Matthew 12:14-21

¹⁴ Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. ¹⁵ But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. ¹⁶ Yet He warned them not to make Him known, ¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ¹⁸ “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. ²⁰ A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; ²¹ And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

Commentary

Vs. 14 “Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

The Lord Jesus Christ having declared Himself Lord of Sabbath and having then healed a man of a withered hand on the Sabbath in one of their synagogues, the Pharisees observing these things now go out and plot to destroy (i.e. kill) Jesus. The religious leaders of the Jews then were not about to let a Man, even the Son of Man not conform to their interpretations of the Law and Sabbath. Something which is universally seen in every legalistic religion in varying ways and to varying degrees when doctrines and commandments of men surpass the Word and Authority of God. The controlling nature of them then stands in striking contrast to the freeing and liberating Nature of Christ, whose yoke is easy, whose burden is light, who does not oppress, but gives light and life to all who believe in Him (John 8:12; 14:6).

Vs. 15 “But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.”

Jesus then knowing their evil scheme withdraws from there, leaving them to wallow in their own spiritual blindness and darkness which had so hardened their hearts that they couldn’t even see God’s love for people in all that Christ just did and was doing in their very midst. Now when Jesus withdrew from there great multitudes followed Him, because In Christ every hungry and longing soul finds its satisfaction and rest. And Christ did not disappoint them, for He healed them all, just as He will heal you, just as He has healed me too, by first bringing us into a holy and restored union with God through Himself. 

Vs. 16-21 ¹⁶ Yet He warned them not to make Him known, ¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ¹⁸ “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. ²⁰ A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; ²¹ And in His name Gentiles will trust.” 

The Lord Jesus not wanting His person to become the object by which they might think to start a revolt against Roman rule and authority; which would’ve have only interrupted God’s plan for Christ’s Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, and then the Holy Spirits outpouring into all who believe, all which was still future, and so at that point there was still so much to fulfill; specifically, the time of Gentiles (the era which we are now in) before the Lord could reign and rule over us all. Therefore, the Lord Jesus commands them not to make His Person known that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.” ^{Vs. 18}

 In Isaiah’s prophecy Isaiah the prophet foresaw the time when God’s Servant the Lord Jesus Christ would be here ministering and doing good to all in need, declaring justice not just to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. And so, God’s Servant being filled with God’s Spirit is clearly seen in the baptism of Christ; the precursor event to His beginning to Minister here; where God say’s of Christ, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Now Isaiah also foresaw the Lord Jesus Christ’s preaching and teaching ministry, a ministry in which Christ’s gentle nature is seen with all, saying of Him, ¹⁹ He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. ²⁰ A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; ²¹ And in His name Gentiles will trust.” ^Vs.19-21

The Lord Jesus Christ then though having a very public ministry was not a raucous individual; causing an uproar when He spoke or taught. Nor did He enter into contentions and angry “debates” with those in opposition to Him. Indeed, the Lord Jesus’ most notable work is often done one on one with individuals He has chosen to bring to Himself. Another aspect of Christ’s Person and His Ministering that Isaiah foresaw is that, “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;”

Therefore, in His Ministering the Gospel the Lord Jesus Christ does not trample on the feelings (nor the dignity) of the hurting, disenfranchised, or oppressed. Just as He does not inflict injury on anyone through insults or hurtful speech. For there is neither arrogance nor indifference in His dealings with all people. Something that we as His disciples must always remember. “And a smoking flax He will not quench” Literally the smallest measure of faith in anyone the Lord Jesus Christ will not quench but He seeks to nurture it until it becomes a bright and burning unquenchable flame!

“Till He sends forth justice to victory”. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ would neither be discouraged, nor be dissuaded from His Ministry and Earthly Purpose, for He sends forth justice to victory. God’s justice fully accomplished through Christ’s Life, Crucifixion Death, Resurrection from the Dead and Ascension back to Heaven waiting Till God makes all His enemies His footstool! Therefore, in His Name Gentiles in His Name will trust. For It is the Lord Jesus Christ who not only saves us, but He is the One who justifies us in the sight of God, because we trust in Him alone.

Scripture Quotations 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.