Matthew 12:15-21 - Our Gentle Savior

Jesus gently and tenderly brings justice through to victory.

Matthew 12:15-21 (NIV)

15 Aware of this [that the Pharisees were plotting to kill Him], Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,

the one I love, in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

19 He will not quarrel or cry out;

no one will hear his voice in the streets.

20 A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,

till he has brought justice through to victory.

21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Canons of Dordt

Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election

Articles 1-14

Article 16 - Encouragement for the Doubting

Those who do not yet actively experience within themselves
1. a living faith in Christ or an assured confidence of heart, peace of conscience, a zeal for childlike obedience, and a glorying in God through Christ,
2. but who nevertheless use the means by which God has promised to work these things in us—
3. such people
  1. ought not
    1. to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation,
    2. nor to count themselves among the reprobate;
  2. rather they ought to continue diligently in the use of the means,
    1. to desire fervently a time of more abundant grace,
    2. and to wait for it in reverence and humility.
On the other hand, those who seriously desire to turn to God,
1. to be pleasing to God alone, and to be delivered from the body of death,
2. but are not yet able to make such progress along the way of godliness and faith as they would like—
3. such people
  1. ought much less to stand in fear of the teaching concerning reprobation,
  2. since our merciful God has promised not to snuff out a smoldering wick or break a bruised reed.
However, those who have forgotten God and their Savior Jesus Christ and have abandoned themselves wholly to the cares of the world and the pleasures of the flesh—
1. such people have every reason to stand in fear of this teaching,
2. as long as they do not seriously turn to God.

Summary

We live in a world where self promotion is the norm. All sorts of wannabe 'influencers' clamor for likes and subscribers, often by saying or doing crazy and provocative stunts, yet their voices often just blend into the noise of modern life. So it seems so strange that Jesus repeatedly warns people not to tell others about Him. It seems so counterintuitive to His mission; shouldn't He be trying to make His ministry go viral?

Matthew helps explain that Jesus' covertness was exactly what had been prophesied about Him. Hopefully you recognized the words from Isaiah that Matthew quotes here, since we just read them a few weeks ago. Isaiah had pointed to a suffering servant who had no intention of drawing attention to himself, one who would not quarrel or cry out; whose voice would not be heard in the streets.

Jesus didn't come to start a movement or even just help people improve their lives. He had no interest in building a following by amplifying His voice in the streets or correcting all of the establishment's errors by quarreling with them. He came with one singular purpose: to save His people by atoning for their sins and fulfilling our Father's covenant requirements on our behalf.

Dig Deeper

Matthew wants us to see Jesus' multifaceted personality as he tells the gospel story. He begins the gospel demonstrating Christ's royal pedigree. Matthew's gospel has several long chunks of Jesus' preaching, like the chapters containing the Sermon on the Mount. He also concentrates on Christ's atoning sacrifice. Matthew wants us to know that Jesus Christ is prophet, priest and King.

But Matthew also wants to demonstrate that Jesus doesn't just fulfill His official duties in a cold and detached way, but with gentleness, kindness and a personal love for His sheep. Matthew, who spent years following, listening and learning from Jesus, wants you to know that Jesus fulfilled exactly what Isaiah had prophesied about Him, that He will not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smouldering wick.

The Canons of Dordt are often castigated as nothing more than rigid, hard theology that's impractical and irrelevant to the day to day issues Christians struggle with, but this isn't the case at all. The Canons here once again labor to pastorally come alongside the many Christians who struggle with doubt and don't make progress along the way of godliness and faith as they would like.

When you struggle in these ways, the Canons summarize the voices of the prophets, apostles, and especially our Savior in reminding you that your ongoing doubts and occasional lapses in faith are no reason for you to ever begin to think that maybe you've not been unconditionally elected. Not only are you always held by grace that's stronger than you are, but the hands that hold you are gentle and patient and will never bruise you or snuff you out.

AAA Prayer (About)

ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, in whose Servant the nations put their hope;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank Jesus for His kindness and gentleness with you, even when your faith has withered;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: