Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 12:20

20 A bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, until he hath brought forth judgment unto victory.

He shall carry on his work with so little noise, that if he trode upon a bruised Reed, he should not break it. Or he shall not despise the afflicted, that are as bruised Reeds, and smoking Flax. But the best Expositors interpret it of Christ's kindness to Peoples Souls. He will not discourage those that are weak in Faith, or weak in Hope. Smoking Flax, signi[illegible: 2 letters]eth Flax in the kindling of which the Fire hath not prevailed, and so is a very apt Metaphor to express such as believe, but are full of Doubts and Fears, or such as have a Truth of Grace, but yet much Corruption; Christ is Prophecied of, as one that will incourage, not discourage such Souls. Vntil he hath brought forth Iudgment into Victory, (Isaiah saith) unto Truth. Some think that, Vntil, here only signifies the Event of the thing, not a term of time, for there shall never be a time, when Christ shall break a bruised Reed, or quench a smoking Flax, in the Sense before mentioned. By Iudgment here may be meant, as before, what his Father hath judged right, until he hath caused the Doctrine of the Gospel, and the Messiah, to be believed, and imbraced of all the World. Or, until he shall have brought forth the Judgment of those broken Reeds, and that smoking Flax into Victory, until such Souls be made perfect in Faith and Holiness, and shall have got a Victory over all its unbelief and other Corruptions. Or, until he hath brought forth [illegible: 1 letter]ond[illegible: 1 letter]mnation into Victory (for so the word signifieth) till he hath Conquered Death and Hell, so as there shall be no Condemnation to any Soul that is in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. Or, Vntil the last Iudgment comes, which shall determine in a perfect absolution, and acquital of all his People, and in a perfect Victory over all his Enemies.