Isaiah 42:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Behold my servant, whom I upheld— Whom I will uphold. Lowth. Or, Whom I receive. The discourse of God is continued, of the Father pointing out the Son, as the teacher of the Gentiles expected for so many ages, about to recal them from idolatry and superstition, and to enlighten them with the most pure and holy doctrine. St. Matthew has plainly and directly applied this passage, which is truly august, and worthy all attention, to Jesus Christ, Matthew 12:17; Matthew 12:50. And in the voice from heaven, Matthew 3:17 there is a manifest allusion to it. Simeon also, in his song, Luke 2:31-32 has a plain reference to it, as well as St. Paul, in his discourse before king Agrippa; Acts 26:18. The ancient Jews also saw its reference to the Messiah, as appears from their paraphrase: "Behold, my servant, the Messiah, my beloved, in whom my word is well pleased:" and, indeed, the passage cannot with any show of probability be applied to any other than Jesus Christ, to whom these attributes peculiarly belong. He was the servant of God, obedient to his Father's will, peculiarly received, and in whose fidelity he absolutely reposed; faithful as a son; obedient unto death. See Hebrews 3:5-6. Philippians 2:7-8. He was God's elect in the most emphatical sense of the word; chosen from the beginning to glorify his Father's name upon earth, the precious lamb ordained before the foundation of the world, to be the prince of his faithful people, the head of his church, the source of righteousness and salvation to all that should believe in him; that elect, in whom the Father's soul delighted; in whom he was well pleased; in whom he saw all the properties and qualities necessary for his great and important office; particularly those which fitted him to be the great sacrifice of the world. (See Ephesians 5:2.Hebrews 10:5; Hebrews 10:39.); who was endued with all the gifts of the holy Spirit, which was not given to him by measure. See John 3:34. Isaiah 11:1-2; Isaiah 61:1-3.; and it was he who was to bring forth judgment to the Gentiles: that is, to deliver the canonical doctrine of religion to the Gentiles; rational, founded in principles of conscience, according to which every other doctrine of religion, all the opinions of men concerning religion, all the sayings, judgments, and actions of the Gentiles, are to be judged; which is, the doctrine of the Gospel, the canon of the divine judgment, the rule of the judgment of Christ to whom the Father hath delivered judgment, and of all those ministers who should establish his kingdom among the nations. See chap. Isaiah 2:4. &c. and Vitringa.