Matthew 12:20 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

A bruised reed shall he not break, and-smoking flax shall he not quench. Though what more feeble than a cracked reed or a wick just flickering? Yet he reckons neither as useless; he allows for possibilities of improvement. His treatment of the believer who is weakest, and, so to speak, least alive, is marked by long-suffering and gentleness. Observe that read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The bruised reed. According to his custom, St. Matthew here applies an ancient prophecy to Jesus Christ. The ideal that was never realized before now finds its fulfilment. It is one peculiarly appropriate to the character of Christ and to his saving mission. I. CHRIST BRINGS GOOD TIDINGS TO THE FEEBLE AND FAILING . He comes as the Physician for the sick. He is the good Shepherd who leaves the safe flock of ninety and nine to seek the one lost sheep. He has little for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The rarest of gentleness. The verse is a quotation from Isaiah 42:1-3 . It was not among the least wonders of Christ's earthly life that while his untiring step paced the flinty path 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 be said to be continually flowering and fruiting in the New. St. Matthew here tells us where Christ now was,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:14-21

This account is found also in Mark 3:6-12.Matthew 12:14The Pharisees ... held a council ... - Mark adds that the Herodians also took a part in this plot. They were probably a “political” party attached firmly to Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, tetrarch of Galilee. He was the same man who had imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist, and to whom the Saviour, when arraigned, was sent by Pilate. See the notes at Luke 3:1. He was under Roman authority, and was a strong advocate of Roman... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:16-21

Matthew 12:16-21 . And charged them that they should not make him known Partly that he might avoid the envy and rage of his persecutors, and partly because the time was not yet come for him to declare himself openly to be the Messiah. That it might be fulfilled, &c. Here the evangelist assigns another reason why the Lord Jesus prosecuted his ministry in this humble, meek, quiet, and unostentatious way: it was, that he might fulfil Isaiah’s prophecy, Isaiah 42:1-4, in which it was... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:9-21

35. Man with a withered hand (Matthew 12:9-21; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11)If an animal fell into a pit on the Sabbath day, the Jews would not hesitate to rescue it the same day. Yet they criticized Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath. Although no list of rules sets out all that a person should or should not do to keep the Sabbath holy, it is always right to do good on the Sabbath. To save life is better than to kill, and in this case Jesus was helping to save life. The Pharisees, by contrast,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:20

O smoking. Greek. tuphoomai. Occurs only here. 1 Timothy 3:6 ; 1 Timothy 6:4 . 2 Timothy 3:4 . send forth = bring forth (what was before hidden), as in Matthew 12:35 with Matthew 13:52 . Compare Deuteronomy 32:34 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:20

A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment to victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles hope. - Isaiah 42:1ffThe last sentence of this quotation gives the sense but not the exact words of Isaiah 42:4. The bruised reed and dimly-lighted lamp are symbols of weakness and feebleness of faith, applicable in this place, no doubt, to the general spiritual condition of the Gentiles, but also a pledge that Christ does not despise the faith of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:17-21

Matthew 12:17-21. That it might be fulfilled, &c.— Concerning this prophesy, we refer the reader to the notes on Isaiah 42:1; Isa 42:25 just observing, that it is not quoted here exactly according to the Hebrew original, the Evangelist having contracted it. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:20

Matthew 12:20. And smoking flax, &c.— And a dimly burning taper he will not extinguish, till he render his laws victorious; or, till he hath made justice victorious. It is said at Mat 12:18 that he shall teach the nations judgment; by which I understand, says Dr. Heylin, in nearly these words, that self-judgment [the nosce teipsum, self-knowledge, reduced to practice] which is, under divine grace, the ground of all morality, and commonly named judgment in the scripture. This on the first... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:14-21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:16-21

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:9-21

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:20

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:20

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:17-21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:20

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