The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 11:25-26,
"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. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.'"
I doubt the Lord was expressing his appreciation to the Father for rejecting certain individuals when he spoke to him at this time - that he had hidden the kingdom of God to certain individuals. Rather, he was expressing his praise to him because the Father had elected to bring all who embraced him in faith into his family, and thus, the things of God remained hidden from those who refused to embrace him in faith.
I recall Jesus' words in Luke 18:17, "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
In the context of the occasion, Jesus spoke of those who reject the things of God. He pointed out that John the Baptist came to the people of that time "neither eating nor drinking" and they said he had a demon. Jesus came "eating and drinking" and called him a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. The point being that anyone sent by God was going to be rejected - they had no interest in embracing the things of God as he revealed himself.
Jesus went on to speak of the towns that had rejected him: Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. It was in that context that Jesus praised his Father for hiding his things from the "wise and learned". Certainly that description of them, the "wise and learned" would have been thought of being as such from the perspective of this life - not in terms of the kingdom of God.
I am reminded of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
Salvation is a gift from God, bought at the price of Jesus' sacrifice on that miserable cross. He paid the penalty for our sins and the Father does not want anyone thinking they have earned their salvation on their own merit. Salvation is by faith alone and because it is by faith, those who are enamored of themselves, their wisdom, their learning, their noble birth, their influence, will never humble themselves to find the things of God.
In my mind, this is how God has "hidden" his things from "the wise and learned". Things remain hidden when you are looking in all the wrong places.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"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. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.'"
I doubt the Lord was expressing his appreciation to the Father for rejecting certain individuals when he spoke to him at this time - that he had hidden the kingdom of God to certain individuals. Rather, he was expressing his praise to him because the Father had elected to bring all who embraced him in faith into his family, and thus, the things of God remained hidden from those who refused to embrace him in faith.
I recall Jesus' words in Luke 18:17, "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
In the context of the occasion, Jesus spoke of those who reject the things of God. He pointed out that John the Baptist came to the people of that time "neither eating nor drinking" and they said he had a demon. Jesus came "eating and drinking" and called him a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. The point being that anyone sent by God was going to be rejected - they had no interest in embracing the things of God as he revealed himself.
Jesus went on to speak of the towns that had rejected him: Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. It was in that context that Jesus praised his Father for hiding his things from the "wise and learned". Certainly that description of them, the "wise and learned" would have been thought of being as such from the perspective of this life - not in terms of the kingdom of God.
I am reminded of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
Salvation is a gift from God, bought at the price of Jesus' sacrifice on that miserable cross. He paid the penalty for our sins and the Father does not want anyone thinking they have earned their salvation on their own merit. Salvation is by faith alone and because it is by faith, those who are enamored of themselves, their wisdom, their learning, their noble birth, their influence, will never humble themselves to find the things of God.
In my mind, this is how God has "hidden" his things from "the wise and learned". Things remain hidden when you are looking in all the wrong places.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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