“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.” (Matthew 11:25)
Let’s look at the context of this verse. Jesus had just finished declaring to the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida that if Tyre and Sidon had seen the works of John the Baptist and Jesus, they would have repented. He declared also to Capernaum that if Sodom had seen the works done in Capernaum, Sodom would not have been destroyed. He declared that it will be more tolerable to Sodom than Capernaum on judgement day. (Matthew 11:21-24)
Then Jesus answered. (Verse 25) There is no record of someone talking or asking Jesus anything. But from His answer, we can see that He’d been in communication with the Father. Jesus was always in communication with the Father. He only said and did what the Father wanted Him to say and do. “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” (John 6:38)
Jesus affirms God’s wisdom. He gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding to the lowly, not to those who are wise in the things of the world. He chose the twelve apostles. Except for Luke and Matthew, the rest were unlearned fishermen. After Jesus ascended back to heaven and the apostles received the Holy Spirit, they went about preaching the Gospel and salvation in the risen Christ. The priests, who were the learned men of the time knew these simple and lowly fishermen had been with Jesus because they spoke with authority and knowledge. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 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. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1Corinthians 1:25-31) This Scripture makes it clear that God chooses the lowly to show His glory. And we have nothing to brag about or to be showy about because whatever wisdom we have, it is of God Who has given it. Whatever gift, knowledge or power, it is of God, not of our own doing.
In Matthew 11:25, Jesus makes it clear that the Truth of the Gospel, the treasure of knowledge and understanding has been hidden from those who think they are wise. They boast and rely on their own knowledge. But it is inferior and useless because what they know comes from limited resources and limited foresight. Only God knows all that is from the beginning. And only God knows the future and the end of all things. James commands, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13) Whatever wisdom we have received; we have received from the Lord that He may be glorified.
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