As Jesus once stated, “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench” (Matthew 12:20, NKJV). The ‘bruised reed’ and ‘smoked flax’ in this verse reference those who are spiritually, physically, or morally weak. Despite the damage done, there still lies the potential for restoration and rekindling.
The term ‘smoking flax’ was indicative of a lamp wick in the times of Jesus. These primitive lamps were typically clay bowls filled with olive oil, and the wick itself was often made up of flax fiber or twisted cotton thread. The Greek term for ‘flax,’ i.e., ‘linon,’ gives us the modern English word ‘linen.’ Understanding this context is crucial to comprehend what Jesus meant by stating He would not quench the smoking flax.
The prophecy Jesus presets here was initially stated by the prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah, warning him of Judah’s impending capture by Babylon. There would be nothing left, and some of the King’s offspring would end up as eunuchs in Babylon’s king’s palace. Amid this fear, though, God reassured His people that they would receive His aid, ultimately through the Messiah, as per the prophecies in Isaiah 40 and 41, depicting God’s plan for Israel’s redemption.
Further, in Isaiah 42:1-4, the scripture reads, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.”
The fulfillment of this prophecy was evident in Jesus’s actions in Matthew 12, where He heals a man with a withered hand and then many others from the multitude that followed Him. His actions reveal a heart for the ‘bruised reed’ and ‘smoking flax,’ promising not to extinguish their flickering faith but to fan these embers into a vigorous flame.
Many people today are on the verge of losing all hope due to emotional, spiritual, or physical wounds, much like a smoldering wick on the verge of darkening. However, God steps in before the flame dies out and reignites hope, fulfilling the prophecy that He will not quench the smoking flax. This prophecies symbolize Jesus’s compassionate care for the frail, demoralized, and exploited, very beautifully depicted in numerous gospel stories involving Jesus’s interactions with the weak and suffering.
The divine sentiment of reaching out to the weak and fanning their flickering faith is inherent in those saved by faith in Christ. As believers, we too are called to “in faithfulness… bring forth justice,” as was prophesied by Isaiah, by extending the love of God to those who struggle, much like Jesus did with the ‘smoking flax.’ Therefore, understanding this prophecy not only allows us to appreciate God’s boundless love but also empowers us to emulate His divine compassion.
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