing was essential to the mission yet would ultimately bring it to an end. The timing had to be just right.
I think it’s similar to Paul’s journeys later when he would go from city to city and stay just long enough for a church to be established before he had to sneak out under the cover of darkness. Yet, Jesus’s mission required the final showdown in order to reach completion.
Journey Through Scripture 