MATTHEW 11:25-27
THE PRAISE OF THE FATHER
INTRODUCTION
In this passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus offers a prayer of thanksgiving to the Father, acknowledging God’s divine wisdom and His mysterious ways of revealing truth. Jesus praises the Father for hiding divine knowledge from the “wise and learned” of the world, yet revealing it to the “little ones” – those who approach God with humility and openness. This highlights a key theme in Jesus’ ministry: God’s grace is not dependent on human wisdom or status, but rather on a childlike faith and receptivity to the divine will. In the historical Jewish context, the scribes and Pharisees, seen as the learned, often failed to understand Jesus’ message due to their hardened hearts, while the simple, the poor, and the marginalized readily accepted His teachings.
In these verses, Jesus also underscores His unique relationship with the Father, affirming that no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. This passage invites us today to approach God with humility, recognizing that true wisdom is a gift from God, and it is through Jesus that we come to know the Father. In our contemporary world, this teaches us the importance of faith, trust, and a heart open to God’s revelations, which often come in unexpected ways, not through worldly knowledge or power, but through simplicity and grace.
Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus said in reply, ‘I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.’”
In this passage from Matthew 11:25, Jesus offers a prayer of thanksgiving to God the Father. His words come after He has rebuked the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their failure to repent despite witnessing His miracles. However, in this verse, Jesus turns from lament to praise, thanking God for revealing His truths not to the so-called wise and learned but to the childlike and humble of heart.
1. Praise to the Father
Jesus begins with an expression of praise to God, whom He addresses as “Father.” As the only begotten Son of God, Jesus holds a unique relationship with the Father and grants His disciples the privilege of calling God “Our Father” (Mt 6:9). This reflects the intimate bond Jesus shares with God, a relationship of trust and obedience. In offering praise to the Father, Jesus models for us the attitude we should have in prayer: one of reverence, gratitude, and trust in God’s divine plan.
The Psalms often emphasize the importance of praising God. For instance, Psalm 105:1-4 encourages believers to “Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the peoples his deeds!” This call to praise highlights our duty to acknowledge God’s greatness in all things. Similarly, Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that whatever we do, it should be for the glory of God.
2. Lord of Heaven and Earth
In His prayer, Jesus addresses God as the “Lord of heaven and earth,” acknowledging His sovereignty over all creation. This statement reaffirms the biblical understanding of God as the creator and ruler of the universe, as seen in Genesis and in John 1:1-3, where Jesus is identified as the Word through whom all things were made. Psalm 95:3-5 also emphasizes God’s ownership over the earth, sea, and mountains, further illustrating the comprehensive scope of His dominion.
3. Hidden from the Wise and Learned
The “wise and learned” referred to in this passage are the religious elites of Jesus’ time—such as the Pharisees, Scribes, and members of the Sanhedrin. These groups were highly regarded for their knowledge of Scripture and religious law, yet many failed to recognize the presence of God’s kingdom in the person and mission of Jesus. Their pride and self-reliance made them spiritually blind to the divine revelations that were unfolding before them.
Paul reflects on this in 1 Corinthians 1:18-19, where he speaks of the wisdom of God as being foolishness to those who are perishing but the power of God to those being saved. He reminds the Corinthians that God will “destroy the wisdom of the wise” and “set aside the learning of the learned.” This underscores the message that human wisdom alone is insufficient for understanding the mysteries of God.
4. Revealed to the Childlike
In contrast to the wise and learned, Jesus praises the Father for revealing His truths to the “childlike.” These childlike individuals are those who possess the spiritual qualities of humility, trust, and openness to God. Like children, they rely on God’s guidance rather than their own understanding, trust in His words, and live in simple faith.
Jesus illustrates this concept further in Matthew 18:3, where He tells His disciples that unless they become like little children, they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. The childlike are those who are humble, trusting, and aware of their dependence on God. This childlike faith is characterized by a willingness to receive divine wisdom with an open heart, free from pride or self-sufficiency.
The disciples themselves exemplify this childlike faith. They left behind their livelihoods to follow Jesus, trusting completely in His words and mission. Likewise, in Matthew 13:11, Jesus reveals that the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven is granted to His disciples, but not to the general public, who remain blinded by their lack of faith and openness.
5. The Paradox of Divine Revelation
God’s choice to reveal His truths to the humble rather than the wise is part of the paradox of the Gospel. In a world that often elevates human intellect and achievement, God’s wisdom is revealed to the lowly, confounding human expectations. St. Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, where he writes that God chose the foolish, weak, and lowly to shame the wise and powerful. This shows that the path to divine wisdom is not through worldly success or intelligence, but through humility and dependence on God.
Application for Today
For modern Christians, Matthew 11:25 is a call to cultivate a childlike spirit in our approach to God. We must recognize that our own intellect or worldly wisdom cannot lead us to divine truths. Rather, it is through humility, trust, and a willingness to be led by God that we come to know Him more fully.
This passage challenges us to examine whether we are relying too much on our own understanding and achievements. Are we like the Pharisees, who were blinded by their self-righteousness, or are we like the childlike disciples, who trusted fully in Jesus? True wisdom comes from God, and we must approach Him with open, humble hearts, ready to receive His revelation.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, w give You praise for Your wisdom and grace. Thank You for revealing the mysteries of Your kingdom to the childlike and humble of heart. Help us to approach You with the simplicity and trust of a child, laying aside our pride and worldly concerns. May we always remain open to Your guidance and revelation, trusting in Your divine plan. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Matthew 11:26 “Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.”
This powerful statement reveals His deep alignment with the Father’s will and introduces key spiritual lessons about humility, obedience, and divine wisdom.
God’s Gracious Plan
Jesus’ prayer highlights the Father’s gracious will to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to the humble and childlike, while concealing them from the self-reliant wise and learned. This divine approach reflects God’s preference for those who, in their simplicity and trust, are open to receiving His grace and revelation. The principle of God lifting the humble is consistent throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, God revealed His plan of salvation to humble servants like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets. Each of these figures demonstrated obedience and trust in God, qualities that allowed them to partake in His divine mission.
Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:48-53 similarly echoes this theme of God’s favor toward the lowly: “He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness… His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him… He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.” Mary’s canticle beautifully illustrates how God works through those who are humble, lifting them up while bringing down the proud.
Jesus’ Obedience to the Father
Jesus’ own life exemplified perfect obedience to the Father’s will. As Paul describes in Philippians 2:8, “He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” This profound humility is vividly displayed during Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done” (Lk 22:42). Despite the suffering that awaited Him, Jesus submitted to the Father’s plan, trusting in His wisdom. In response to Jesus’ humility and obedience, God sent an angel to strengthen Him (Lk 22:43), affirming the divine assistance that accompanies submission to God’s will.
Jesus also emphasized the importance of obedience to the Father’s will in the prayer He taught His disciples, the Our Father. When we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” we are aligning ourselves with Jesus’ submission to God’s will, expressing our desire to conform our lives to the divine plan.
Catholic Reflection
This verse, “Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will,” offers a profound insight into Catholic spirituality:
1. The Primacy of God’s Will: Jesus’ prayer reflects His perfect obedience to the Father’s will. For Catholics, this models the importance of submitting our own will to God’s, trusting that His plan is infinitely wise and good.
2. The Importance of Humility: Jesus reveals that God’s kingdom is accessible to those with childlike openness and humility, while it remains hidden from those who pride themselves on worldly wisdom. Humility is key to receiving God’s grace.
3. The Gratuitous Nature of Grace: Divine revelation is a gift that cannot be earned by human merit or intellect. It is given freely by God to those who are open to receiving it.
4. The Unity of the Father and the Son: Jesus’ prayer expresses His intimate relationship with the Father, reflecting the profound unity within the Holy Trinity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that God reveals Himself as a loving Father who invites humanity into a personal relationship with Him: “By his revelation, ‘the invisible God, from the fullness of his love, addresses men as his friends, and moves among them, in order to invite and receive them into his own company.’ The adequate response to this invitation is faith” (CCC 142).
Reflection: A Call to Humble Trust
Matthew 11:26 invites us to reflect on our own response to God’s will. Are we, like Jesus, joyfully accepting and praising God’s plan, even when it challenges our human understanding? Do we approach God with humility and childlike trust, ready to receive His guidance and grace?
By reflecting on the life and teachings of Jesus, we learn the importance of humility, trust, and obedience to the Father’s will. As Christians, we are called to follow Jesus’ example, embracing God’s plan for our lives with faith and gratitude, knowing that His wisdom far surpasses our understanding.
A Prayer of Submission
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your gracious will that invites us into a loving relationship with You. Help us to cultivate the humility and trust of little children, that we may be open to Your revelation. Like Jesus, may we joyfully accept Your will in all things. Grant us the grace to say “yes” to Your plan for our lives, trusting in Your infinite wisdom and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Matthew 11:27 “All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Divine Authority and Relationship
In this verse, Jesus reveals two profound truths about His divine identity and mission:
1. Jesus’ Authority:
Jesus declares that the Father has given Him complete authority over all things. This echoes John 3:35, where “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.” This authority of Jesus emphasizes His role in salvation and His dominion over all creation, as seen in His final words after the resurrection: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Mt 28:18). This power was entrusted to Jesus by God the Father, highlighting His divinity and unique role as the mediator of God’s grace to humanity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 663) reflects this truth by stating: “Henceforth Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father… He is Lord of the cosmos and of history.” Jesus holds the power not only to govern creation but to offer salvation through His life, death, and resurrection.
2. The Unique Relationship Between the Father and the Son:
Jesus reveals the exclusive and intimate knowledge that He shares with the Father, a knowledge that is beyond human comprehension. This is the mystery of the Holy Trinity. As Jesus says, “No one knows the Father except the Son.” The Father and Son share an eternal relationship of mutual love and understanding. The Son’s birth from the Father, His role as the Lamb of God, and His resurrection are all signs of this unique relationship.
In John 10:15, Jesus refers to this closeness: “The Father knows me, and I know the Father.” The Son is uniquely positioned to reveal the Father to the world, and this revelation is a gift of grace. It is through Christ that we gain the deepest understanding of God.
Revelation Through Christ
In the second half of the verse, Jesus affirms that no one can know the Father except those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. This demonstrates that coming to know God is not purely a matter of intellectual effort or human will; it is a gift of grace, bestowed by Jesus. The relationship between God and humanity is initiated by God’s will, and Jesus, as the mediator, offers this revelation.
This is reinforced in John 14:6, where Jesus states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” Therefore, to know God the Father, one must first encounter and believe in Jesus Christ. The Catechism (CCC 151) highlights that “believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the One he sent, his ‘beloved Son’.” Jesus opens the path to the Father through His teachings, His miracles, and ultimately, through His sacrifice on the cross.
Freedom of Response
While Jesus offers this revelation, He respects human freedom to accept or reject it. His ministry demonstrated this balance between divine invitation and human freedom. In some towns, like Nazareth and Gadara, people rejected His message or miracles, and as a result, they did not experience the fullness of His revelation (Mk 6:5, Mt 8:34). Jesus’ instruction to His disciples not to force their message, but to “shake the dust off your feet” when rejected (Mt 10:14), reflects the freedom that is inherent in responding to His call.
This principle is true even after Jesus’ resurrection. He appeared to those He chose, revealing Himself to His disciples and followers who were ready to receive Him. As 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 notes, Jesus appeared selectively to His apostles, and later to Paul, confirming that His revelation is for those prepared to receive it.
Reflection and Contemporary Application
In today’s world, this passage calls us to reflect on the personal and intimate nature of our relationship with Christ. We are reminded that faith is not only about understanding doctrine but also about encountering Jesus in a personal way. Through Him, we come to know the Father’s love and the divine will for our lives.
Furthermore, this passage encourages humility. Knowing God is not something we can achieve through our own merit or knowledge – it is a gift from Jesus. We are invited to continually seek Jesus, to deepen our relationship with Him through prayer, the sacraments, and the life of the Church. In doing so, we allow Him to reveal the Father to us more fully each day.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal Your love and truth to us. Help us to always seek Your face and know You more deeply through the teachings and person of Jesus. Open our hearts to the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may recognize Christ as the way to You. May we grow in faith and understanding, and live in the fullness of Your love. Guide us, through Jesus, to a deeper relationship with You, and may our lives be a reflection of Your divine will, Amen.
CONCLUSION
In Matthew 11:25-27, Jesus praises the Father for revealing divine truths to the humble rather than the wise and learned. This passage emphasizes the profound spiritual paradox that God’s wisdom is often hidden from those who rely on their own intellect or status, but is graciously revealed to the simple, those with childlike faith. Jesus, in His unique relationship with the Father, serves as the mediator of this divine revelation. He shows us that approaching God with humility, openness, and trust is key to receiving His grace and understanding His will. This message invites us to reflect on our own attitudes towards God’s revelations and to cultivate a heart that is open and receptive to His teachings.
In today’s world, this passage reminds us that true wisdom is not found in human knowledge or achievement, but through a humble relationship with God. Jesus’ teachings challenge us to set aside pride and worldly concerns and to approach God as children, fully dependent on His guidance. It is through Christ alone that we come to know the Father, and it is through faith and trust that we are invited into this relationship. As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace God’s will, trusting in His infinite wisdom, and living out our faith with humility and gratitude.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we praise You for revealing the mysteries of Your Kingdom to the humble and childlike. Help us to approach You with open hearts, free from pride, and filled with trust in Your divine plan. Grant us the grace to follow Your Son, Jesus, in His perfect obedience and to grow in deeper knowledge of You. May our lives be a reflection of Your love and wisdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.