The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 12 Part 3 Beautiful Pictures of Bruised Reeds and Smoking Flax Show God's Heart Toward Us.

 

We ended our last post by noting the madness of both Pharisees and scribes who watched Jesus heal a man with a mighty miracle.

Instead of rejoicing that their Messiah came to them with healing in His wings, they immediately plotted to kill Jesus!

Pharisees and scribes consumed by madness seek to kill Jesus but He withdrew from them.

Matthew 12:14-15  Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15)  But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 

When Jesus learned of what the Pharisees and scribes were doing, He withdrew Himself from that place.

The words "The Pharisees held a council against him" shows that Satan seeks to hinder the work of God wherever he can and he will use people whose hearts are full of rage and hate to do his diabolical work.

Mark adds that the Herodians also took a part in this plot. 

They were a political party connected with Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great. 

He was the same man who had imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist. 

Herod was under Roman authority and a strong advocate of Roman power. 

All the friends of Herod were opposed to Christ, and ready to join any plot against His life. 

They remembered the attempts of Herod the Great to kill Jesus when he was the babe of Bethlehem.

They remembered how Joseph and Mary were guided by God to escape and save  Jesus from Herod's bloody hands. 

Thus, they now joined with the Pharisees and scribes in the plot against Him because of envy. 

They hated Jesus' popularity and were losing their influence which resulted in their wicked scheming.

Remember the principle Jesus gave previously, to whom much has been given, much shall be required?

Jewish religious leaders were given much in that they both saw mighty works and heard Israel's Messiah speak forth the words of life.

Yet, they rejected Christ and turned away because they loved the praise of other men for their false, outwardly religious acts.

Therefore, they invited God's judgment for their stubborn willfulness and rejection of gospel truth.

God's judgment and condemnation stands ready to destroy each person who rejects the gospel.

Matthew 10:14-15  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15)  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

Our Lord instructed His disciples what to do when a community rejected the gospel. 

In like manner, certain judgment would fall upon the hateful religious leaders in that place.

Unless they repented and turned by faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, they were doomed to face a fate worse than the fiery destruction God inflicted upon Sodom and Gomorrha.

Even though Jesus withdrew from that place, a large multitude followed Him.

Even though this was still the sabbath day, Jesus healed each and every person from their illnesses or uncurable conditions.

No doubt this enraged the Pharisees and scribes even more, but Jesus is the Son of God who always does that which is good and perfect in the sight of His Father.

Therefore, he healed them all!

Those who are involved in gospel ministry must live as Christ and not seek glory for their service.

Matthew 12:16  And charged them that they should not make him known: 

Christ sought to balance His usefulness and privacy. 

He healed them all, and yet charged them not to publicize or broadcast where He was or what He did for them.

This was an act of prudence because it was the people's excitement with the words and works of Christ that enraged the Pharisees. 

Therefore, Jesus did not miss any opportunity to do good and minister to those in need but He sought to draw no attention to Himself.  

Luke 5:13-14  And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14)  And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 

Luke's gospel tells us about Jesus healing a leper and charging him not to tell anyone how he had been made whole.

Mark 7:36-37  And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37)  And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. 

Mark's gospel tells us about Jesus healing a man who was demon possessed, deaf and dumb.

The multitude who witnessed Jesus heal this man were astonished.

Jesus told them not to tell anyone how He healed this man, but the miracle was so extraordinary that they could not refrain from spreading this good news.

Notice the stark contrast between the hateful Pharisees and this multitude.

They bore witness to Christ saying "He hath done all things well!"

Matthew's gospel connects what Jesus did with what the prophet Isaiah wrote about Messiah.

Behold your Messiah, the humble servant of God in whom the Father is well pleased!

Matthew 12:17-18  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18)  Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 

We must find joy in noting how exactly the scriptures were fulfilled by Jesus in His actions and circumstances. 

Christ withdrew from the hateful ones, instead preferring to labor in privacy and obscurity.

Jesus was content to do His Father's will in order that the word of God might be fulfilled and glorified. 

The phrase "Behold my servant" is a title given to our blessed Lord in several prophecies (See Isaiah 42:1; 53:2). 

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Father's voice was heard from heaven saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased " (See Matthew 3:17).

The connection of Jesus Christ with Messianic prophecy was clear then and remains clear to us today. 

Jesus came to perfectly obey God's will and to fulfill prophecies related to Messiah.

Psalm 40:7-9  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8)  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9)  I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 

Christ assumed this title by volunteering to do the Father's will regarding the redemption of mankind from sin, death, and eternal condemnation (See also Hebrews 10:1-18).

Jesus came to do the will of His Father and to preach the righteousness by faith in the gospel message.

Jesus as Messiah came first as a suffering servant and will return as conquering King. 

Philippians 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

God required an acceptable and perfect service from man but man, being sinful, could never perform it. 

Therefore, as the righteous Servant of God, Jesus took on Himself the form of a lowly servant, setting aside His reputation and glory as the exalted Son of God. 

Jesus came to earth to live in perfect accord and harmony with God's law, fulfilling it in every particular way so that He could die in our place on the cross.

When Jesus was raised from the grave, His righteousness is transferred to all who repent and believe on Him.

He will save all who call upon Him with repentant faith.

Jesus took upon Him the nature of man and fully, and perfectly performed the whole will of God. 

Thus, He communicates grace to all His followers, to enable them to love perfectly and to magnify their Maker.

Jesus is meek and lowly, seeking to save the lost, pictured by bruised reeds and smoking flax.

Matthew 12:19-21  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20)  A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21)  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. 

The words "He shall not strive, nor cry" speak to the spirit of Christ. 

No spirit of contention, murmuring, clamor, or complaint was ever found in Jesus.

He who loves discord, division and destruction does not belong to Christ. 

Christ therefore fulfilled a prophecy by withdrawing from this place, on account of the rage of the Pharisees.

The "bruised reed" is used in scripture as an emblem of feebleness, as well as of fickleness or lack of stability (See Matthew 11:7). 

A bruised, broken reed is a metaphor describing the poor and oppressed. 

This means that Jesus would not oppress the feeble or poor, as victorious warriors did. 

A bruised reed is also an expressive picture of a soul broken and contrite on account of sin, weeping and mourning for his or her transgression. 

Jesus will not break such a bruised reed. He will not be severe, unforgiving, or cruel. 

Rather, He will heal it, pardon it, and give it strength.

The idea of "smoking flax" points to the wick of a lamp when the oil runs out.  

A dying, flickering flame and smoke hang over it. 

A smoking flax is an emblem of feebleness and infirmity. 

Jesus would not further oppress those who had a little strength nor would he extinguish hope and life when it seemed most hopeless. 

Jesus would not be like the Pharisees, proud and overbearing, and trampling down the poor. 

This phrase is expressive of the languishing graces of the people of God. 

Jesus will not treat anyone's contrite soul harshly or unkindly.

Instead, He will blow afresh on our feeble flame, pouring in a new supply of the oil of God's grace in order to rekindle our zeal. 

The words "Shall show judgment to the Gentiles" points to judgment in God's law, commandments, statutes and precepts (See Psalm 19:9; 119:29-30). 

"Judgments" refers to the whole Biblical truth concerning the purposes and plans of God about our salvation and new life in Christ. 

In this place it encompasses the whole of gospel truth rooted in the Old Testament and revealed by Christ and His disciples.

What a blessed truth when Isaiah declared that Jesus would be the name in whom Gentiles could be saved.

Bruised reeds and smoking flax are pictures of humble hearts and contrite spirits.

Isaiah 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

This text from Isaiah is one of my most cherished verses in the Bible.

It describes the heart of God toward sinners who come to the end of themselves and turn to God for salvation.

A humble heart is one who understands sin, its consequences and the wrath of God that we deserve.

A contrite spirit is a person who has been crushed into powder by the afflictions, oppressions and sufferings of this life.

Both picture a repentant sinner turning to God for salvation by faith.

People who repent of their sins will look to heaven for their help.

The gospel points them to Christ and the promise of God to save all who repent and believe on His Son. 

Jesus Christ is the sole hope for all mankind and to trust and hope in His name brings new birth, salvation and all things necessary from Christ alone. 

Trusting Jesus Christ for salvation is to despise, all earthly promises and to esteem, love, and desire heavenly things.

Faith in Christ enables us patiently bear the afflictions and evils of this life, because of that blessed hope we have in Jesus' name.

May the Spirit inspired words recorded by the apostle Paul lighten our burdens and cause us to work for Christ as we wait and watch for His return.

Bob

Titus 2:11-15  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15)  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.