Matthew 12:21

"He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory."

Key Reflection

In Matthew 12:21, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 42:3 (part 3) and uses these words to highlight his mission as the Messiah. The phrases "He won’t break a bruised reed" and "He won’t quench a smoking flax" evoke images of gentleness and care. A bruised reed symbolizes something very weak, while a smoking flax refers to a nearly extinguished flame. These metaphors suggest that Jesus came to offer hope and support even to the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals. This verse underscores the idea that the Messiah would not abandon those in desperate need but would sustain them until his mission of bringing justice to victory was accomplished.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 21. And in his name, etc. The Hebrew in Isaiah is, "And the isles shall wait for his law." The idea is, however, the same. The isles denote the Gentiles, or a part of the Gentiles--those out of Judea. The meaning is, that the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and that they should receive it. See Barnes "Isa 41:1, for an explanation of the word islands, as it is used in the Bible. __________________________________________________________________

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