Matthew 12:15 – 21

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.”

Jesus knew the desire for His destruction by the Pharisees. He also knew His work was not finished on earth, it was not time for His life to be taken, so he left the synagogue and the multitudes followed Him.

The threat of the Pharisees did not intimidate Him, He healed everyone that was afflicted.

Jesus warning the multitudes about Him shows us again He is not healing the afflicted to gain notoriety or fame. He is doing it out of compassion for the suffering.

Many times we see the words “that it might be fulfilled” this does not always mean it was done just so a prophecy would be fulfilled, but sometimes it does mean it was done to fulfill a prophecy. But sometimes it just means when this action was completed it did fulfill a prophecy.

Verses 18 – 21 are quoted from Isaiah 42:1 - 3.

The first verse means God is doing this, He is providing His servant Jesus, who He selected is bringing His work to benefit the people of the world. Gentiles mean all people who are not Jews.

Jesus is not an ordinary “street preacher” yelling to be heard and attracting attention. He is quiet and meek and would not be heard in the street.

These illustrations bring the same kind of message as the previous verse. They demonstrate the gentleness and quietness of which Jesus would go about His work.

A reed was a hollow stalk which grew by the waters. The reed is stiff but after it has been broken or smashed it is weak, it will hardly stand by itself, Jesus will apply so little force to His message it would not knock down a broken reed.

He would apply so little force he would not extinguish a a candle wick of which the fire had nearly gone out

The Mosaic law was only for the Jews, but the Gospel or good news of the New Law would be for all people, a universal law which will last until the end of time.