Isaiah 42.1-4, Matthew 12.14-20.
After Jesus cured
Matthew 12.14-20 KWL - 14 Going out, the Pharisees took a meeting about this—so they could have Jesus destroyed.
- 15 Jesus, who knew this, left there, and a great crowd followed him; he had cured them all.
- 16 Jesus had rebuked them, lest they reveal what he might do
- 17 so that he might fulfill the word from the prophet Isaiah, saying,
- 18 “Look at my servant whom I chose, my beloved. My soul approves of him.
- I put my Spirit in him, and he’ll bring justice to the gentiles.
- 19 He won’t struggle or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
- 20 He won’t split a broken reed, won’t extinguish smoking linen, till he can issue justice in victory.
- 21 Gentiles will put their hope in his name.”
Is 42.1-4
Since Matthew quotes Isaiah and says Jesus fulfilled it, Christians presume this particular part of Isaiah is a
Isaiah 42.1-4 KWL - 1 “Look at my slave. I support him, my chosen one. My soul is pleased with him.
- I put my Spirit upon him: Judgment goes forth to the gentiles.
- 2 He doesn’t cry out, doesn’t stir things up; his voice isn’t heard in the street.
- 3 He doesn’t break up crushed reeds, nor put out a dimming wick.
- Judgment is issued to promote truth. 4 Likewise he doesn’t fade nor break down till he brings judgment to the earth.
- The border lands await his instruction.”
Y’notice there are minor differences. No, not because I translated it differently; it’s because either Matthew was quoting a bad copy, or paraphrasing. (I prefer to think he was paraphrasing.) Matthew simply laid his ideas on top of Isaiah, same as Christians still do… and really shouldn’t.
Anyway, because Christians don’t understand
Isaiah 41.8-9 KWL - 8 “And you, my slave Israel, Jacob whom I chose, my beloved Abraham’s seed:
- 9 I seized you from the land’s end, called you one of its chiefs, and told you,
- ‘You’re my slave, my chosen. I don’t reject you.’ ”
No, he didn’t switch from Israel being the servant he meant, to Messiah being the servant he meant, in the course of a few verses. He was still telling Isaiah about Israel. He’s gonna put his Spirit on Israel and use the nation to promote justice among gentiles. True, Israel isn’t currently doing the best job of promoting justice towards anyone but fellow Israelis. But I don’t figure this prophecy is describing the present day anyway.
The L
Meanwhile Matthew jumped the gun a little, ’cause though Jesus was starting