Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 53:7

"He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." — Isaiah 53:7 (ASV)

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:

The sin laid upon him was none of his, and he might have repudiated it; but he did not; and even when the bitter result of sin came to him, and He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.

He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.

Oh friends, what infinite patience is here—patience which endured woes unknown to us, for our Lord's griefs and agonies were deeper than we will ever be able to fathom! Yet to the end he bore all without a struggle.

I went to see a friend, the other day, who has had a great number of severe afflictions, yet I found her remarkably cheerful and content; and when I was speaking with her about the matter, she said, "I have for years enjoyed perfect submission to the divine will, and it was through what I heard you say." So I asked her, "What did I say?" She replied, "Why, you told us that you had seen a sheep that was in the hands of the shearers, and that, although all the wool was clipped off its back, the shears never cut into its flesh; and you said that the reason was because the sheep was lying perfectly still."

You said, 'Lie still, and the shears will not cut you; but if you kick and struggle, you will not only be shorn, for God has resolved to do that, but you will be wounded into the bargain.' Oh beloved, it is a blessed thing to lie still under the shears, so still as not even to bleat! As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. May the perfect example of the Lamb of God teach us a holy submissiveness to the will of God!

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He never pleaded for himself. At the earthly judgment seat, he said not a word for himself, so that even Pilate marvelled greatly.

Oh, the eloquence of that silence! Truly it was golden. Omnipotence restrained omnipotence. Christ held himself in as with bit and bridle.

As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

And you know very well that our Master would not speak when he was charged before Pilate and Herod: he was eloquent—more eloquent in his silence than if he had used his ordinary language, which was wonderful, for never man spake like this man, and yet never was a man silent as he was for our sake.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not mouth:

When a word could have released him, he would not speak it.

His was indeed golden silence. Oh, the wondrous eloquence of that patient speechlessness when he stood before Herod and Pilate, and did not answer them a word! He could have spoken with such authority as to call legions of angels from heaven for his protection, or a single word of his could have destroyed his enemies, as the leaves of autumn lie withered and dead; but he opened not his mouth.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Oh, the majesty of his silence! Never was eloquence equal to this: He opened not his mouth.