Some scenes defy description. Seeing a spectacular sunrise over the ocean or a sunset nestled between snow-covered mountains cannot be adequately expressed by words like “great,” “lovely,” or “amazing.” The grandeur of nature, which reveals just a few attributes of God—like his wisdom and power—is often breathtaking. If we struggle to describe the beauty in nature, which is a revelation of only a few attributes of God, how can we possibly describe the greatest manifestation of all his attributes in his Son, the God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ?
How can we explain the wonder that God the Creator became a creature? Through the flesh, the very and eternal God, who made, upholds, and governs all things, was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. The result was a person who was fully God and fully man, two whole, perfect, and distinct natures inseparably joined together in one person, yet without conversion, composition, or confusion. This one Christ is the only mediator between God and man.
Not only is his person indescribable, but so is his work for depraved sinners like us. The holy God became sin for us, bearing our sin before the horrors of God’s eternal justice on the cross, feeling such agony that he cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” No single title or description adequately explains the depth and majesty of his person or the character and accomplishment of his redemptive work. We have multiple titles and scenes that give us a glimpse of him until the day the veil is lifted and we see him as he is!
We’ve been looking at the Gospel of Matthew and have reached chapter 12. Chapters 1–10 presented the King as the promised Messiah through his preaching and miracles. Chapters 11 and 12 reveal the tragic response: Israel’s rejection of their Messiah. Matthew shows that this rejection did not happen because the Messiah was lacking in any way, but because the people were blind and sinful. As John 3:19 states, “The Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”
In the midst of this rejection, Matthew pauses to quote from the Prophet Isaiah’s Suffering Servant language. This quote shows that Jesus’s quiet manner toward his opposition revealed his true nature as the Messiah sent from God. The central command of this passage, found in verse 18, is “Behold!”—so let us take time to contemplate this Servant.
Attributes of the Servant
We can observe at least ten attributes of this Servant in the passage.
Attributes Previously Discussed:
- The Servant perfectly fulfills the will of God. The term “Servant” conveys Christ’s total submission to the Father in carrying out the eternal plans of redemption. He did not come to serve men’s ambitions but to serve the Father’s will.
- The Servant had care of God for the sorrowing. His compassion is seen in that he healed everyone, even as he warned them not to publicize him.
- The Servant was chosen by God. Even though Israel rejected him, he is the Chosen One of God, the only one appointed by God as the hope of the nations.
- The Servant was pleasing to God. The phrase, “My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased,” points to the infinite delight the Father has in the Son. Only Christ, the Beloved, could do the work required for eternal redemption, and he alone is one with whom the Father is “well-pleased.”
- The Servant was loved by God. This speaks of the amazing, infinite love within the Trinitarian Godhead.
- He is anointed by God with the Holy Spirit. “I will put My Spirit upon Him.”
- He will preach the gospel of God. “He will declare justice to the Gentiles.”
Remaining Attributes: Meekness, Compassion, and Triumph
8. He is the Embodiment of Meekness
Verse 19: “He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.”
If he is the Messiah, why did he not conquer the Romans or loudly denounce his enemies? Why did he withdraw when the Pharisees wanted to kill him, and why did he spend his time in quiet places among quiet people? Because Isaiah prophesied he would not quarrel or cry out. The word for “cry” here refers to the irritating, clamorous, and often useless shouting—like the barking of a dog—not a dignified speech.
Jesus did not come to wrangle, fight, argue, or harangue in the streets. He possessed a marvelous quiet dignity and spoke with meekness. This stood in stark contrast to the loud, brawling, rabble-rousing Pharisees who constantly stirred up riots. The Lord never engaged in political disputes, organized a mob, or appealed to wild-haired emotions. There were no riotous screamings, no public fights, and no boisterous disputes; only gentleness and meekness. He never sought to secure his rightful place by political power, carnal force, or raising a mob. He would not shout down his opposition.
This is astounding because Christ holds the most privileged position in the universe and has absolute authority over every creature. If any ruler had a right to reclaim his kingdom by force, it was Jesus Christ. But as God’s Servant, he would not deal with his enemies by desperate quarreling or loud uproars.
The Lesson for Us: The kingdom of Christ is not of this world, and it conquers by the force of truth, love, and spiritual power, not by harshness or loudness. Our operations must model his. Paul instructed Timothy to “avoid foolish and ignorant disputes” and to be “gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Timothy 2:23-25). Titus was told to teach people to “speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:2). We must faithfully proclaim the truth of the Gospel, live lives of holiness, and move on when rejected, leaving persecution to God. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
9. The Servant is Very Compassionate to a Contrite Heart
Verse 20 is a beautiful statement of Christ’s gentleness: “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench.”
This verse points to Christ’s humility and gentleness, echoing his invitation to the weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28-29). Isaiah used two metaphors describing weak, common items in ancient Eastern life:
- A Bruised Reed: Reeds, often used for flutes or straws, were delicate. If they were bruised or bent, they would no longer stay straight or play correctly and would be crushed and thrown away. The bruised reed is a picture of a person who is weak, helpless, hurt, and crushed—one who has realized their sinfulness and broken spiritual condition before God.
- Smoking Flax: Wicks, made of plant fibers soaked in oil for a small lamp, would quickly start to smolder if they lacked fuel. The fire would be almost out, and the wick could easily be extinguished. The smoking flax represents a life whose spiritual flame is faint, near to going out, and lacking the fuel of hope.
The Compassion: Jesus Christ, the gentle Servant, will not break a soul already bruised, nor will he quench the faintest flicker of faith or spiritual life. His mission is not to destroy those who are weak or broken but to comfort and restore those with a contrite spirit.
10. He Will Triumph Finally
The Servant’s gentle, yet powerful, ministry will inevitably result in complete victory:
- “Till He sends forth justice to victory; And in His name Gentiles will trust.”
Despite all the opposition and his quiet withdrawal, the Servant will persevere until his justice—his righteous reign—is established in triumph. The ultimate sign of this victory is that the Gentiles will trust in his name. This assures us that God’s plan extends beyond the nation of Israel to all nations, and the hope of the world will be realized through the gentle, powerful work of the Suffering Servant.
The passage conveys a deep fear that believers often experience: that God will reject them or justly punish them because of their great sin and weakness. Samuel Davies, an 18th-century preacher, detailed this pervasive weakness in the Christian life, finding the believer weak in:
- Knowledge
- Love
- Faith
- Hope
- Joy
- Zeal for God
- Repentance
- The conflict with indwelling sin
- Resisting temptations
- Courage
- Prayer
- Abilities to evangelize
- Everything in which they should be strong
The author asks whether we find ourselves in such a state of weakness, wondering if Christ will “pound away” at us or deny us His forgiveness. The answer, drawn from Isaiah, is a resounding no: He will not bruise a broken reed.
The Bruised Reed and the Smoldering Wick
The text uses two powerful images to describe the condition of a distressed believer:
- The Bruised Reed: This represents a soul brought low by sin and the trials of life, made useless and worn out. When the conscience is awakened to the guilt of sin, every judgment and trouble feels like a repeated blow. The person realizes that sin has destroyed them, much like a bruised musical reed that can no longer play a tune.
- The Smoldering Wick (Smoking Flax): This image describes the weak sign of grace that is repeatedly opposed and nearly quenched by indwelling sin. There is a flickering hope, a small spark of grace, but it is mixed with doubt and fear—like a wick with little light and a lot of smoke.
These two images together make up the state of a distressed person, one whom Christ calls “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). They are the weak, the powerless, the helpless, the trampled, and the ignored—the very people human conquerors and religious leaders often bypass or despise.
Christ’s response to these broken people is one of tender care: “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench.” Rather than destroying what little is left, He strengthens it. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). He does not kick the oppressed when they are down. Instead, He uses splints, props, and soft bandages. He fans the smoldering flicker of spiritual life into a bright torch, demonstrating that His heart is indeed the heart of God, the gentle Beloved Servant.
The Condition for Comfort
It is important to note that this gentle comfort is not for everyone. Jesus’s tone is very different toward the unrepentant. The promise of comfort is for those who are crushed by their sinfulness and mourn—the “poor in spirit” who genuinely cry out, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!”
This comfort is not intended for people who feel miserable only because of the effects and results of sin in their lives, but who have no intention of forsaking their rebellion. The rich young man, for example, turned away sorrowful, like a bruised reed, because he would not submit to Jesus’s command. These words are not meant to comfort such rebellion.
The Servant’s Final Triumph
The passage concludes with the Servant’s final two attributes:
1. He Will Triumph Finally The day will come when Christ “sends forth justice to victory.” Despite being rejected and persecuted in Matthew’s day, this Servant will ultimately win an eternal, glorious victory. Sin and Satan will be banished, the wicked will perish, and the Servant will rule over all. Justice will finally come to victory when the unrepentant are punished, and the bruised reeds are vindicated and raised to glory.
2. In His Name, Gentiles Will Trust The message of Christ’s tenderness and final victory is not limited to Israel. It is a world-wide promise: “And in His name Gentiles will trust.” The good news will reach every nation, tribe, and tongue, and people will set their hope on Jesus Christ alone.
The Call to Behold the Servant
The passage is an exhortation to behold this marvelous Servant—the one who:
- Perfectly fulfills the will of God.
- Was chosen, loved, and anointed by God.
- Will preach the gospel of God.
- Is meek and will comfort the contrite heart.
- Will ultimately triumph.
If we seriously behold Him, the result will be that we put our hope in Him and Him alone. This hope must be more than mere belief; it must be a deep relationship that reveals itself in obedience to His Word.
The core prerequisite for truly trusting in Christ is to first become a bruised reed—to realize one’s deep spiritual poverty and sinfulness, to have a true sense of sin, and to turn to Christ in full repentance. Until a person realizes they are a depraved sinner and that none of their acts can save them, they will not put their trust in the only hope for salvation.
This hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation of God’s promises being fulfilled. It is a living hope that carries believers through the dark valleys of life and serves as the main motivation for holiness, causing everyone who has this hope to purify himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:3). This hope in Christ brings joy, peace, and perseverance in tribulation.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 