The Father’s Pleasure
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. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.”
WHY are there certain things that you are pleased to do?
With pleasure you hold a newborn child. With pleasure you cook a meal for a new
mom. It is your pleasure you send money to the Red Cross. With pleasure you
read God’s Word. You are pleased to do such things because these activities fit
into the framework of who you are. It is your will, your desire to do such
things.
Jesus declares his
Father’s pleasure to hide kingdom knowledge “from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” He praises the Father’s will to make known God’s
truths to the multitudes. Wise and learned men were few in Israel. But children
– people of common backgrounds – were the great masses. The Father’s pleasure
was to move His Word from the learning centers to the population centers.
In his public
prayer, Jesus also states something quite radical and new before those who are
listening to him. Calling on God as “Father” Jesus is declaring he is the Son
of God. As he praises the Father for making his word known, he infers he is the
means of that knowledge. Jesus is broadening Israel’s understanding of his own
identity as he declares he is of the Holy God the Jews know as Jehovah.
This, of course,
will infuriate the wise and learned men. This will leave others perplexed. Only
a few will understand the Father’s pleasure to send His Son. God is winnowing
the evil from His elect. Salvation is coming at the Father’s pleasure.
LIFE Link: Be a child of faith.
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