John Calvin Commentary Matthew 12:18

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles." — Matthew 12:18 (ASV)

Lo, my servant, whom I have chosen. To fix our attention more closely on his will, God points out by the finger, as it were, the person whom he is about to send; and this is the design of the exclamation, Lo!

A similar reason may be assigned for the epithets that follow, when God calls him his servant, his elect in whom his soul is well pleased.

For why do men venture to measure Christ by their own perception, if not because they do not consider that their redemption depends exclusively on the grace of God? When God offers to us an invaluable treasure, it is excessive and wicked presumption to regulate our estimation of it by the disdainful views of our flesh.

He is called a servant, not as if he were of the ordinary rank, but by way of eminence, and as the person to whom God has committed the charge and office of redeeming his Church. As:

no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called of God (Hebrews 5:6)

is justly entitled to this rank, God declares that he who comes forward in this character was elected by his decree.⁹⁶ Therefore it follows that men are not at liberty to reject him, because by doing so, they would be guilty of contempt and rebellion against God. And indeed, it would be the height of absurdity that our choice or our pride should set aside that calling of God which ought to be regarded as sacred and inviolable.

My beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased. There is a still wider import in this statement, which God next makes by the prophet, that the delight of his soul dwells in Christ. For though the calling of each of us proceeds from the free favor of God as its only source, yet in Christ there is this remarkable peculiarity, that in his person God the Father embraces in his love the whole Church. As we are all by nature enemies of God, his love will never come to us until it first begins with the Head; which we have seen on a former occasion, and will see again under another passage (Matthew 17:5).

He will proclaim judgment to the Gentiles. The prophet gives a brief description of Christ’s office when he foretells that he will proclaim judgment to the Gentiles. By the word judgment the Jews understand a government which is correctly and properly arranged, in which order and justice prevail.

The design of the prophet is to inform us that a person will come who will restore justice that had fallen. He will be the governor not only of one nation but will also bring under subjection to God the Gentiles, among whom dreadful confusion formerly prevailed.

And this is the import of the word bring forth, which the prophet employs. For it was the office of Christ to spread throughout the whole world the kingdom of God, which was at that time confined to the corner of Judea,⁹⁷ as it is said in another passage,

The Lord will send forth the scepter of your power out of Zion, (Psalms 110:2)

I will put my Spirit upon him. This explains the manner in which judgment will be brought forth.

It is no doubt true that there never was any portion whatever of righteousness in the world that did not proceed from the Spirit of God and that was not maintained by his heavenly power; as none of the kings of the earth can frame or defend good order, unless he is assisted by the same Spirit.

But in bringing forth judgment Christ is greatly superior to all others, for he has received the Spirit from the Father, that he may pour it out on all his people.

For not only does he by word or writing prescribe what is proper, but he also inwardly forms the hearts of men, by the grace of his Spirit, to preserve the rule of righteousness.

⁹⁶ “Dieu prononce que par son ordonnance il a eleu celuy qu’on verra venir ayant les marques qu’il met la;” — “God declares that, by his decree, he hath elected him who will be seen coming, attended by the marks which he there describes.”;” — “God declares that, by his decree, he hath elected him who will be seen coming, attended by the marks which he there describes.”

⁹⁷ “Qui estoit pour lors comme enclos en un anglet au pays de Iudee;” —”which was then shut up, as it were in a corner, in the country of Judea.”;” —”which was then shut up, as it were in a corner, in the country of Judea.”