Seeds for 08/23/2023 - Matthew 12:15-21
Scripture: Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed Him, and He healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about Him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“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. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, till He has brought justice through to victory. In His name the nations will put their hope.”
Observation: The Sabbath controversy we looked into the past two days was so strong that the Pharisees’ response was to plot to kill Jesus. That’s the level of threat they perceived. So Jesus withdraws from that location. It isn’t the time or place for a showdown.
The Pharisees might be angry with Jesus, but the crowds remain intrigued. They follow Him en masse and He heals their sick. Again, Jesus urges them to keep it quiet, what scholars refer to as the “messianic secret” common in the “synoptic” Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
So yes, it reads strangely to me that the next comment from Matthew is a fulfillment quotation (a prominent feature of Matthew’s Gospel) from Isaiah that speaks of God’s servant proclaiming “justice to the nations.” At least, that’s what first stands out to me. Proclamation doesn’t seem like what Jesus is doing at this moment—just the opposite.
Then again, Isaiah also speaks of the messianic servant not quarreling or crying out, remaining silent and leaving some things as they are until “He has brought justice through to victory. In His name the nations will put their hope.”
Jesus is not afraid of confrontation. He challenges the Pharisees regarding the true meaning and purpose of Sabbath in argumentation and in demonstration in the previous two episodes. But at the same time, Jesus knew the importance of restraint as well. This was not yet His time. His earthly mission and purpose was not yet complete and the time had not yet come for its consummation on the cross. So, rather than force a showdown with the Pharisees, Jesus withdraws and, though continuing to proclaim the kingdom of justice (which means simply that God will set everything right—the way it should be) in actions as well as words.
Thus far in Matthew 12, Jesus demonstrates both engagement and restraint. His focus remains on His mission and purpose, therefore He is able to discern the right time to challenge the Pharisees on their understanding and teaching about Sabbath and the right time to back off, be with those who are more receptive to the message, and wait until the proper time to allow the confrontation to boil over.
Application:
Do you know what your purpose/part is within God’s mission?
When were you able to exercise restraint when that was wiser than engagement?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, grant me the wisdom to engage or restrain, depending on what best accomplishes the purpose you have for me. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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