Isaiah 42:3
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 and Matthew 12:1-21
There are two analogies in Isaiah 42:3 describing the nature of the Messiah. One involves a reed and the other a wick or flax. Let’s make sure we understand these two objects before we begin to interpret the verse.
A reed is a leafy cane plant that grows in marshy areas. It was a very common plant in Israel and it’s referenced extensively in Scripture. A reed is straight and light so it was used to make things like shafts, pens, walking sticks and even parts of a house like the roof. It was also used as a measuring rod. However, a reed bends, splinters and can cut you when damaged.
The Hebrew word pištâ is translated “wick” or “flax.” This word is also used extensively in Scripture. Flax was a staple crop in Israel and used as a linen for clothes and also wicks for lamps. A flax plant was vulnerable to hail storms that could destroy an entire crop. In verse 3, the flax had been made into a wick that was struggling to stay lit.
Most of the commentaries say this verse is referenced the tender way Jesus deals with people who are wounded from life (bruised reed) or Christians whose lights are dimly burning (smoldering wicks). Jesus was kind and healed those who were beyond repair (bruised reed). He would breathe life into those who were near extinction (smoldering wicks) and give them purpose.
While Jesus was those things and he calls us to be those things as well, I think there is much more to this verse. If we examine the context of Isaiah and particularly Matthew where he references this verse, the reed and wick are pointing to the nature of Jesus in a similar way as verse 2.
To rephrase Isaiah 42:1-4, God is sending Jesus, His servant, to bring justice to the entire world. Jesus will be filled with the Holy Spirit and he will be faithful to the mission of God which is to bring justice. He will not fail or be discouraged in accomplishing this mission. His method of bringing about this justice will be gentle and subtle. He will not shout it in the streets or force anyone to comply. He won’t take a seat of power or take advantage of the needy. He will bring justice through his teaching and faithfulness.
When Isaiah speaks of the bruised reed, he isn’t using it to speak of Jesus’ ministry to the sick and needy. He is describing the quiet and gentle way of the Messiah in going about his way to establish justice. Jesus will keep such a low profile that as he passes through the reeds, he won’t even break the bruised reed. His draft won’t be strong enough to snuff out the smoldering wick.
This becomes clear in reading Matthew 12. This chapter opens with Jesus and his disciples going through the grainfields picking the heads of grain for food. Jesus is then confronted by the Pharisees since, of course, it’s the Sabbath and the disciples are “working” by picking the grain. Jesus scolds the Pharisees and reminds them that God demands mercy not sacrifice.
Jesus moves on from there to go into the synagogue to worship since it’s the Sabbath. He heals a man with a shriveled hand while he is there and again the Pharisees publicly confront him. Again, Jesus scolds them telling them that people are more valuable than the rules of the Sabbath. The Pharisees leave and begin to devise a plot to kill Jesus.
Matthew then says, “Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah” (Matt 12:15-17). At this point Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1-4.
It seems like an interesting place for Matthew to quote this section of Isaiah in his gospel. Jesus heals people every day. If healing people was the fulfillment of Isaiah 42, then Matthew could’ve placed his quotation of Isaiah several chapters before this one. But that’s not why Matthew quotes Isaiah. Matthew quotes Isaiah here because “Jesus withdrew from that place” and “he warned them not to tell others about him.”
Jesus was laying low. He didn’t want to make a fuss and he didn’t want anyone to make it known what he was doing. According to Matthew, Jesus was shying away from gaining attention. He wanted to fulfill his mission in stealth mode. The moment Jesus comes out of the shadows and rides the colt down the streets of Jerusalem, he will be killed. His entire ministry until then would be a constant wave of being discovered, drawing a crowd and then slipping back into the shadows to avoid the publicity.
Jesus accomplished his mission to bring justice to the nations when he went to the cross and rose from the grave three days later. But until that moment, he was not looking for notoriety or to become a public figure. He lived in the shadows as a humble servant simply being faithful to God’s mission.
Matthew recorded Jesus later telling his disciples, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matt 23:11-12). He demonstrated this for us in his time on earth. Jesus calls his followers to serve him to bring glory to the Father and not to ourselves. If our good deeds receive attention, we are to direct it above. “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Pet 2:12).
Christ in the Old Testament 
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