Matthew 12:18

18 ecce puer meus quem elegi dilectus meus in quo bene placuit animae meae ponam spiritum meum super eum et iudicium gentibus nuntiabit

Matthew 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:18

Behold, my servant whom I have chosen
These are the words of God the Father, speaking to the church, concerning Christ, as mediator; who, as such, is God's servant, employed by him, and obedient to him, in the work of man's salvation; and is a righteous, faithful, prudent, and diligent one; whom he, from all eternity, had chosen to this service, and in the fulness of time sent him to do it, and supported and upheld him in it; for it is whom I uphold, in the Hebrew text. My beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased; who always was the object of his love, not only as his own and only begotten Son, but as in his office capacity, as mediator; in regard to which he was his elect, as it is in Isaiah; and, as such, he was always delighted in his person, well pleased with his office, and the discharge of it, and which he declared more than once by a voice from heaven, as at his baptism, and at his transfiguration on the mount: I will put my Spirit upon him; as he did without measure, whereby he was abundantly qualified for his whole work, and particularly for preaching the Gospel, being richly anointed with gifts and graces, above his fellows; of which the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him, as a dove at his baptism, which immediately preceded his public ministry, was a symbol. And he shall show judgment unto the Gentiles; meaning, not the general judgment, at the last day, which is committed to him; nor the laws of Justice and equity; but the Gospel, which is the produce of the God of judgment; best informs the judgment of men about the business of salvation; gives an account of the righteous procedure of God in justifying sinners, by the righteousness of his Son; and teaches men to live soberly, righteously, and godly: this Christ brought forth, and showed, at this time, to the Heathens, the Idumeans, Tyrians, and Sidonians; who flocked unto him; whereby this part of the prophecy had its fulfilment: in the Hebrew it is, "he shall bring forth"; that is, out of his heart and mouth, and is the same as "show" here.

Matthew 12:18 In-Context

16 et praecepit eis ne manifestum eum facerent
17 ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per Esaiam prophetam dicentem
18 ecce puer meus quem elegi dilectus meus in quo bene placuit animae meae ponam spiritum meum super eum et iudicium gentibus nuntiabit
19 non contendet neque clamabit neque audiet aliquis in plateis vocem eius
20 harundinem quassatam non confringet et linum fumigans non extinguet donec eiciat ad victoriam iudicium
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.