The sermon centers on Matthew 12:20 and presents Christ as exceptionally gentle toward spiritually bruised sinners and weakened believers. Human strength, morality, and reputation cannot sustain a person before sin, temptation, or death; genuine blessing begins with acknowledging weakness. Yet Christ does not abandon the contrite or backsliding believer: His grace restores, preserves, and makes broken people useful in His purposes. The sermon therefore offers strong assurance of perseverance and urges hearers of every age and condition to return to Christ, serve Him, and hope in final victory.
Theological center: Jesus Christ graciously preserves contrite sinners and fainting believers, refusing to break or extinguish those whom He has begun to save.
Applications: Return to Christ from Backsliding · Acknowledge Your Weakness · Persevere Through Life’s Troubles · Christ’s Promise of Victory
Primary texts: Matthew 12:20 · Matthew 11:29 · Psalm 73:26
“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.” Matthew 12:20 BABBLING fame always loves to talk of one man or another. Some there be whose glory it trumpets forth and whose honor it extols above the heavens. Some are her favorites, and their names are carved on marble, and heard in every land and every clime. Fame is not an impartial judge, she has her favorites. Some men she extols, exalts, and almost deifies—others, whose virtues are far greater, and whose characters are more deserving of commendation, she passes by unheeded and puts the finger of silence on her lips. You will generally find that those persons beloved by fame are men made of brass or iron, and cast in a rough mold. Fame caresses Caesar, because he rul…