Luke 10 is the third gospel’s equivalent to Matthew 11. And just before this statement, Luke says, “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” In other words, just before Jesus’ prayer, the twelve disciples and their assistants returned from their first missionary journey – filled with stories of victory and defeat. They rejoiced in that they had some victory over Satan’s demons, and perhaps they had been able to affect some other miracles as well. But they failed to mention the repentance and conversion of vast numbers of people. This was in fact very characteristic of the ministries of Jesus, and John, and the disciples in general. In reply to the questions and comments of the disciples Christ turned to His Heavenly Father. He didn’t praise God for the miracles, because as I said last week, they weren’t that important. Neither did Jesus didn’t moan and groan over the lack of real success. Rather, He uttered something strange – “Father, I thank thee for hiding these things from some and revealing them to others. This is good and right. And I thank you for the special relationship that we enjoy. Thank you for the authority given to me to reveal you to those whom I have chosen.”
As I was studying this scripture, it occurred to me, to my shame, that I have never preached from it before. I suppose that early in my ministry – in my Arminian daze, it was because I didn’t understand. And then perhaps I became afraid to teach and preach it, because I knew how most professing Christians would not like what I came to understand it to mean. But then again, I have never preached through Matthew before, so I have never been forced to deal with it. There are always a thousand other scriptures to preach, if I had to pick and choose. These three verses, teach, among other important things, the glorious subject of the sovereignty of God.
Let’s start with the “THESE THINGS” of verse 25.
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” The seventy preachers, which the Lord sent out, may have come back rejoicing in a few miracles. But the more spiritual among them, probably confined to the eleven, or perhaps even to Peter, James, John and Andrew, may have been disturbed because there hadn’t been any mass repentance and surrender to Christ.
I think that the larger context tells us that the “these things” refer to the blessings of the gospel. John had been preaching repentance, and the coming of Christ, but few turned to the Lord when John pointed Him out as the Lamb of God. The Holy Spirit had used John like a man playing a sorrowful dirge, but no one came to the funeral. And then along came the Saviour, working miracles, filling men’s bellies, and accepting people’s hospitality but the wicked in Israel called Him a glutton and a winebibber. Why hadn’t Chorazin, Capernaum and Bethsaida repented in sackcloth and ashes? Because it was not given them to know either God the Father, or God the Son. If Tyre, Sidon and Sodom had seen the miracles of the Lord, and heard the preaching of the Lord, they would have responded properly, if that had been the will of God. And proof of that could be seen in Ninevah during the days of Jonah, if anyone had been interested in looking.
How is it that in a congregation of two dozen people, some are affected by the sermon and others are not? There may be two dozen natural explanations – some are tired; some have headaches. Some were mad at the preacher; some were mad at their parents for making them attend. But others had just read something on that subject and were really interested in learning a little more. And others were struck by an early illustration in the message, and it still echoed in their hearts. But none of those or the other eighteen reasons are the real reason the message didn’t sever their hearts. When the Word of God strikes home, it is because that was the will of God for that person on that day. “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
In Acts 16 Paul and Silas carried the gospel into the cities of Derbe and Lystra, but the good news of Christ was not received by those people, and Paul was stoned to death. The Son was not ready to reveal the Father to most of the people of Lystra. And after Paul was miraculously healed, or restored to life, the missionaries moved on to Philippi. And there were few converts in that new community – but there was “a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, (who) heard… whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Why was Lydia born again, when so many others in Philippi, Lystra and Derbe were not? “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast… revealed (these things) unto babes.” The “these things” of which the Lord was speaking, was a reference to the truths of the gospel.
And as Christ clearly tells us, they are HIDDEN from the wise and prudent.
There is spiritual wisdom and there is earthly wisdom and sagacity. The Lord is talking about those people in the world who are considered to be smarter than the rest. I remind you once again that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.” The words “chosen,” “called” and “calling” there in I Corinthians 1, take us back to God’s sovereign rule over His creation. He has chosen to hide these things from the wise and prudent while choosing to reveal them unto babes. If someone decides to be angry with God for that, they can certainly do so, but it’s no more a problem for God than the attack of an earthworm against an aircraft carrier.
I won’t suggest for a moment that you and I will ever be able to replicate the heart of Christ in our own breasts. But that should be our desire, and even our goal. And in that light please notice that Jesus says, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent.” The day that we can begin to thank God for His sovereign election, that will be a great day in our lives. That will be a day when we make a giant step forward toward genuine spiritual wisdom. It will indicate an understanding of the Bible, and reveal a submissiveness to God which are huge advantages.
Notice that Christ says that the hiding and revealing of these things are “good.” If we understand the word “good” as children might, it has a wonderful Biblical message. We could interpret it to be the same as “right” or even “righteous.” When it comes to the holy God, “right” is always “righteous.” Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. But in reality the word “good” in this verse is slightly different. But I want to save that to include in my next point.
In God’s sovereign government, spiritual things are often hidden to some, but REVEALED unto others.
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
I have already referred to that wonderful verse in Acts 16 which speaks about Lydia’s salvation. “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Perhaps the language is not as crisp in other scriptures as it is in Acts 16:14, but it is found throughout the Word of God. “Noah, found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” when the rest of the world remained in spiritual darkness. How do you explain that? I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Nicodemus served on the Sanhedrim, as one of the rulers of Judah. While the Sanhedrim was living in blindness towards Christ, Nicodemus was given spiritual sight and an open heart. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. While the people of Lystra were casting stones down on Paul with a desire to crush his skull, a teenager named Timothy was given a revelation of the Son of God. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. How many examples of this sort of distinction are there in the Bible? Dozens and dozens.
Now, let’s go back to the word “good.” “Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.” The Greek word is used nine times and it is more often than not translated just a little more broadly than “good.” Listen closely to the same Greek word – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, GOOD WILL toward men.” “Brethren, my HEART’S DESIRE and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the GOOD PLEASURE of his will,” “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his GOOD PLEASURE which he hath purposed in himself.” “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his GOOD PLEASURE .” “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the GOOD PLEASURE of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. When Jesus was praying and praising His Father, He was specifically referring to the Lord’s good and sovereign choice towards those babes.
You, me, all your relatives, all your neighbors, and the rest of the people of this globe are sinners. There is not one of us worthy of the least of God’s blessings. We deserve the Lake of Fire for eternity, and there is no good thing in us to undo what we deserve. And beyond that we are also spiritually dead. When God chooses to reveal these good things of the gospel to any of us, it is of His good will. Not only was it out of Gods kindness, but in some ways involved a spiritual resurrection so that any of us could have seen and learned it. In other words, this revelation was out of God’s mercy and grace.
And consider the word “babes” in verse 25. These are not the “babes” used in the vulgar language of the 21st century. These “babes” are contrasted against the “prudent” – the “intelligent.” The truths of the gospel are often hidden from “wise” and “prudent” – the smart and the crafty. But they are revealed to those who have childlike hearts and minds.
Would you like to more clearly understand the deep and serious things of the Word of God? Part of the key to that understanding is found in the words “Father” and “babe.” As long as we take pride in our intelligence and wisdom, we may never grasp the essence of God’s grace. We must come to the Lord as children – as babes. And we must think of God as Christ Jesus did – as the Father. As if we could really do anything about it, at least in our own hears we must let Jehovah be God. But not as some distant, aloof, despotic autocrat and tyrant. If you’d like to experience the revelation of God, then come as a child towards your Father.
Years ago, when Kraig and Jackie were small, the four of us were all at some public place filled with parents and children. It may have been at the Calgary Zoo, or some place like that. As I was walking along or standing looking at something, a small hand reached up and grabbed mine. That had probably happened a dozen times that day already, and I wasn’t surprised by it. But when I looked down, I was surprised because it wasn’t either of my children – the hand belonged to a stranger. I was not offended, just surprised, although not as surprised as that child. I was not offended, angry, disgusted or any other negative emotion.
It may not be theologically correct for a lost person to think of himself as a babe and to reach up towards Jehovah, but it is right in many other ways. If you want the blessing of God, that is the sort of person you need to become – a babe. If you want to understand the deep things of God, you must cast aside your earthly genius and come to the Lord as a child. And even more importantly, if you want to be saved from your sins, that is the sort of person you must become.