Matthew 12:15-22
“Notice what you notice.” Two items today… First, …many followed Him and He healed them all (v. 15). There were already a few earlier accounts of Jesus healing “all” who were following Him. One wonders what the healings were, and if many were being healed, why is it that particular healings are covered in more detail? I can understand highlighting the issue of the paralytic, both the lowering through the roof and the connection between Jesus’ healing and forgiving sins. I can also see something special in the leper’s plea, “Lord, if you are willing…”. But what of the “many” who were healed?
Today’s second item is more intriguing. I’m used to Matthew quoting the OT prophets, especially Isaiah, and Jesus fulfilling those prophecies. So normally I would have read through today’s last four verses without pause. But today I heard that first verse differently, … my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased (v. 18), and I remembered a “voice from heaven” speaking almost the same identical words at Jesus’ Baptism. Way back when, forever, I have never known that the Father was quoting Isaiah when those words were spoken. Only looking back through today’s verses and seeing that Isaiah passage (Isaiah 42:1-4) did I make that connection. MOREOVER, we will hear similar words again at Jesus’ Transfiguration: This is my Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased; hear Him (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35). Three occasions – maybe more…?
GLORY!!
Slava Bohu!
Your second item is exactly what I noticed today — likewise reading it a bit differently this time than I had before. Otherwise, the next thing that came to mind was to wonder just how Matthew saw the first two verses as a fulfilment of Isaiah 42:1-4.