And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
] The former part of the text is omitted, "he shall not fail, nor
be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth"; but is
inserted in Munster's Hebrew Gospel; and which some understand of
the bruised reed, and smoking flax, and others of Christ; the
latter sense is to be preferred. The passage, here cited, is
somewhat different in Isaiah: for there it is, "and the isles
shall wait for his law"; but the difference, at least, in sense,
is not so great as it may appear at first sight: for,
(Myya) , as Grotius
observes, does not always signify "islands", but nations, and
countries, that are upon the continent, ( Genesis 10:5
) and so might be rightly rendered here, the Gentiles, or
"nations"; and by "the name" of Christ is meant his Gospel: see (
Acts 9:15 )
which Isaiah calls his "law": that is, his doctrine, the doctrine
of righteousness, life, and salvation by him, which is the ground
and foundation of hope, and trust in him; and they that wait for
it, may be truly said to hope, or trust in it. This began to have
its accomplishment in the Idumeans, Tyrians, and Sidonians, now
attending on the ministry of Christ; and has had a greater
accomplishment since: the Gospel having been preached in the
Gentile world, both upon the main land, and in the isles afar
off; whereby multitudes have been brought to hope, and believe in
Christ, as their Saviour and Redeemer.
Matthew 12:21
