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Question

Why does Jesus seem to hide who he is in the Gospels? Several times in Matthew, when Jesus heals someone he then tells them not to speak to anyone about it or tell anyone who he is. Then when Peter nails it in 16:16, he says you are blessed because this was revealed to you by my Father in heaven. But then he warns the disciples not to tell anyone that he is Christ (the Messiah). Why not?

Answer

This issue is called the "Messianic Secret."  Why did Jesus conceal his full identity?  You have touched on part of the answers.

1.  Matthew 12 quotes the book of Isaiah (chapter 42 I think) and shows one of the main reasons to be to reveal the character of Jesus, mainly that he is not self-promoting.  This quality of our Lord is truly amazing - his humility. 

2.  God's plan is the second reason.  Jesus was born, according to scripture, in the "fullness of time." In other words, the timing of his birth was perfect.  In the same way, the timing of his full revelation was also perfectly planned and timed.  He demonstrated his true sonship in waiting on the timing of the Father.  A major part of the temptation experience of Jesus in the wilderness involved Satan tempting Jesus to take a short-cut and to prematurely and incompletely fulfill his mission.  Also, in reading the gospel of John you see Jesus speaking of "his hour." In chapter two when his mother asks him to help out in the wedding crisis he tells her that his hour had not yet come.  Later in the book of John it becomes clear that he is speaking of his death.  The point is that his death was God's plan to reveal His Son.  Jesus waited for "his hour."

3.  Finally, from a human perspective, man could not conceive of Jesus as the Messiah properly apart from the revelation of the cross.  Everytime people got a glimpse of his power and authority they tried to improperly crown him as a worldly or political king.  Even when Jesus told his 12 apostles about his approaching suffering and death they just couldn't get it.  In the very passage you referenced in Matthew 16, right after Peter nails it, when Jesus tried to tell him of his death Peter opposed Jesus which provokes Jesus famous response, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Thus, from a human perspective we see that it was God's wisdom and love to wait until post-cross to more fully reveal Jesus as the Messiah. 

From a worship perspective God desires for us to respond in to these truths in various ways:

1.  To marvel at His character,

2.  To extol His wisdom,

3.  And to embrace the cross.