SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:20
La caa cascada no quebrar, y el pbilo que humea no apagar, hasta que saque a victoria el juicio.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:20
Verse 20. A bruised reed shall he not break] A reed is, in Scripture, the emblem of weakness, Ezek. xxix. 6; and a bruised reed must signify that state of weakness that borders on dissolution and death. And smoking flax shall he not quench] linon tufomenon. linov means the wick of a lamp, and tufomenon is intended to point out its expiring state, when the oil has been all burnt away from it, and nothing is left but a mere snuff, emitting smoke. Some suppose the Jewish state, as to ecclesiastical matters, is here intended, the prophecy declaring that Christ would not destroy it, but leave it to expire of itself, as it already contained the principles of its own destruction. Others have considered it as implying that great tenderness with which the blessed Jesus should treat the weak and the ignorant, whose good desires must not be stifled, but encouraged. The bruised reed may recover itself, if permitted to vegetate under the genial influences of heaven; and the life and light of the expiring lamp may be supported by the addition of fresh oil. Jesus therefore quenches not faint desires after salvation, even in the worst and most undeserving of men; for even such desires may lead to the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of peace.
Judgment unto victory.] See ver. 18. By judgment, understand the Gospel, and by victory its complete triumph over Jewish opposition, and Gentile impiety. He will continue by these mild and gentle means to work till the whole world is Christianized, and the universe filled with his glory.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. A bruised reed shall he not break , etc.] Various are the thoughts of interpreters, about what is meant by this, and by the smoking flax shall he not quench . Some think the Scribes and Pharisees are designed, whose power Christ could easily crush, and their wrath and fury restrain, but would not, till the time of his vengeance was come. Others that the publicans and sinners are intended, of whose conversion and salvation there were more hope than of the Scribes and Pharisees; and which Christ greatly sought after, and therefore cherished and encouraged them in his ministry and conversation. Some are of opinion, that such who have fallen into sin, and are under great decays of grace, are meant, whom Christ has compassion on, succours, and restores: but rather young converts, such as are under first awakenings, are here pointed at; who, like to a bruised reed, or broken one, one that is in some measure broke, near being broken to pieces, are wounded in their spirits, have their hearts broken and contrite, under a sense of their sinfulness, vileness, weakness, and unworthiness; whom Christ is so far from breaking and destroying, that he binds up their broken hearts, heals their wounds, and restores comforts to them: and who are like to smoking flax, or, as the Syriac reads it, Pjpjmd agr , a smoking lamp; to which the Arabic and Persic versions agree; meaning the wick of the lamp, which being just lighted, seems ready to go out, having scarce any light, only a little fire in it, which makes it smoke: so these have but little light of knowledge, faith, and comfort, and a great deal of darkness and infirmity; only there is some warmth in their affections, which go upwards like pillars of smoke, perfumed with frankincense; and such Christ is so far from neglecting, and putting out, that he blows up the sparks of grace into a flame, and never utterly leaves the work, till he sends forth judgment into victory ; that is, till he sends forth the Gospel into their hearts, accompanied with his mighty power, in the light and comfort of it; which informs their judgments, enlightens their understandings, bows their wills, raises their affections, sanctifies their souls, works effectually in them, under the influence of his Spirit and grace, to the carrying on of the work of grace in them to the end; and making them victorious over all their enemies, and more than conquerors, through him that has loved them. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases the words thus; the meek, who are as a bruised reed, he will not break; and the poor, who are as an obscure lamp, he will not quench.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-21 - The Pharisees took counsel to find some accusation, that Jesus might be condemned to death. Aware of their design, as his time was not come, he retired from that place. Face does not more exactly answer to face i water, than the character of Christ drawn by the prophet, to his tempe and conduct as described by the evangelists. Let us with cheerfu confidence commit our souls to so kind and faithful a Friend. Far from breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed; far from quenching the smoking flax, or wick nearly out, he will rather blow it up into flame. Let us lay aside contentious and angry debates; let us receiv one another as Christ receives us. And while encouraged by the graciou kindness of our Lord, we should pray that his Spirit may rest upon us and make us able to copy his example.
Greek Textus Receptus
καλαμον 2563 N-ASM συντετριμμενον 4937 5772 V-RPP-ASM ου 3756 PRT-N κατεαξει 2608 5656 V-AAI-3S και 2532 CONJ λινον 3043 N-ASN τυφομενον 5188 5746 V-PPP-ASN ου 3756 PRT-N σβεσει 4570 5692 V-FAI-3S εως 2193 CONJ αν 302 PRT εκβαλη 1544 5632 V-2AAS-3S εις 1519 PREP νικος 3534 N-ASN την 3588 T-ASF κρισιν 2920 N-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. Flax. The Hebrew is, literally, a dimly burning wick he shall not quench (Isa. xlii. 3). The quotation stops at the end of the third verse in the prophecy; but the succeeding verse is beautifully suggestive as describing the Servant of Jehovah by the same figures in which he pictures his suffering ones - a wick and a reed. "He shall not burn dimly, neither shall his spirit be crushed." He himself, partaking of the nature of our frail humanity, is both a lamp and a reed, humble, but not to be broken, and the "light of the world." Compare the beautiful passage in Dante, where Cato directs Virgil to wash away the stains of the nether world from Dante's face, and to prepare him for the ascent of the purgatorial mount by girding him with a rush, the emblem of humility:"Go, then, and see thou gird this one about With a smooth rush, and that thou wash his face, So that thou cleanse away all stain therefrom. For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast By any mist should go before the first Angel, who is of those of Paradise. This little island, round about its base, Below there, yonder, where the billow beats it, Doth rushes bear upon its washy ooze. No other plant that putteth forth the leaf, Or that doth indurate, can there have life, Because it yieldeth not unto the shocks. There he begirt me as the other pleased; O marvellous! for even as he culled The humble plant, such it sprang up again Suddenly there where he uprooted it."
Purg., i., 94-105, 133-137.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:20 {A bruised reed} (kalamon suntetrimmenon). Perfect passive participle of suntribw. A crushed reed he will not break. The curious augment in kateaxei (future active indicative) is to be noted. The copyists kept the augment where it did not belong in this verb (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1212) even in Plato. "Smoking flax" (linon tuphomenon). The wick of a lamp, smoking and flickering and going out. Only here in N.T. Flax in #Ex 9:31. Vivid images that picture Jesus in the same strain as his own great words in #Mt 11:28-30.
