Jesus enemies were plotting to destroy him. Jesus just moved elsewhere, and continued to serve and heal. Matthew quoted Isaiah 42:1-4 to describe Jesus’ approach: “He won’t argue or shout, and nobody will hear his voice in the streets. He won’t break a bent stalk, and he won’t snuff out a smoldering wick, until he makes justice win.” We might think that’s no way to make justice win. But people respected Jesus, even asking if he might be “the Son of David,” a title for the Messiah.

• Just before today’s reading, Matthew showed the Pharisees criticizing Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, which they saw as work. How did Jesus’ way of dealing with his foes live out the attitude Isaiah said God’s servant would have? Have you ever seen a situation where it was more effective to withdraw or speak gently rather than trying to loudly prove a contentious point?
• Matthew probably wrote mainly to Hebrew Christians, but he quoted parts of Isaiah’s poem that said God wanted to save Gentiles as well as Jews. Even as Matthew wrote, early Christians were actively preaching to Gentiles. What are some ways you can live out Christ’s life, making “justice win” so that “Gentiles [whoever is their equivalent in your world] will put their hope in his name”?