Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
God's description of His character (Isaiah 42:1-4) God addresses Him directly (Isaiah 42:5-7). Address to the people to attend to the subject (Isaiah 42:8-9). Call to all, and especially the exile Jews, to rejoice in the coming deliverance (Isaiah 42:10-25).
Behold my servant. The law of prophetic suggestion leads Isaiah from Cyrus to the far greater Deliverer, behind whom the former is lost sight of. The express quotation in Matthew 12:18-20, and the description, can apply to Messiah alone (Psalms 40:6, note: with which cf. Exodus 21:6; John 6:38; Philippians 2:7). Israel, also, in its highest ideal, is called the "servant" of God (Isaiah 49:3). But this ideal is realized only in the antitypical Israel, its representative-man and Head, Messiah (cf. Matthew 2:15 with Hosea 11:1). "Servant" was the position mused by the Son of God throughout His humiliation.
Whom I uphold - lest he should sink under the pressure of my wrath against man's sin laid upon Him. So the Syriac. But Grotius and Calvin take the Hebrew, ethmak bo, I will lean upon Him; as a master leans upon a faithful servant (2 Kings 5:18; 2 Kings 7:2; 2 Kings 7:17). I depend upon Him for executing all my will.
Mine elect - chosen by God before the foundation of the world for an atonement (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8). Redemption was no afterthought to remedy an unforeseen evil (Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 3:11; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 1:2-3). In Matthew 12:18, it is rendered "my beloved:" the only beloved Son, beloved in a sense distinct from all others. Election and the love of God are inseparably joined.
(In whom) my soul - a human phrase applied to God, because of the intended union of humanity with the divinity: I myself.
Delighteth - is well pleased with, and accepts, as a propitiation, God could have 'delighted ' in no created being as a Mediator (cf. Isaiah 42:21; Isaiah 63:5; Matthew 3:17).
I have put my Spirit upon him - (Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; John 3:34.)
He shall bring forth judgment - the Gospel dispensation, founded on justice, the canon of the divine rule and principle of judgment, called "the law" (Isaiah 2:3: cf. Isaiah 42:4, "His law;" Isaiah 51:4; Isaiah 49:6). The Gospel has a discriminating judicial effect: saving to penitents: condemnatory to Satan, the enemy (John 12:31; John 16:11), and the willfully impenitent (John 9:39). Matthew 12:18, has, "He shall show" for, "He shall bring forth," or 'cause to go forth.' Christ both produced and announced His "judgment." The Hebrew dwells moot on His producing it; Matthew on His announcement of it: the two are joined in Him.