Matthew 12:15–21 (ESV)
God’s Chosen Servant
15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to
fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Behold, my servant
whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put
my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19
He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his
name the Gentiles will hope.”
Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, proclaimed justice to all nations, a justice that rightfully condemns sinners. Yet
Jesus fulfilled the demands of that justice by His perfect life and innocent death on the cross. We, Christ’s present-day ambassadors, do well to follow His example as we proclaim His message. We will not save anyone by being argumentative and quarrelsome.
The Gospel of Christ alone is the power of God for salvation (Rm 1:16).
I
pray: Grant me patience, Lord, not to quarrel or cry aloud as I share the Gospel with others. Amen.
Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The
Lutheran Study Bible (pp. 1604–1605). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.