Jesus Fulfills the Words of the Prophets

Homily for Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

St. Matthew quotes the Hebrew Scriptures 60 times in the course of writing his Gospel. Today’s Gospel text includes his longest citation from the Hebrew Scriptures. Interestingly enough, it does not correspond to the Hebrew text nor to the text of the Septuagint, a Latin translation by St. Jerome. It is commonly known as the first of the servant songs found in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The text emphasizes the meekness of Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, and foretells the extension of his mission to the Gentiles. This passage is used to show that Jesus fulfills the prophecy of the suffering servant, a figure who brings justice with gentleness and humility. The passage from Isaiah 42:1–4, quoted in Matthew 12:18–21, is deeply significant because it reveals how Jesus embodies the role of the Servant of the Lord—a figure foretold to bring justice, healing, and hope not through force, but through gentleness and compassion. It is a powerful moment where Matthew connects Jesus directly to messianic expectations from Isaiah.

We know that St. Matthew was writing for a Jewish audience in Jerusalem. Scripture scholars often refer to the fact that St. Matthew’s purpose in writing was to show Jesus as the new Moses, the new lawgiver. As he does today, St. Matthew often introduced citations from the Old Testament with the words: “this was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet…” to connect events in Jesus’ life to Scripture. Key prophets quoted include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, and Zechariah, among others.

St. Matthew records that the Pharisees were responsible for plotting the death of Jesus. He also tells us that Jesus realized what they were doing. St. Matthew’s Gospel is the only Gospel text that records that Jesus knew of the plot. The Pharisees hatched this plot because Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. This took place in the synagogue of Capernaum. Rather than escalate the conflict, he withdraws quietly. Matthew interprets this as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision: a Messiah who brings justice not through confrontation, but through quiet strength and mercy.

We reap the benefit of the strength and mercy of Jesus when we receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is, first and foremost, a sacrament of reconciliation. Each of the Eucharistic prayers highlights this important part of our faith in the strength of the Eucharist.