Matthew 12:15-21 - Homiletics

The patience of Christ.

I. HIS RETIREMENT .

1 . Its reason. It was not fear; his hour was not yet come. He fled, it has been said, not only from his enemies, but for them. He would not bring upon them the guilt of his death; he would give them time, "yet another year;" he would try what could be done by patience and gentleness and self-denying love. He would not stimulate their malice by remaining m their neighbourhood. When men are heated in disputes and controversies, it is best sometimes to retire. Persistence may stir up wrath all the more, and perhaps increase the sin of those who are arguing on the wrong side, influenced by party spirit, or, it may be, by evil motives.

2 . Its occupation. The Lord could not be alone. The Pharisees hated him; but great multitudes followed him still. Some sought his teaching; some sought his mercy. He listened, as he ever did, to the cry of pain and sorrow; he healed all that had need of healing. The opposition of his enemies did not dishearten him; it did not turn him aside from his works of love. Good men are sometimes very much cast down by opposition. They lose heart; they sink into melancholy, as Elijah did; they think that their life has been wasted; they can work no longer. It was not so with the Lord Christ. He retired, but it was to another field of labour. His servants must never give way to despondency; it implies distrustfulness, doubt of their Lord.

3 . Its privacy. He charged the multitude that they should not make him known. He was content that his holy deeds of Divine love should remain unknown; he was willing to work on in obscurity. He did not seek the praise of men; he sought only to save souls. So his servants should be willing to work either in private or in public, either in remote corners or before the eyes of men, wherever it may please God to set them. But everywhere alike, in the little village or in the great city, they must seek only his glory; not human praise, earthly reputation.

II. THE FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY .

1 . The servant of Jehovah. Isaiah had prophesied of the Messiah, and now the same God who had inspired the prophet was bringing to pass the prophecy. The Lord Christ came to fulfil the Law and the prophets; the details of his blessed life were so ordered as to bring about that great end, to fulfil all that had been written of him. The prophecy came from God; the fulfilment also was regulated by his overruling providence. Isaiah, the evangelical prophet, had faithfully portrayed the character of the Christ. tie was to be the Servant of Jehovah. "I came," he said, "not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me;" "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." He was the Servant of whom Isaiah prophesied; he was the Beloved, the Elect of God, for it pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things unto himself. At his baptism the voice from heaven proclaimed that in him the Father was well pleased; then he was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and consecrated for his Divine mission. He would proclaim judgment to the Gentiles, when he would send his apostles into all the world to preach the gospel to every creature. Such was the prophet's description of the Servant of Jehovah, and such was Jesus the Christ.

2 . His quietness. "He shall not strive." It was even now fulfilled; he had withdrawn from strife. He loved not strife. His disciples must learn of him; they must avoid, as far as lieth in them, angry disputes and the heated atmosphere of controversy. "He shall not cry." His preaching was not noisy or violent; it was calm, quiet, dignified. He delighted not in uproar and excitement, but in quiet communion with God. His disciples differ from one another; they present different aspects of the Christian character; "the Holy Spirit divideth to every man severally as he will;" but we may say that a holy calmness is generally one of the characteristic marks of the most advanced followers of Christ.

3 . His gentleness.

4 . His success at last. This quiet gentleness will result in victory. He will persevere, winning souls, one by one, by the soft holy influence of his constraining love. "He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth" ( Isaiah 42:4 ); "He shall bring forth judgment unto truth;" he shall at length be recognized as King and Judge. His judicial decision between right and wrong, his rule of holiness, shall at last prevail. It will be the victory of truth and righteousness; and that not only in the Holy Land, among the chosen people. "In his Name shall the Gentiles hope." "The isles shall wait for his law." "They shall wait, and not wait in vain; for he is the Saviour of all men—a Light to lighten the Gentiles." He will send forth his holy Law, the Divine Law of love, to draw all men to himself by the attractive power of his cross. Such is the picture which the prophet draws of the Christ—a picture in which we see the strength of gentleness, the majesty of love. These are the weapons by which the Saviour overcometh the world. His disciples must learn of him. "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Gentleness and Christian love win more hearts than sternness and severity.

LESSONS .

1 . Study the prophecies of the Old Testament, they give us precious views of the Messiah's character and teaching.

2 . He was the Servant of Jehovah; we are his servants; we should strive to do his will, as he ever did the will of the Father.

3 . Imitate his quietness; shun violence and party spirit; cherish a holy quiet in the soul.

4 . Be gentle like the Lord, kind to the weak and fearful; great is the strength of gentleness.