Read Matt. 12:15-21; Isaiah 42:1-4, The Gentle Servant

Today’s passage brings us, again (cf. Day 9, 3/25/20 on our blog) to the Servant Songs of Isaiah.  Read the previous post for an overview of these Songs.  Matthew quotes a significant portion of the first of those songs.  He uses it here because the context is perfect.

The tide has begun to turn against Jesus and He is fully aware of this.  Even though His ministry is characterized by large and often enthusiastic crowds, the opposition of the leadership (seen in the Sabbath controversies in Matt. 12:1-14) is growing.  They went out and plotted against Him, that they might destroy Him (12:14).  Jesus will warn them in 12:22-45.  Then in Matt. 13 Jesus will use the parables to begin to prepare His disciples for ministry after His death, resurrection and ascension.  Our recent journey through Matthew’s gospel noted how, in the coming chapters, Jesus would begin to break down the Disciples’ prejudice against the Gentiles.  That is the overall context: rejection and ministry to the Nations.

The immediate context of 12:15-16 is also fitting.  This is one of those places where Jesus seeks to discourage people from talking about Him so as to make Him known.  According to 12:17 the prophecy of Isaiah (v18-21) explains why Jesus did this.  So let us ask, then, what did the first Servant Song tell us?

·        It tells us that the Messiah, the Servant, would be gentle.  He would not come to push or force people into following Him.  Notice how, after the contentious situation with the leaders early in the chapter, that Jesus withdrew from them when He knew they were plotting to destroy Him.  He did not raise up an army or try to whip up support from among the crowds so He could win the majority to His side.  He withdrew.  He still healed people, He still preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, but He did not continue the contentious situation with the leaders.

·        The Servant Song also tells us that in the end, the ministry of the Servant will extend to the Nations (Gentiles).  The last line of Isa. 42:4 says, And the coastlands shall wait for His law.  The “coastlands” speaks of the Nations.  Isaiah is referring to the people around the Mediterranean Sea.  In other words, Isaiah has gone beyond the immediate Nations that were Israel’s continual enemies (Moab, Edom, etc.).  The Messiah’s ministry will go far beyond that to all the Nations.

·        The Servant Song tells us one more thing: He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth (Isa. 42:4).  Jesus’ rejection, which led to His crucifixion, was not the end of the story.  His resurrection and ascension to the Father’s right hand, waiting until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet, tells us Jesus has not become discouraged.  He will not fail. The earth WILL be full of His righteousness.  You may remember (Day 6, 03/21/20 in the blog) a reference to Jews who deny Jesus as Messiah because He failed to bring peace to the world.  This is what was predicted: a setback, a delay according to men’s plans, so that the Messiah’s ministry would extend to the Gentiles.  Read Romans 11 with this in mind and you will see that the Apostle Paul understood this.

Today, the gospel of Christ is not forced on anyone.  When this has happened, and it has throughout history, we can say confidently that it was not right.  The gospel is preached that Christ died for your sins and defeated death by His powerful resurrection.  It is your choice to believe in Christ alone that you might approach your Creator in righteousness.