Thursday, January 20, 2022

Intro to "God's Beloved Servant" (Matt. 12:15-21)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/20/2022 12:05 PM

 

My Worship Time                                                          Focus:  “Intro to God’s Beloved Servant”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                              Reference:  Matthew 12:15-21

 

            Message of the verses:  15 But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed Him, and He healed them all, 16  and warned them not to make Him known, 17  in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, might be fulfilled, 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 PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. 19 “HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. 20  "A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. 21 “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE.’”

 

            Now because this introduction is so short I want to quote from John MacArthur’s commentary what he has written as he introduces these verses from Matthew 12:15-21.

 

            “Scripture ascribes many titles to Christ (Messiah), and none is more fitting or lovely than My Servant, a title first used by Isaiah (42:1).  Just as the prophet predicted of the Messiah, Jesus came in wonder, beauty, and majesty as the divine Servant, serving the Father and serving mankind in the Father’s name.

            “This brief passage is an oasis of refreshing beauty in the desert of chapters 11 and 12—which chronicle the first major rejection of Christ, led by the scribes and Pharisees.  After Jesus put them to shame by showing that their Sabbath traditions were hard-hearted, illogical, and unscriptural, ‘the Pharisees went out, and counseled together against Him, as to how they might destroy Him’ (12:14).  Those ungodly leaders believed the very opposite of the truth about Jesus, even to the point of accusing Him of doing His work by the power of Satan.

            “In the midst of his account of that mounting antagonism, Matthew here presents some of the outstanding characteristics of this Servant whom the world despises by God dearly loves.”

 

            At this point of the introduction I want to give the main section titles as we move through these verses.  “Conformed To God’s Plan,” (verses 12:15-17).  “Commended by the Father” (verse 12:18a).  “Commissioned by the Holy Spirit” (verse 12:18b).  “Communicating the Message” (verses 12:18c).  “Committed to Meekness” (verse 12:19).  “Comforting the Weak” (verse 12:20a). “Consummating the Victory” (verses 12:20b-21).

 

1/20/2022 12:22 PM

 

           

 

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