Matthew 12:20

“A bruised reed shall he not break, etc.] Various are the thoughts of interpreters, about what is meant by this, and by the smoking flax shall he not quench. Some think the Scribes and Pharisees are designed, whose power Christ could easily crush, and their wrath and fury restrain, but would not, till the time of his vengeance was come. Others that the publicans and sinners are intended, of whose conversion and salvation there were more hope than of the Scribes and Pharisees; and which Christ greatly sought after, and therefore cherished and encouraged them in his ministry and conversation. Some are of opinion, that such who have fallen into sin, and are under great decays of grace, are…”

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory--"unto truth," says the Hebrew original, and the Septuagint also. But our Evangelist merely seizes the spirit, instead of the letter of the prediction in this point. The grandeur and completeness of Messiah's victories would prove, it seems, not more wonderful than the unobtrusive noiselessness with which they were to be achieved. And whereas one rough touch will break a bruised reed, and quench the flickering, smoking flax, His it should be, with matchless tenderness, love, and skill, to lift up the meek, to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees, to comfort all…”

“This account is found also in Mark 3:6-12. Matthew 12:14 The Pharisees ... held a council ... - Mark adds that the Herodians also took a part in this plot. They were probably a “political” party attached firmly to Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, tetrarch of Galilee. He was the same man who had imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist, and to whom the Saviour, when arraigned, was sent by Pilate. See the notes at Luke 3:1. He was under Roman authority, and was a strong advocate of Roman power. All the friends of the family of Herod were opposed to Christ, and ever ready to join any plot against his life. They remembered, doubtless, the attempts of Herod the Great against him when he was…”

“A bruised reed - A convinced sinner: one that is bruised with the weight of sin: smoking flax - One that has the least good desire, the faintest spark of grace: till he send forth judgment unto victory - That is, till he make righteousness completely victorious over all its enemies. Matthew 12:21”

“12:20 Instead of increasing people’s spiritual burden, Jesus offers compassionate forgiveness and sustenance (see 11:28-30; 12:1-14).”

“bruised: Mat 11:28; Kg2 18:21; Psa 51:17, Psa 147:3; Isa 40:11, Isa 57:15, Isa 61:1-3; Lam 3:31-34; Eze 34:16; Luk 4:18; Co2 2:7; Heb 12:12, Heb 12:13 till: Psa 98:1-3; Isa 42:3, Isa 42:4; Rom 15:17-19; Co2 2:14, Co2 10:3-5; Rev 6:2; Rev 19:11-21 Matthew 12:21”