Isaiah 42:2,3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He shall not cry, &c.— This beautiful passage sets forth not only the method of this great teacher's instruction, but also the kind and quality of that instruction. Indeed, there is so close an affinity between these, that the one involves the other; for the manner of teaching ought to be conformable to the doctrine itself, and its quality; which is here set forth as peaceable and consolatory. In the first place it is said, that he shall not cry; —he shall not strive, according to St. Matthew: "He shall not be the teacher of a contentious disputative doctrine, calculated to obtain the praise of human wit and learning." He shall not lift up his voice: "He shall not cry; [κραυγαζει, St. Matth.] He shall not imitate those Foresian declaimers, who with great art and oratory set forth themselves and their parts to the public." Upon the whole, the meaning is, that the Messiah, endued with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, should appear among the Jews without pomp, without orientation: that he should deliver a pacific doctrine, tending to reconcile men with God and with themselves, and to bind them in perfect friendship together. That he should by no means disturb the political state of empires and kingdoms; that he should propose his doctrine fully, with divine authority, but yet modestly, and without any boasting or vain display of himself; all of which was remarkably fulfilled in Jesus Christ. With respect to the other quality of his doctrine, that it should be consolatory, and perfectly adapted to raise and to heal the dejected and afflicted soul, the prophet expresses it by two metaphors, than which nothing can more strongly set forth the gentleness and meekness of Christ. He will not break a bruised reed. "He will not reject the most grievous sinners, whose souls are most depressed with a sense of their vileness and unworthiness. He will not reject the weakest beginnings of faith." He will not quench the smoking flax—which should rather be translated, He will not extinguish the dimly-burning lamp. The allusion is here to a dimly-burning flame, which sends forth more smoke than light, through the want of oil in the lamp; and it gives us the idea of a man, in whom the habits of the spiritual life are so weak, that, unless they obtain some supply, they seem about to perish entirely. Such as these the Messiah would succour and assist; (compare chap. Isaiah 61:1-3.) and such as these Jesus in his ministry did succour and assist. The Chaldee paraphrase on this place is remarkable: "The meek, who are like a bruised reed, shall not be broken; and the poor, who are like dimly-burning flax, shall not be extinguished." The last phrase, He shall bring forth judgment unto truth, or victory, according to St. Matthew, signifies, "that Jesus Christ should propose the doctrine of evangelical truth, equity, and meekness, with that force and meekness, that it should never more be obscured or put out in the world, but that it shall conquer and triumph over all other doctrines whatsoever." The passage may be understood, that he shall make his righteous cause gloriously triumphant over all opposition. See Vitringa.