Matthew 12:20 (WEB)
He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory.
Catechism · 1
“The Messiah's characteristics are revealed above all in the "Servant songs."” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Isa 42:1-9; cf. Mt 12:18-21; Jn 1:32-34; then cf. Isa 49:1-6; cf. Mt 3:17; Lk 2:32; finally cf. Isa 50:4-10 and Isa 52:13-53:12.
Fathers and councils · 39
Tertullian
“If He “neither did contend nor shout, nor was His voice heard abroad,” who “crushed not the bruised reed”—Israel’s faith, who “quenched not the burning flax”—that is, the momentary glow of the Gentiles—but made it shine more by the rising of His own light,—He can be none other than He who was predicted.” — editor's note: See Isa. xlii. 2, 3, and Matt. xii. 19, 20.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X II.13Conference II
“…led forth to death, and to redeem those who are to be slain,” and after the example of our Saviour, break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, and ask of the Lord that grace, by means of which you yourself may faithfully learn both in deed and power to sing: “the Lord hath given me a learned tongue…” — editor's note: Cf. S. Matt. xii. 20.
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Augustine of Hippo
“And Thou, O God, from afar sawest me stumbling in that slippery path, and amid much smoke sending out some flashes of fidelity, which I exhibited in that my guidance of such as loved vanity and sought after leasing, I being their companion.” — editor's note: Isa. xlii. 3, and Matt. xii. 20.
Read the whole comment“…that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Esaias, saying;” and so forth, down to where it is said, “And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 14–21. [Sperabunt, “hope,” as in Revised Version.—R.]
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John Chrysostom
“…him, nor did He rebuke him; for, saith the Prophet, “A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench; He shall not strive nor cry” ( Isa. xlii. 2, 3; as quoted Matt. xii. 19, 20 ): and again He saith Himself, “I came not to condemn the world, but to save the world.” ( c. xii. 47.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 17–21; see Isa. xlii. 1–4. [ R.V., “hope” for “trust.”]
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Jerome
“(2) What is the meaning of Matt. xii. 20?” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Pharisees are moved with jealousy at what had been done; because beholding the outward body of a man, they did not recognize the God in His works; “The Pharisees sent out and sought counsel against him, how they…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
He says, “went out” because their mind was alien from the Lord. They took counsel how they might destroy life, not how themselves might find life.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
And He knowing their plots withdrew, that He might be far from the counsels of the evil hearted, as it follows, “Jesus knowing it departed thence.”
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Knowing, that is, their designs against Him withdrew Himself, that He might remove from the Pharisees all opportunity of sin.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or; He withdrew from thence as avoiding the designs of His own when they persecuted Him; or because that was not the time or place for Him to suffer, for “It cannot be that a Prophet should perish out of Jerusalem,”…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
On those whom He healed He enjoined silence, whence it follows, “And he charged them that they should not make him known.” For his restored health was a witness to each man. And by commanding them to hold their…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
In this also He instructs us, that when we have done any thing great we are not to seek praise abroad.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
And He also gives them command that they should not make Him known, that they might not by persecuting Him be put into a worse state.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And that you may not be troubled at those things which are done, and at the incredible madness of the Pharisees, He introduces the Prophet’s words. For such was the carefulness of the Prophets, that they had not…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord Jesus Christ is called the servant of the Almighty God [ed. note: ~ Our Lord is said to be properly a servant as regards His human nature, by S. Athan. Orat. in Arian. i. 43. S. Hilar. de Trin. xi. 13. S.…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Whom I have chosen,” says, for a work which none else has done, that He should redeem the human race, and make peace between God and the world. It follows, “My beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased,” for He alone…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
That he says, “My soul,” is not to be understood as though God the Father had a soul, but by way of adaptation, shewing how God is disposed towards Him. And it is no wonder that a soul is ascribed to God in this…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
This the Prophet puts in the beginning, that you might learn that that which is here said was according to the counsel of the Father. For he that is beloved does according to his will who loveth him. And again, he…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Then also God the Father put His Spirit upon Him, when by the working of the Holy Spirit He took flesh of the Virgin; and as soon as He became man, He took the fulness of the Holy Spirit.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
But the Holy Spirit is put, not on the Word of God, but on the Only-Begotten, who came forth from the bosom of the Father; on Him, that is, of whom it is said, “Behold my servant.” And what He will do by Him He adds,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Seeing He preached the judgment to come which was hidden from the Gentiles.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Further, to shew His lowliness, He says, “He shall not strive;” and so He was offered up as the Father had willed, and gave Himself willingly into the hands of His persecutors. “Neither shall he cry;” so He was dumb…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
For the way is broad and wide which leads to destruction, and many walk in it; and being many, they will not hear the voice of the Saviour, because they are not in the narrow but in the broad way.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Greek πλατεῖα, is in Latin called ‘latitudo.’ No one therefore has heard His voice in the streets, because He has not promised pleasant things in this world to those that love Him, but hardships.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord sought to heal the Jews by this mildness. But though they rejected Him, yet He did not resist them by destroying them; whence the Prophet, displaying His power and their weakness, says, “A bruised reed he…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
He that holds not out his hand to a sinner, nor bears his brother’s burden, he breaks a bruised reed; and he who despises a weak spark of faith in a little one, he benches a smoking flax.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
So He neither bruised nor quenched the Jewish persecutors, who are here likened to a bruised reed which has lost its wholeness, and to a smoking flax which has lost its flame; but He spared them because He was not…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
In the smoking flax it is observed, that when the flame is out it causes a stink.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or this, “He shall not break a bruised reed,” shews that it was as easy for Him to break them all, as to break a reed, and that a bruised reed. And, “He shall not quench a smoking flax,” shews that their rage was…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, he means this bruised reed that is not broken, to shew that the perishing and bruised bodies of the Gentiles, are not to be broken, but are rather reserved for salvation. “He shall not quench a smoking flax,…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or the reverse; He calls the Jews a bruised reed, whom tossed by the wind and shaken from one another, the Lord did not immediately condemn, but patiently endured; and the smoking flax He calls the people gathered…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But one might say, What then shall these things be always thus? Will He endure for ever those who thus lay snares, and are mad against Him? Far from it; when His own work shall be all complete, then shall He work…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, “Until he shalt send forth judgment to victory,” that is, Until He shall take away the power of death, and bring in judgment and the return of His splendour.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, Until that judgment which was being done in Him should come forth to victory. For after that by His resurrection He had overcome death, and driven forth the prince of this world, He returned as conqueror to His…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But the things of this dispensation will not rest in this only, that they who have not believed should be punished, but He will also draw the world to Him; whence it follows, “And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.”
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
This last we now see fulfilled; and thus this which cannot be denied establishes the truth of that which some have denied through ignorance, the last judgment namely, which He will hold upon earth, when He Himself…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
And it should be known, that the meaning not only of this passage, but of many others also, is supported by this testimony from the Prophet. The words, “Behold my servant,” may be referred to the place in which the…
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Cross-references · 28
Cited together with
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.37.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.37.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.37.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.37.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.37.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.37.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Letters Letter 121.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.13.
Cited together in Confessions IV.2.
Cited together in Confessions IV.2.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.13.
Cited together in Confessions IV.2.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.13.
Cited together in Confessions IV.2.
Quotes
Matthew 12:20 takes up the words of Isaiah 42:3 (12 words in common).