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.
'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.' Following severe judgments on rejecting cities, Jesus breaks into prayer—a prayer of thanksgiving revealing profound theological truth. He addresses God as 'Father' (Πάτερ/Pater), demonstrating intimate relationship, and 'Lord of heaven and earth' (κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς/kyrie tou ouranou kai tēs gēs), acknowledging absolute sovereignty. The thanksgiving centers on divine election: God has 'hid these things from the wise and prudent' (ἀπέκρυψας ταῦτα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν/apekrypsas tauta apo sophōn kai synetōn) and 'revealed them unto babes' (ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις/apekalypsas auta nēpiois). 'These things' refers to kingdom mysteries—truth about Jesus's identity and mission. The 'wise and prudent' are the educated religious elite; 'babes' are simple, humble, teachable. God actively hides truth from some and reveals it to others—sovereign election in salvation. Reformed theology sees this as explicit biblical support for predestination: God chooses whom to illumine, not based on human merit but His sovereign will.
Historical Context
This prayer occurs after pronouncing judgment on cities that witnessed Jesus's miracles but refused repentance. The contrast is stark: cities with greatest evidence rejected; simple disciples received revelation. The 'wise and prudent' included Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees—Israel's theological experts, trained in Torah, respected for learning. Yet they missed Messiah standing before them. The 'babes' (νήπιοι/nēpioi, infants) were Jesus's disciples—fishermen, tax collectors, ordinary people without rabbinic training. This pattern fulfilled Isaiah 29:14 (quoted in 1 Corinthians 1:19): 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.' God consistently chooses weak, foolish, lowly things to shame the strong, wise, and noble (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Early church reflected this: Christianity spread among slaves, women, lower classes initially; Roman aristocracy largely rejected it for centuries. This divine pattern ensures no one boasts in themselves—salvation is entirely God's gracious work.
Questions for Reflection
How does Jesus's thanksgiving for divine hiddenness and revelation challenge egalitarian assumptions that everyone deserves equal understanding?
What does it mean practically that you must become like a 'babe' to receive kingdom revelation—how is childlike faith different from scholarly investigation?
How do you respond to the reality that God sovereignly chooses to whom He reveals truth—does this seem unfair, or does it magnify grace?
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Analysis & Commentary
'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.' Following severe judgments on rejecting cities, Jesus breaks into prayer—a prayer of thanksgiving revealing profound theological truth. He addresses God as 'Father' (Πάτερ/Pater), demonstrating intimate relationship, and 'Lord of heaven and earth' (κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς/kyrie tou ouranou kai tēs gēs), acknowledging absolute sovereignty. The thanksgiving centers on divine election: God has 'hid these things from the wise and prudent' (ἀπέκρυψας ταῦτα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν/apekrypsas tauta apo sophōn kai synetōn) and 'revealed them unto babes' (ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις/apekalypsas auta nēpiois). 'These things' refers to kingdom mysteries—truth about Jesus's identity and mission. The 'wise and prudent' are the educated religious elite; 'babes' are simple, humble, teachable. God actively hides truth from some and reveals it to others—sovereign election in salvation. Reformed theology sees this as explicit biblical support for predestination: God chooses whom to illumine, not based on human merit but His sovereign will.