That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
So that what was said by Isaiah the prophet might come true,
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,
That it might be fulfilled ... - Matthew here quotes a passage from Isaiah 42:1-4, to show the "reason why he thus retired from his enemies and sought concealment." The Jews, and the disciples also at first, expected that the Messiah would be a conqueror, and vindicate himself from all his enemies. When they saw him retiring before them, and, instead of subduing them by force, seeking a place of concealment, it was contrary to all their previous notions of the Messiah. Matthew by this quotation shows that "their" conceptions of him had been wrong. Instead of a warrior and an earthly conqueror, he was "predicted" under a totally different character. Instead of shouting for battle, lifting up his voice in the streets, oppressing the feeble - "breaking bruised reeds and quenching smoking flax, as a conqueror" - he would be peaceful, retiring; would strengthen the feeble, and would cherish the faintest desires of holiness. This appears to be the general meaning of this quotation here. Compare the notes at Isaiah 42:1-4.