Jesus,
perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, and commanded them that they should not make him known: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen;
my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased:
I will put my Spirit on him.
He will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not strive, nor shout;
neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He won’t break a bruised reed.
He won’t quench a smoking flax,
until he leads justice to victory.
In his name, the nations will hope.”
Matthew 12:15-21
Matthew 12 [9.] He departed there, and went into their synagogue. And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” that they might accuse him.
Matthew 12 [11.] He said to them, “What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it, and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.” Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other. But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him. Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, and commanded them that they should not make him known: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
Matthew 12 [18.] “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen;
my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased:
I will put my Spirit on him.
He will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not strive, nor shout;
neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He won’t break a bruised reed.
He won’t quench a smoking flax,
until he leads justice to victory.
In his name, the nations will hope.”
Matthew 12 [22.] Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
Meaning:
The Pharisees had just gone out from the synagogue and “conspired against him, how they might destroy him” (Matthew 12:14). Matthew now shows how Jesus responded to this hostility. He did not fight back or raise a crowd against his enemies. He quietly withdrew and kept on healing. Matthew sees in this the fulfilment of one of Isaiah’s great prophecies about the Servant of the Lord.
- “Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there”
Jesus knew what his enemies were planning. His withdrawal was not fear but wisdom. His hour had not yet come, and he would not let a premature conflict cut short his work. Mark describes the same period, when “Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him” (Mark 3:7).
- “He healed them all, and commanded them that they should not make him known”
Even while being hunted, Jesus did not stop showing mercy. He healed all who came. Yet he told them not to publicize him. Many people expected a Messiah who would lead a political uprising against Rome. Jesus did not want to be pushed into that role. He would reveal who he was in his own way and at his own time, finally through the cross and resurrection.
- “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen”
Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1, where God introduces his Servant, the one who would carry out God’s purposes in the world. Matthew’s wording, “my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased”, recalls the voice from heaven at Jesus’ baptism: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). At that moment the Spirit came on him, just as the prophecy says, “I will put my Spirit on him.” Jesus is the chosen Servant, anointed by the Spirit.
- “He will not strive, nor shout”
The Servant does not win by noise, quarrels or self-promotion. This matches Jesus’ withdrawal and his instruction to stay quiet. He did not argue in the streets to win attention. His power was shown in humble service.
- “He won’t break a bruised reed”
A bruised reed is a weak stalk that is almost broken, and a smoking flax is a lamp wick that is about to go out (Isaiah 42:3). They picture people who are weak, wounded and nearly finished. A careless person would snap the reed and put out the wick. The Servant does the opposite. He protects and restores the weak. This is what Jesus had just done for the man with the withered hand, and for the crowds he healed. He invited the weary, saying, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).
- “In his name, the nations will hope”
The Servant’s mission reaches far beyond Israel. He will “proclaim justice to the nations”, and the nations will put their hope in him. While Israel’s leaders were plotting against Jesus, God’s plan was already reaching out to the whole world. After his resurrection Jesus would send his disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
The Significance of Matthew 12:15-21
- Gentle strength
Jesus shows that true strength is not loud or forceful. He meets opposition with patience and continues doing good. His followers are called to the same quiet faithfulness.
- Hope for the weak
If you feel like a bruised reed or a flickering wick, Jesus will not crush you. He is patient with weakness and able to restore it.
- Hope for all nations
The good news of Jesus is for every people. No one is outside the reach of the Servant’s justice and mercy.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 42:1: "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights—" The prophecy Matthew quotes.
Matthew 3:17: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." The Father’s words at Jesus’ baptism.
Matthew 11:29: "for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls." The gentleness of the Servant.
Mark 3:7: "Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him" Mark’s account of this time.
Conclusion: When the Pharisees plotted to destroy him, Jesus withdrew, healed all who followed him and told them not to make him known. Matthew saw in this the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the Servant: chosen and beloved by God, filled with the Spirit, quiet and gentle, never breaking a bruised reed or quenching a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory and the nations put their hope in his name.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible