Matthew 11:25-26

Matthew 11:25-26

[25] At  that  time  Jesus  answered  and said,  I thank  O Father,  Lord  of heaven  and  earth,  because  from  the wise  and  prudent,  and  hast revealed  them  unto babes.  [26] Even so,  Father:  for  so  it seemed  good  sight. 

What does Matthew 11:25-26 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Matthew"s connective "at that time" is loosely historical and tightly thematic. [1] Jesus" titles for God are appropriate in view of His prayer. "Father" focuses on Jesus" sonship and prepares for Matthew 11:27 whereas "Lord of heaven and earth" stresses God"s sovereignty and prepares for Matthew 11:25-26. "These things" refer to the significance of Jesus" miracles, the imminence of the messianic kingdom, and the implications of Jesus" teaching.
"As elaborated in the context, it [2] concerns in greatest measure two matters. The one matter is the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven ( Matthew 13:11). And the other is insight into Jesus" identity as the Son of God ( Matthew 14:33; Matthew 16:16)." [3]
The "wise and prudent [4]" are the self-sufficient Jews who rejected Jesus because they felt no need for what He offered. The "babes [5]" are the dependent who received Jesus" teaching as needy individuals. Israel was not humble but proud. Consequently she could not understand the things that Jesus revealed to her.
It was God"s good pleasure to hide truth from some and reveal it to others. This may make God appear arbitrary and unfair. However, Scripture reveals that God owes man nothing. God is not unjust because He hides truth from some while revealing it to others. Hiding things from some is an evidence of God"s judgment, not His justice. That He extends mercy to any is amazing. That He extends it to those who are inadequate and totally dependent is even more incredible. Furthermore, because He hides truth from those who reject it He shows mercy to them because He will just all people by their response to the truth they have.
Jesus delighted in the fact that His Father revealed and concealed truth as He did ( Matthew 11:26). Jesus delighted in whatever God did. His disciples should do likewise.
"It is often in a person"s prayers that his truest thoughts about himself come to the surface. For this reason the thanksgiving of Jesus here recorded is one of the most precious pieces of spiritual autobiography found in the Synoptic Gospels." [6]