The mystery of the kingdom of God is a grace of divine revelation granted only to the humble.

The mystery of the kingdom of God is a grace of divine revelation granted only to the humble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.’ Turning to the disciples, He said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see. For I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them’” (Luke 10:21–24).

 

 

 

 

(1)    I would like to meditate today on Luke 10:21–24 together with its parallel passages, Matthew 11:25–27 and 13:16–17, and receive the lessons they teach:

 

(a)    First, at that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight” (Lk. 10:21; Mt. 11:25–26), and He offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

(i)           Here, the phrase “at that time” differs in background between Luke 10:21 and Matthew 11:25):

 

·            In Luke 10:21, “at that time” refers to the moment when the seventy disciples returned from their missionary journey and gave their joyful report.  In Matthew 11:25, “at that time” refers to immediately after Jesus rebuked the cities that did not repent despite witnessing His mighty works.

 

-             In Luke, the background is the success and joy of the disciples’ ministry; in Matthew, it is the rejection and hardness of the proud.  In both cases, the point is that the truth of the gospel is understood not by human intellect but by the grace of God.

 

n   Thus, Luke records, “At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said …” (Luke 10:21), whereas Matthew writes, “At that time Jesus answered and said …” (Matthew 11:25).

 

(i)                 The phrase “Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 10:21) means that the seventy disciples had returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (v.17), and reported this to Jesus.  The reason Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit was that He saw a real victory in which Satan’s power was being broken through these seemingly insignificant seventy disciples.  Therefore, He could not restrain the divine joy welling up within Him in the Holy Spirit (Ref.: Internet).

 

·         This was not merely emotional pleasure. Seeing the Father’s plan of salvation being fulfilled through the Son on earth—through these lowly disciples—and spiritually witnessing Satan fall like lightning from heaven (v.18), Jesus experienced deep delight in the Holy Spirit as He observed the actual collapse of the powers of darkness through the proclamation of the gospel.

 

-             The Greek word translated “rejoiced” is ēgalliasato (ἠγαλλιάσατο).  It derives from a combination of the prefix meaning “very much” and a verb meaning “to leap” or “to spring up.”  It conveys the sense of outward, exuberant joy—“to leap for joy” or “to cry out in exultation.”

n   Luke adds the phrase “in the Holy Spirit” (τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ) before this word. This was not human achievement or temporary happiness.  It was the shared joy of the Triune God at the fulfillment of His saving plan.  It was one of the most moving moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry—when He saw Satan’s authority broken and the kingdom of God coming upon the lowly.

 

#    This word is frequently used in the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, to describe the eschatological joy the people would experience at the coming of the Messiah.  Through the ministry report of the seventy disciples, Jesus confirmed that the messianic reign foretold in the Old Testament was now actually unfolding before Him—and He burst forth in this joy.

 

(ii)               As Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, He prayed, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise You that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight” (Lk. 10:21; Mt. 11:25–26).  The title “Lord of heaven and earth” in addressing God is a distinctly Old Testament expression (Gen. 14:19, 22), emphasizing God’s sovereign majesty over the entire universe.  The title “Father” corresponds to the Aramaic Abba, expressing a warm and intimate father–son relationship.  Thus, this verse reveals that the sovereign Creator of all things is Jesus’ Father (Hochma).

 

·            The phrase “these things” likely refers to Jesus’ ministry—the gospel of the kingdom revealed through His miracles and proclamation, and the experiential knowledge the seventy disciples had just received.

 

-             Here, “the wise and intelligent” are contrasted with “little children.”  The former refers to Israel’s religious leaders who, despite their knowledge of the Law, failed to accept God’s revelation.  The latter refers to those who, though lacking worldly wisdom or legal knowledge, humbly depend on God’s help. This paradox overturns the traditional Jewish idea that wise scholars are the ones who receive divine revelation.  The same idea appears in 1 Corinthians 1:18–31.

 

n    1 Corinthians 1:26–29 says: “Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: not many of you were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; and God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong; and God chose the low and despised things of the world, even the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before God.”

 

·            Jesus also prayed, “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight” (Lk. 10:21; Mt. 11:26).  This prayer shows Jesus fully accepting God’s way of salvation and contains a central principle of Christian faith:

 

1.       “Yes” (Greek: Nai) — active agreement and trust

 

This is not mere resignation but a strong affirmation: “Yes! That is exactly right!”  Jesus proclaims that God’s way—reigning through the lowly and humble rather than through the clever and powerful—is perfect and just.

 

2.       “This way” — the paradoxical choice of the gospel

 

This refers to hiding truth from the self-reliant and revealing it to “little children.”

 

Hidden: Those proud in their own wisdom become spiritually blind and  fail to grasp the gospel.

 

Revealed: Those who acknowledge their need and depend on God receive the revelation of the kingdom’s mysteries.

 

3.       “Your good pleasure” (Greek: eudokia) — God’s gracious will

 

The word translated “will” signifies God’s good and gracious purpose.

The sovereignty of grace: Salvation depends not on human intelligence or achievement but solely on God’s merciful choice and grace.

 

The God of reversal: God delights in overturning worldly values, shaming the strong through the weak.

 

4.       Comprehensive Meaning

 

This prayer is Jesus’ moving response: “Father, it is truly right and beautiful that Your kingdom is being expanded not through the world’s clever and powerful, but through these seemingly insignificant disciples!”

 

In conclusion, this passage confirms that the door of salvation is opened not by human qualifications—education or status—but by a humble heart.  It invites us to reflect on whether, before God, we are becoming “little children,” or whether we are falling into the pride of the “wise and intelligent,” relying on our own understanding instead of His grace.

 

(b)    Second, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Lk. 10:22).

 

(i)         This statement contains the very core of Christian revelation, showing who Jesus Christ  is and how we can come to know God the Father.

 

1.       Delegation of Absolute Authority: “All things have been handed over to Me”

 

This means that God the Father has entrusted to God the Son—Jesus—the authority over salvation and judgment, and all rule of the kingdom of God.  It proclaims that Jesus is not merely an outstanding teacher, but the Messiah who possesses authority equal with God.

 

2.       Mutual and Unique Knowledge: “No one knows … except …”

This indicates that the relationship between the Father and the Son is not something human intellect can penetrate.

 

The Father and the Son share an intimate relationship in which they know each other perfectly and uniquely.

 

Therefore, it clearly establishes the absolute limitation that no human being can reach God the Father through philosophy or personal wisdom alone.

 

3.       The Channel of Revelation: “Anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him”

 

This means that the only way for us to know God the Father is through Jesus Christ alone.

 

The Son’s will: Jesus reveals the Father to those whom He chooses. The objects of this revelation are the “little children” mentioned in verse 21—those who are humble.

 

Revelation: Like a veil being removed, only when Jesus unveils it do we come to understand God’s love and His redemptive plan.

 

·         Furthermore, the phrase “anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” shows that the knowledge of God does not depend on human effort or qualification, but solely on the sovereign choice and grace of Jesus Christ.

 

1.       The Meaning of “the Son’s Will”

 

The Greek word bouletai (βούληται) means more than simply “to wish.”  It carries the strong sense of “to decide” or “to deliberately choose.”

 

  Initiative: Knowing God is not something humans achieve by seeking upward; it is only possible if Jesus decides to reveal the Father to us.

A loving choice: Jesus does not choose randomly, but desires to reveal the Father to those who are humble and pure like the “little children” mentioned earlier.

 

2.       The Meaning of “to Reveal”

 

The Greek word for “reveal,” apokalypsai (ἀποκαλύψαι), means “to remove a covering.”

 

Veiled truth: Because of sin, humanity’s spiritual eyes are covered, and we cannot see God the Father on our own.

 

The removal of the veil: Only those for whom Jesus personally removes that spiritual covering can come to understand God’s love and His saving plan.  This emphasizes that Jesus is the only channel through whom we may encounter God.

 

3.       Comfort and Warning in This Statement

 

Comfort: The reason I can believe in God and call Him “Father” is that Jesus willed to reveal Him to me. It is not my merit, but entirely grace.

 

Warning: Those who consider themselves wise and rely on their own understanding may distance themselves from the Son’s gracious will. God closes the eyes of the proud but opens the eyes of the humble.

 

In conclusion, this verse refers to “humble people whom Jesus Christ especially loves and chooses, granting them understanding of God’s mysterious plan of salvation.”

 

(c)    Finally, third, Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, and blessed are your ears because they hear.  For truly I say to you, many prophets and kings and righteous people desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Lk. 10:23–24; Mt. 13:16–17).

 

(i)          Concerning “what you see,” Hochma suggests two possible meanings: In a broad sense: It refers to recognizing that the age of salvation has dawned through the miracles Jesus performed and would perform, and through His teaching (Ref.: Lk. 4:6), and to perceiving the mystery between God and the Son (v.22).  In a narrower sense: It refers to witnessing the realization of the kingdom of God as experienced when the disciples cast out demons in the Lord’s name.  In the context of Matthew (13:16), which mentions both “seeing” and “hearing,” the broader sense is likely intended. In Luke, where “hearing” is omitted in that immediate phrase, the narrower sense may be closer.

 

·         When Jesus said to the disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see” (Lk. 10:23), the meaning can be summarized in three main points:

 

1.       The Blessing of Witnessing the Fulfillment of the Promise

 

The prophets and righteous people of the Old Testament received only the promise of the coming Messiah (Christ).  They looked forward from a distance and waited.  But the disciples were directly seeing Jesus, the fulfillment of that promise.  In other words, they were living in the age when the history of salvation was no longer theory or prophecy, but present reality before their eyes.  That is the greatest blessing.

 

2.       Spiritual Insight to Recognize the Kingdom of God

 

Many people saw Jesus physically, yet most regarded Him merely as a carpenter’s son or a political revolutionary.  The disciples, however, saw in Jesus the reign and salvation of God. Here, “seeing” refers not merely to physical sight, but to spiritual perception—the ability to discern the hidden mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

 

3.       Gratitude for Undeserved Grace

 

This statement emphasizes that the disciples were not blessed because they were superior to others, but because God opened their eyes.  The context shows that it was God’s pleasure to reveal these mysteries not to the powerful or the wise of the world, but to disciples like little children.

 

In one sentence: “You are living in the greatest grace—the direct sight and understanding of the fulfillment of salvation (Jesus), whom the faithful of thousands of years longed to see.”

 

·         Jesus also said to the disciples, “Blessed are your ears because they hear” (Mt. 13:16).  This blessing concerns a spiritual condition that understands and receives the voice of God. Its meaning includes:

 

1.       The Beginning of Hearing the Mystery of the Gospel

 

Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom through parables.  Though many heard the same words, to the hardened they sounded like riddles; to the disciples they were heard as words of life.  The very fact that God’s hidden plan of salvation began to be heard and understood was itself a special blessing from God.

 

2.       The Channel Through Which Faith Begins

 

Scripture says, “Faith comes from hearing” (Rom. 10:17).  The disciples’ ears were blessed because what they heard from Jesus was not mere information, but truth that produced faith, transformed their lives, and led them to salvation.

 

3.       A Readiness to Listen and Obey

 

In biblical thought, “to hear” is closely connected with “to obey.”  The disciples’ ears were blessed because they were not blocked by worldly temptation or stubbornness, but were prepared to respond to the Lord’s voice and follow Him.

 

In conclusion: The disciples were hearing in real time the direct voice of God’s reign and love—something the prophets of old longed to hear. Because that word was awakening their souls, Jesus declared them “blessed.”

 

(ii)       Here, the statement, “Truly I say to you, that many prophets and kings and righteous people desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Lk. 10:24; Mt. 13:17), is a declaration emphasizing that the spiritual privilege the disciples were enjoying was an unprecedented event—something no one in human history had ever experienced before. Its specific meaning is as follows (Internet):

 

1.       A Transition from the “Age of Prophecy” to the “Age of Fulfillment”

 

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah, and the righteous and kings (such as David) lived their entire lives longing for the arrival of that kingdom.  They saw only the “blueprint” called promise, but the disciples were seeing the completed reality of that blueprint—Jesus Christ Himself.  The disciples were standing at the very moment when history’s long wait was coming to its conclusion.

 

2.       Standing at the Climax of Redemptive History

 

Throughout human history there have been many great heroes of faith.  Yet even those great figures did not experience “walking with God and hearing His voice directly,” which ordinary disciples were now enjoying.  This reminds us that their privilege was not due to their status or ability, but solely to the grace of being called in God’s appointed time.

 

3.       A Contrast with Those Who “See but Do Not See”

 

This statement also contrasts the disciples with the Pharisees and scribes of that time, who prided themselves on their mastery of the Law but rejected Jesus who stood before them.  The opportunity that the saints of old so earnestly longed for was kicked away by the religious leaders of that very generation.  In contrast, Jesus emphasized how great a blessing it was that the disciples possessed the spiritual insight to recognize this precious reality.

 

In one sentence: “You are the happiest people in the world, because you are directly experiencing before your eyes the realization of the kingdom of God that the great figures of faith dreamed of for thousands of years” (Internet).

 

·         The realization of the kingdom of God that the heroes of faith longed for over thousands of years is something we ourselves are now directly experiencing. Therefore, we are the happiest people in the world.  Jesus’ words apply not only to the disciples 2,000 years ago, but also to us today who believe the gospel and live in the kingdom of God through the Holy Spirit.

 

-          “The meaning of the happiness given to us by the realization of the kingdom of God, which the heroes of faith so eagerly awaited, is as follows:

 

Recipients of the promise: What Abraham or Moses saw only from afar and hoped for—the plan of salvation—has, for us, become an accomplished fact through Jesus Christ.

 

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit: Figures in the Old Testament experienced God’s Spirit only at special times, but now we live in an age when anyone can personally walk with the Holy Spirit and hear His voice.

 

Hope toward the kingdom to be completed: We taste the kingdom of God that has already begun, and we can wait with assurance for the eternal kingdom that will one day be fully completed. This is the greatest spiritual privilege we possess.

 

Ultimately, the expression ‘the happiest people’ does not mean that our circumstances are perfect, but that we possess the ontological blessing of being connected to the Lord of eternal life.”

 

n   As those who have received this amazing blessing, how then should we concretely enjoy and live out this kingdom of God in our daily lives today?

1.       See with eyes of gratitude: As Jesus said to the disciples, we should ask for “eyes that see” God at work in the everyday events and encounters given to us today.

 

2.       Listen attentively to the Word: In the midst of the noise of this complicated world, we are to live with “blessed ears,” choosing to hear the Lord’s peace and comfort.

3.       Live it here and now: It is important to remember that the kingdom of God is not merely a place we enter after death, but something that begins right now as we walk with the Lord (Internet).