JESUS was aware of the attitude of the Pharisees towards him, and so he withdrew from where they were. He withdrew because he did not seek conflict with the Pharisees. A time would come when he would set his face to go to Jerusalem even though he knew the hate which would meet him there, and would do this because his time had come to give his life a ransom for our sins. Now his time had not come and so Jesus kept himself apart from the Pharisees. This is the reason why he told those he healed and helped not tell people who he was. Jesus did not want conflict, not did he come to condemn, rather he came to seek and save the lost. After he had given his life to save us, risen and ascended, he would tell his disciples to tell everybody about him that they may have an opportunity to be saved. Then there would be no threat that he was going to set up an earthly kingdom, and usurp any worldly rule. Part of the Pharisees hate of Jesus was that they felt threatened because they thought Jesus was going to set up some earthly authority which would take power from them.

What is so wonderfully clear in verse 15 is that nobody who really sought the help and blessing of Jesus failed to find him, nor did they find him unready to heal and help them. This is always true, even today. The promise is sure “You shall seek for me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart.”

That Jesus did not want himself known is so strange that Matthew is led by the Holy Spirit to quote from Scripture to explain. He quotes from a passage that was known to refer to the Messiah. This passage is truly one where we are looking into a picture which gives us a portrait of Jesus in his ministry on earth to save. Like any beautiful painting it is good to spend time looking at it so that the beauty of the subject may fill our soul. Let us do this in a small way now.

Verse 18 tells us the view of God the Father concerning Jesus. God delighted in him when he was here on earth. God loved Jesus with a peculiarly deep love. The reason was that Jesus was obeying his Father in becoming his servant on earth, to do his will, and execute his purpose of love for fallen mankind. God chose him for this task, and Jesus took on this task in total obedience to the Father. Because Jesus was fulfilling this purpose of redemption, God delighted in him and loved him. How much more should we delight in Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, for we are the ones who benefit, and are infinitely blessed, because Jesus took the form of a servant, and humbled himself, being obedient to death for us.

God endowed Jesus with the fullness of the Holy Spirit for this great task. When Jesus was baptised the world was given evidence of this by the Spirit descending upon Jesus in the form of a dove, and God pronouncing that Jesus was his Son in whom he delighted, specially because he was being obedient as the suffering servant to redeem sinners.

The Holy Spirit is the divine agent who equipped Jesus for his task as the Saviour of the world, and he is God's agent to make known this salvation to sinners, and bestow it upon the ones God has chosen for salvation.

The phrase “and he will proclaim justice to the nations” must mean more than that Jesus preached about justice. In Isaiah 42 where this quotation comes from Jesus is said to bring justice. Let us notice that he brings justice to the nations. From this I have to see this as Jesus bringing in everlasting righteousness for all those of every nation who believe on him. Jesus provided a perfect righteousness for all believers which is received by faith, and is the means whereby God declares the believer just in his sight. By this means justice is brought to all believing Christians. This is what we rejoice in. Where this righteousness is found, justice and peace on earth begins to flourish.

Verse 19 is the verse which explains why Jesus told those he helped not to make him known to others. He did not come to quarrel with people, even with those who hated and opposed him. He did not come to judge the world, or blame people, but to seek and save the lost. So Jesus on earth was not like rulers and politicians, who take every opportunity to gain publicity which will lead to power and office. He simply, and quietly, got on with the business of his Father, which was to give his life for the sins of the world, and bring in everlasting righteousness.

Because of this we can see the preciousness of verse 20. Jesus came to save us. He came to love us and bring us into the mercy of God. So all sinners may come to him and know they will not be rejected if they come mourning over their sin and knowing that they are dependent on God's mercy. When we see our sins, and realise the sinfulness of our flesh and inner being, we are cast down, and cry for mercy. We find in Jesus one who will not crush us or put out the flame of our cry for mercy, but will embrace us, save and strengthen us. This is true throughout our earthly pilgrimage as Christians. We come to Jesus broken because of our failure and weakness. He does not snuff out the little grace that is there, but loves and gives more grace. This goes on throughout our lives on earth until he brings us safe with him to glory.