5 - Isaiah 42.1–4 within the context of Matthew 11–13

Summary

The historical usage and influence of Isa. 42.1–4, as observed in chapter 3, appears to demonstrate that the passage contributed to the understanding of the character and expectation of the messianic age. In particular, where it is employed to support the messianic ideal, the concepts of spirit, justice and the universal rule of the messiah are also manifest. The primary question of concern here is whether Matthew drew upon such a perception and incorporated it into his presentation of Jesus. Given the manner in which Matthew employed Isa. 7.14, 8.23b–9.1 and 53.4, one might expect his use of the passage to reflect his theological concerns. But this is to anticipate a conclusion without exploring the data. The evidence certainly supports a web of verbal and metaphorical relationships between certain citations and their immediate and remote contexts. Whether this can be maintained for Isa. 42.1–4 in Matt. 12.18–21 is a more difficult matter and is the subject of this chapter.

Two remarks that impinge upon the study may be made at this point regarding Matthean text-form. First, Matthew's redactional treatment of Mark and Q reveals an author who, although creative, is fastidious with these sources, and predisposes one to assume that a similar posture is taken with regard to his other sources. One may thus cautiously affirm the argument that the unique text-form found in these citations reflects his particular theological interests.