Matthew 12:14-21

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet:

Isaiah’s description of Christ

I. When our Lord knew that the Pharisees were plotting His destruction, it is saw that he withdrew himself: from that place. He did not avenge their malice. He allowed it space to dissipate. Give no place to anger, He continued His works of mercy when He withdrew from the Pharisees … Great multitudes followed Him,” de. By His practical benevolence He would refute their falsehood, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good. Our Lord did net wish His fame spread abroad. An absence of ambition. We should be satisfied with approval of God.

II. The conduct of our Lord on this occasion was a fulfilment of a prediction by Isaiah.

1. He is termed the “servant “ of Jehovah.

2. He was chosen for His work.

3. Beloved by the Father.

4. He will put His Spirit upon Him.

5. He shall not strive.

6. In His name shall the Gentiles trust. (B. W. Noel. M. A.)

I. The personal characteristics of this “Servant of God.”

II. His mission.

III. The manner in which he would accomplish it.

IV. The guarantee that in this mission he would succeed. (M. N.)

I. The person here referred to.

II. The description here given of him.

III. The commission here given him. Lessons:

1. If Christ needed the Spirit of the Lord upon Him, how much more do we?

2. If Christ does not manifest ostentation, why should we:’

3. If Christ, who is all purity, could be gentle with the erring, why should not we? (W. M. Taylor, D. D.)

I. His Divine appointment.

II. His special endowment.

III. His expansive work. (J. Rawlinson.)

I. The love of the father. The mission of the Son had its origin in the Father’s pitying love for us (1 John 4:9; John 3:16).

II. The condescension of the Son. Became a servant.

III. The co-operation of the holy spirit.

1. It was by the Holy Spirit that the Son was qualified for the accomplishment of the work He had undertaken (John 1:16; John 3:34)

2. It is by the Holy Spirit that the work of Christ is now carried on in the hearts of men (John 16:7). (C. Kemble.)

I. The progress of Christianity shall continue until the principles of Christ’s kingdom pervade the entire globe.

II. There is a modern tendency to speak of the failure of Christianity.

III. In what direction do indications around us point? It is thought that Christianity attempts too much. It is thought that the agency is wholly inadequate to accomplish the work proposed.

IV. The sure future of Christianity. (Bishop Simpson.)

Physical forces gentle

The forces of physical nature around us might serve to teach us that those things are not always the most precious that make the most noise. The common air and dew, the rain of heaven the light that falls upon us day by day-influences like these work silently and without any ostentation, and yet no one will doubt that they are far more precious to us than the noisy forces of nature, the earthquake, or the hurricane, or the wild tornado. What comparison, for instance, can you draw between the lightning and the light? The lightning may-attract our attention more, demanding as it does that attention in imperious thunder tones, and yet who will venture to say that there is any comparison between the daily sunlight so beautiful to the eye, so essential to vegetation, so necessary to all the beautiful variety of colour in the world, and that noisy and occasional flash, which may indeed purify the atmosphere for a moment, but which can do but little more, unless it is sent on some errand of destruction. And even in respect to power, what comparison can be drawn between the earthquake, the most powerful perhaps of the ostentatious forces of nature-the earthquake which can rend a continent, or swallow up a whole city-. what comparison can be drawn between that and the great silent law of gravitation that law which guides the flight of every bird, and the fall of every pebble, that law which leads the sea in its ebb and flow, which holds this world and all the mighty orbs of the firmament in the hollow of its silent but mighty hand? (F. Greeves.)

Social-forces gentle

And so it is in social life: we think a great deal of the matters that astonish and dazzle us; of the outbreak of passionate feeling in a noble cause, of the hearts that inflame the multitude, of the deed of superhuman daring that makes a man the hero of an hour, of some noble work in rescuing life from flood or fire-these things occupy our thoughts, and we drink very little of the thousand names, and deeds, and looks of kindness, by which God is honoured, and humanity is blessed, and the world is made liker heaven. And yet who wilt venture to say that the aggregate of the world’s happiness is as much promoted by that public deed, however noble and illustrious, as by the silent stay-at-home virtues of multitudes of persons whose names will never be known until the great day shall declare them? (F. Greeves.)