At that time Jesus said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
David Brown
At that time Jesus answered, etc We are not to understand by this, that the previous discourse had been concluded, and that this is a record only of something said about the same period. For the connection is most close, and the word "answered"- which, when there is no one to answer, refers to something just before said, or rising in the mind of the speaker in consequence of something said - confirms this. What Jesus here "answered" evidently was the melancholy results of his ministry, lamented over in the foregoing verses. It is as if he had said, "Yes; but there is a brighter side to the picture; even in those who have rejected the message of eternal life, it is the pride of their own hearts only which has blinded them, and the glory of the truth does but the more appear in their inability to receive it. Nor have all rejected it even here; souls thirsting for salvation have drawn water with joy from the wells of salvation; the weary have found rest; the hungry have been filled with good things, while the rich have been sent empty away."
I thank thee - rather, "I assent to thee." But this is not strong enough. The idea of "full" or "cordial" concurrence is conveyed by the preposition. The thing expressed is adoring acquiescence, holy satisfaction with that law of the divine procedure about to be mentioned. And as, when he afterwards uttered the same words, He "exulted in spirit" probably he did the same now, though not recorded.
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth He so styles His Father here, to signify that from him of right emanates all such high arrangements.
... these things the knowledge of these saving truths.
from the wise and prudent The former of these terms points to the men who pride themselves upon their speculative or philosophical attainments; the latter to the men of worldly shrewdness - the clever, the sharp-witted, the men of affairs. The distinction is a natural one, and was well understood. (See 1 Cor 1:19, etc). But why had the Father hid from such the things that belonged to their peace, and why did Jesus so emphatically set his seal to this arrangement? Because it is not for the offending and revolted to speak or to speculate, but to listen to him from whom we have broken loose, that we may learn whether there be any recovery for us at all; and if there be, on what principles - of what nature -to what ends. To bring our own "wisdom and prudence" to such questions is impertinent and presumptuous; and if the truth regarding them, or the glory of it, be "hid" from us, it is but a fitting retribution, to which all the right-minded will set their seal along with Jesus.
hast revealed them unto babes to babe-like men; men of unassuming docility, men who, conscious that they know nothing, and have no right to sit in judgment on the things that belong to their peace, determine simply to "hear what God the Lord will speak." Such are well called "babes." ....
I thank thee - rather, "I assent to thee." But this is not strong enough. The idea of "full" or "cordial" concurrence is conveyed by the preposition. The thing expressed is adoring acquiescence, holy satisfaction with that law of the divine procedure about to be mentioned. And as, when he afterwards uttered the same words, He "exulted in spirit" probably he did the same now, though not recorded.
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth He so styles His Father here, to signify that from him of right emanates all such high arrangements.
... these things the knowledge of these saving truths.
from the wise and prudent The former of these terms points to the men who pride themselves upon their speculative or philosophical attainments; the latter to the men of worldly shrewdness - the clever, the sharp-witted, the men of affairs. The distinction is a natural one, and was well understood. (See 1 Cor 1:19, etc). But why had the Father hid from such the things that belonged to their peace, and why did Jesus so emphatically set his seal to this arrangement? Because it is not for the offending and revolted to speak or to speculate, but to listen to him from whom we have broken loose, that we may learn whether there be any recovery for us at all; and if there be, on what principles - of what nature -to what ends. To bring our own "wisdom and prudence" to such questions is impertinent and presumptuous; and if the truth regarding them, or the glory of it, be "hid" from us, it is but a fitting retribution, to which all the right-minded will set their seal along with Jesus.
hast revealed them unto babes to babe-like men; men of unassuming docility, men who, conscious that they know nothing, and have no right to sit in judgment on the things that belong to their peace, determine simply to "hear what God the Lord will speak." Such are well called "babes." ....
John Calvin
We are constantly looking for splendour; and nothing appears to us more incongruous, than that the heavenly kingdom of the Son of God, whose glory is so magnificently celebrated by the prophets, should consist of the dregs and offscourings of the common people. And truly it is a wonderful purpose of God, that though he has the whole world at his command, he chooses rather to select a peculiar people to himself from among the contemptible vulgar, than from the nobility, whose high rank would have been a greater ornament to the name of Christ. But here Christ withdraws his disciples from a proud and haughty imagination, that they may not venture to despise that mean and obscure condition of his Church, in which he delights and rejoices. To restrain more fully that curiosity which is constantly springing up in the minds of men, he rises above the world, and contemplates the secret decrees of God, that he may lead others to unite with him in admiring them. And certainly, though this appointment of God contradicts our senses, we discover not only blind arrogance, but excessive madness, if we murmur against it, while Christ our Head adores it with reverence.
