Big Idea: Matthew shows Jesus’ withdrawal from his antagonists and his admonition to secrecy to be signs of his identity as the Isaianic Servant of the Lord, who will proclaim justice to all the nations.

Understanding the Text

Following the Sabbath debates between the Pharisees and Jesus, Matthew narrates that Jesus withdraws from controversy and turns to the crowd, which needs and receives his compassionate healing activity (12:15). This first of three withdrawals from controversy (also 14:13; 15:21) is followed by a warning against publicly reporting Jesus’ healings (cf. 8:4; 9:30). Matthew then provides direct commentary on the compassionate healings and subsequent call to secrecy by inserting a quotation from Isaiah 42, the longest citation in Matthew’s Gospel (Isa. 42:1–4; Matt. 12:…