"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; (16) And charged them that they should not make him known: (17) 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 show judgment to the Gentiles. (19) 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."
It is striking to observe that those very scrupulous persons who professed so high a regard for the Lord's day, yet scrupled not to consult on that day, how they might destroy the Lord of life and glory.-- Reader! did you ever notice any of the Pharisees of the present hour, (for they are the same in all ages). Oh! what vast regard they would have you suppose they have for the morality of the Gospel! But the Lord Jesus, who reads under this covering the heart of such men, tells us that notwithstanding all this, they should receive the greater damnation. Matthew 23:14. Now observe this was not for any immoralities, or for the neglect of prayers, and the like; for they were rigid to an excess in duties as they called them. But it was for setting up a righteousness of their own, against the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Beware ye (saith Jesus) of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy: Luke 12:1
But. let us turn from the disgusting views of such characters, to contemplate the beautiful picture the Prophet Esaias hath drawn of Jesus, and which the Evangelist copies in this scripture from the original, See Isaiah 42:1-4. The Prophet introduceth Jehovah the Father as calling upon the Church to behold him; and as commending his person, in his gracious office as the Church's husband, and the Mediator, and as One in whom his soul delighteth. Nothing can be more blessed than what God the Father saith of him. And when his redeemed can answer to God the Father's approbation of him, as his servant; in their approbation of him as their surety, head, and Saviour, the subject is blessed indeed, I will put my spirit in him, saith Jehovah. I will put my soul and body in his Almighty hands, saith the poor awakened simmer. He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles, saith God. He hath shewn both judgment and mercy to me, saith the poor Gentile, whom grace hath recovered from sin and destruction. He shall be a meek, a tender hearted Savior, saith the Father, so that even the bruised reed he shall not break, and the smoking flax of his people's weaknesses, he shall not quench, Jesus is all this and more, saith the poor sinner; for he hath remembered me in my low estate, for his merely endureth forever! Oh! the unknown, the unnumbered mercies in the bowels of Jesus, which he bears to all his redeemed; and by which he manifests his grace to them, otherwise than he doth to the world. John 14:21-22
I detain the Reader for the moment, just to observe on the word judgment, in this passage, that though in the first view of it, there might be thought somewhat harsh in it, but it is not so. Bringing forth judgment to the Gentiles, and unto victory, implies, that Jesus will complete the work of his free grace for his redeemed, in a way of judgment so wise, and excellent, that it shall commend his administration for the deed, while everything of tenderness shall mark his features of character; so that the bruised reed and the smoking flax, which are in his way, he will not tread upon nor injure.