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Matthew 12:21

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And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

And {G2532} in {G1722} his {G846} name {G3686} shall {G1679} the Gentiles {G1484} trust {G1679}.

In him the Gentiles will put their hope."

In His name the nations will put their hope.”

And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.

Commentary

This verse concludes a quotation from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, which Matthew uses to describe Jesus' ministry and identity. It highlights the universal scope of the Messiah's work, extending beyond Israel to include all nations.

Context

Matthew 12 records Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees, particularly regarding Sabbath observance. After healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, which provoked intense opposition, Jesus withdrew. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all, while strictly warning them not to make his identity public. Matthew sees this quiet, compassionate ministry, avoiding public confrontation and fanfare, as fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4. Verse 21 is the final part of this prophetic passage quoted by Matthew, emphasizing the global impact of the Messiah's mission.

Key Themes

  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Matthew presents Jesus' actions as the direct fulfillment of Isaiah's ancient words concerning the Servant of the Lord.
  • Inclusion of the Gentiles: The verse explicitly states that non-Jewish people will place their faith in the Messiah, a significant theme throughout the New Testament.
  • Trust in Jesus' Name: The core message is that people from all nations will find hope and salvation by trusting in Jesus' person, authority, and work.
  • Universal Scope of the Gospel: The verse points to the future reality where the message of salvation in Jesus reaches the ends of the earth.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "in his name" (Greek: en tō onomati autou) signifies more than just using his title; it means trusting in his entire being, character, authority, and everything he represents. The term "Gentiles" (Greek: ethnē) refers to all the nations of the world other than Israel, underscoring the expansive nature of God's redemptive plan. "Trust" (Greek: elpizō) implies a strong hope and confident expectation placed upon someone or something.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

Matthew quotes from Isaiah 42:1-4, which speaks of the Servant of the Lord who will bring justice to the Gentiles and in whose law they will trust. By applying this to Jesus, Matthew asserts that Jesus is this promised Servant, and his ministry, though quiet and humble, is establishing God's kingdom and drawing people from every nation to himself.

Practical Application

This verse is a powerful reminder that the gospel is for everyone, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or nationality. It calls us to trust in Jesus' name for salvation and hope, just as the Gentiles spoken of here would. It also encourages believers to participate in God's global mission, sharing the message of salvation so that people from all nations can believe and trust in Him.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 11:10 (8 votes)

    ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

  • Romans 15:12 (6 votes)

    And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.

  • Romans 15:13 (6 votes)

    ¶ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

  • Isaiah 42:4 (5 votes)

    He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

  • Colossians 1:27 (3 votes)

    To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

  • Ephesians 1:12 (2 votes)

    That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

  • Ephesians 1:13 (2 votes)

    In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,