Matthew

(Reflections, Notes and Commentary)

Matthew 12:17 Fulfillment of prophecy: Isaiah 42:1-4 quoted at Mt. 12:18-21. Matthew previously mentioned the fulfillment of Isaiah 40 in verse 11.10. So he continues Isaiah's message of Jesus making a great change. In verse 21 (KJV) he says, “And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” Compared to the former things, this is a new time when the whole earth can be happy in God by grace through faith, and those who do not believe will miss out on everything important.

Hebrew and KJV correspond well.

Isaiah 42:1 Greek OT (Septuaginta⁵), which sometimes I've noticed seems to add words to help clarify the interpretation...if that is the case here it wasn't translated well by implying solely a group rather than a person because the writer of Matthew seems to imply that it is directly and foremost the Lord Jesus. The Greek verse says specifically, “Jacob, my servant”, and “Israel, my chosen” whereas the Hebrew OT (Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia^{6 [although noting a Septuaginta difference in the margin]}) and Aramaic (Aramaic targum⁷ ) although not exactly the same translation, merely say “my servant” and “my chosen”. God guaranteed his support of him. When parents support a child, the child grows up healthier because of the material and spiritual benefits from the parent. However, human support does not always hold up. Nevertheless, when God supports his chosen, it does not fail as a human endeavor may. Jesus did not fail. And those that followed him did not fail in their choice of direction because they inherited that support and favor. The gates of hell cannot prevail against God.

Isaiah 42:3 “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” Some of the idioms in Scripture are not always easy to understand and translate, especially into another language at a much later time when the technology advancement and environment makes the former language expression seem obsolete. Nevertheless, I believe the words of Isaiah were analogical in its time and the meaning should be sought out. From the time of Isaiah to Matthew the expression alluding to the science of the matter (composition and its state or condition) may have been recognized easily.

Flax: what has almost burned up (perhaps a lamp wick), Jesus will not completely put the remainder of the fire out; he will not quench it and make die out something that has started to burn but is smoking.

Reed: dry stalk with many possible uses; a crushed reed will he not break: he will not destroy the whole of something because part of it is damaged.

Generally, the person coming (which was Jesus) will not destroy the people he visits because of their poor spiritual condition, but rather he will bring judgment unto victory: through his mercy and grace he will revive the bruised and hurting. There will eventually come victory in the person's life. His work of grace will supplement and complete their faith.