The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 516

Ver. 20 (see also vers. 15-21; and Mark iii. 7-12).-Tlte rarest of gentlene/JI, The verse is a quotation from Isa. xlii. 1--3. It was not among the least wonders of Christ's earthly life that while his untiring step paced the flinty pa.th of duty often so anguished, and always so hard with reality, that step made the plants of a date earlier by far reappear and blossom, and yield their sweet fragrance at his feet. The Old Testament may he said to be continually flowering and fruiting in the New. St. Matthew here tells ns where Christ now was, and how it came to pa.ss that he was where be was-what he was doing, and why he did it. He bad turned aside from the place where he had been because they conspired for his life. Two sabbath days in succession they were offended in him, who never had gone one single step to offend them. They coUJted each day the decisive defeat which they sustained, However o.ngry they were with him, it was the worse because they were angry with themselves . .A..nd because Jesos knew that his honr was "net yet come," he would not meet their enraged human nature. He ra.ther turned aside and avoided those whom then to have encountered would indeed have been in no wise to br'tng fear of destruction to himself, bot certain destruction to them. In avoiding them, bis enemi9s, until his appointed time should be come, we must ever view Christ, not as betmying f~ar or wish to get out of harm's way, but as illustrating the grand truth that be came not to destroy life, but to save it. Out of the synagogue, then, and out d Capernaum did Jesus coml'l this sabbatb clay. His followers, whether of the closer or the larger circle, he kept, in the foll career of all his mighty works, unwontedly qui.et. At one and the same time be hushed their pains and their praises, their loud complaints or louder thanks. All are bacle to observe awhile what seems even an unnatural silence. It is not yet quite the hour that the Shepherd should lay down his life and give it a ransom for the flock . .A..nd now, says the divinely inspired St. :Matthew, this healing, salvation, and silence, hard to maintain, are the flowering of old prophecy," Behold my Servant, whom I have chosen; my Beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. . . . He shall not stri 1•e, nor cry, neither shall any man hear bis voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench." This incident was recorded in the life of our Saviour to bring very forcibly before us some phases of his character and work. It Oil, xn. 1-50.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, 513