When I was in seminary, I took a class that focused on the prophets. I can remember that my professor was quite critical of proof texting: the practice of taking a piece of scripture out of context to make an unrelated point. He called it, “fortune-cookie theology.” Unfortunately, this practice is alive and well for those who use random bits of scripture in an attempt to explain current events or to predict the future. It’s an effective way to monetize scripture and sell books but not a faithful way to honor the word of God. When Matthew quotes the Servant Song from Isaiah 42:1-4, he is doing much more than proof texting or providing a scrap of evidence. He is indicating that Jesus really is the Messiah, and he is helping us see Jesus in the broader story of God’s faithfulness.
Matthew is not using scripture by taking it out of context but is providing the context. He is helping us better understand the mission of Jesus. In Him, God is keeping his long-awaited promise to rescue His people and bring salvation to the nations. In Jesus, God is bringing justice to the world. He is not just pointing us back to these few verses from Isaiah. He is pointing us back to the grand story of the past and pointing us toward the great hope for the future. That is where we come in, playing our unique role in the present and in the future by joining Him this day, as we do every day, in the restoration of all things.