Matthew 12:14–21

Verse 18. Behold my servant, and so forth The words are out of the prophet Isaias, Calmet. 41:1. And it is observed that the Jews, before the coming of Jesus, used to expound them of their Messias. Witham.—Our Lord Jesus Christ may be called the Servant of the Almighty, because, as himself assures us, he came down not to be served, but to serve; or, as S. Remigius says, not on account of his divinity, but on account of his humanity, which he received from the pure flesh and blood of the immaculate Virgin. Ex D. Thoma. There is some difference in the text of Isaias, whence this is taken. The apostles and evangelists did not confine themselves to cite the very words of the text, but only the sense. V.

Verse 19. He shall not contend. These words do not occur in the prophet, but are added by Saint Matthew to express more fully the sense, because he offered himself up to the will of his heavenly Father, and delivered himself into the hands of those who persecuted him. Aquin. Nor cry out; because, like a lamb, in the hands of the shearer, he opened not his mouth.

Verse 20. The bruised reed. The prophet here shews the mildness of our Saviour, who, though he could have broken them like a reed, and as a bruised reed, yet would not do it; and though he could have easily extinguished their rage and anger, yet he bore with it for a while, with singular clemency, till he should send forth judgment unto victory, that is till justice shall have appeared triumphant, till Christ shall have fulfilled all things, and raised his most illustrious trophy: till the Gentiles shall have placed their confidence in his most adorable name, and the Jews have no plea, notwithstanding their unparalleled obduracy, to make in reply. Saint John Chrysostom hom. xli.—Judgment unto victory. S. Jerom and S. Hilary expound these words in conformity with their interpretation of the two foregoing verses, as follows: “The Lord will cherish and support the infirm and weak in this time of penance and probation, inviting them to greater strength, and light, and perfect charity, till the power of death be taken away, till he return to judge the world, when his judgment shall be victorious; though, in the mean while, it often may appear suppressed, and even subdued by the obstinate will of man.” But the exposition, most conformable to the literal sense of the prophet, is: he will support the weak by his mildness, until it come to pass that his judgment, which he came to announce to the Gentiles, be led to victory, by his truth becoming universally triumphant over the world, and in his name all nations shall hope. Jansenius.—Thus will he bear with the little light and virtue of his enemies, till the bright light of his faith, and the warmth and strength of his grace, obtain in their hearts, and triumph over every opposition. A.

Verse 21. In his name the Gentiles. Here are two words differing from those used by the prophet: in the Hebrew text we have, in his law the islands shall hope: probably the oversight of the amanuensis substituting ονομα for νομω; the latter variation is of still less moment, as the prophets understand by islands, countries far removed; and also the poet,

Et penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos.

And, Mittam ad insulas longe ad eos, qui non audierunt de me. Isaias, 60:9, and 66:19.