Justice to the Gentiles

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 proclaim justice to the Gentiles (Matthew 12:18).

Given the history, philosophy, and attitude of the Jews then and now, this prophecy of Isaiah would seem out of place. For all intents and purpose, the Jews have nothing to do with the Gentiles. The Gentiles are heathen pagans outside the commonwealth of the Kingdom of God - or so they believe. The natural result when religion becomes institutionalized is that it becomes exclusive; only those like us are welcome. But that was not the plan or intent of the Lord when He called Abraham to be the father of the Hebrew nation.

Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3).

Jesus came to re-establish the perspective of the Kingdom of God in the minds of the Jews and all others. The Kingdom is not national. It’s spiritual. All who come to faith in Jesus Christ become citizens of the Kingdom. (Galatians 3:26-29), For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. 

The word ‘justice’ means ‘accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment’. That’s not the application here. The prophet Isaiah (and subsequently the Apostle Matthew who quoted this text) meant to have us understand that Jesus was sent by the Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit to reveal and restore the ‘whole system of God’s truth’; God’s law as it applies to everyone, God’s purpose and plan regarding human responsibility spiritually, physically, and morally. In short, Jesus came to burn the system of Gospel truth into the hearts and minds of Jew and Gentile.

This becomes quite evident when you look at Jesus’ response to the crowd from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, Tyre and Sidon. He did not reject them. He ministered to them. And He continues to do so today through His church. We are ambassadors of the Kingdom of Christ to the world. The Kingdom belongs to all who believe in and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

“Thank You Lord, for the Gospel that knows no boundaries but is able to save to the uttermost all who come to You in faith. May Your Kingdom continue to increase through my efforts as Your humble servant. To Your honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor