Matthew 11 25

Matthew 11:25 kjv

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 nkjv

At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

Matthew 11:25 niv

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.

Matthew 11:25 esv

At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

Matthew 11:25 nlt

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

Matthew 11 verses

Matthew 11 25 Meaning

Matthew 11:25 reveals Jesus' deep gratitude and praise to God the Father. It expresses His thanksgiving for the Father's sovereign choice to conceal the truths of the kingdom of heaven from those considered "wise and understanding" in a worldly or self-righteous sense, while at the same time revealing these profound truths to the humble, the "little ones" or "infants." This declaration immediately follows Jesus' pronouncement of woes upon the unrepentant cities that witnessed His miracles, highlighting a profound paradox of divine revelation: the path to spiritual insight is humility, not intellectual pride.

Matthew 11 25 Context

Matthew 11 details a critical period in Jesus' ministry. John the Baptist sends disciples to ask if Jesus is the Messiah (v. 2-6), leading Jesus to affirm His identity through His works. However, immediately preceding verse 25, Jesus issues strong woes against the Galilean cities—Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—where most of His mighty works had been done (v. 20-24). Despite witnessing powerful miracles and hearing His teachings, these cities remained impenitent and rejected Him. Their rejection contrasts sharply with Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, which would have repented given the same opportunities. It is against this backdrop of hardened hearts and widespread unbelief among those exposed to immense spiritual privilege that Jesus offers this prayer of thanksgiving to the Father. His words are not a lament but a praise, revealing a divine paradox: where "worldly" wisdom failed to grasp the truth, humility provided the path to revelation. This implicitly functions as a polemic against the Jewish religious leaders (scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees) who were perceived as the "wise and understanding" of their day but largely rejected Jesus due to their pride, preconceptions, and rigid interpretations of the Law.

Matthew 11 25 Word analysis

• At that time (ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ - en ekeinō tō kairō): Signifies an immediate temporal connection to the preceding context of widespread unbelief and the pronouncing of woes. It highlights the divine wisdom in contrast to human folly just observed.
• Jesus declared (ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς - apokritheis ho Iēsous): More than merely "answered," this phrase often introduces a weighty, solemn pronouncement or a decisive statement, often in response to a preceding situation or challenge. Here, it is Jesus' response to the spiritual state of His hearers and the broader divine plan.
• I thank You (ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι - exomologoumai soi): A strong expression of praise and acknowledgment. It can mean "to confess," "to praise," or "to give thanks openly." Here, it conveys an overflowing gratitude and worship, acknowledging the Father's perfect will and sovereign actions.
• Father (πάτερ - pater): Emphasizes Jesus' unique and intimate relationship with God, a central theme in the Gospels. It underscores the divine authority and benevolence underlying the Father's sovereign plan.
• Lord of heaven and earth (κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς - Kyrie tou ouranou kai tēs gēs): A title emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty and dominion over all creation. It validates His right to reveal or conceal truth according to His own wisdom and purpose.
• that You have hidden these things (ὅτι ἔκρυψας ταῦτα - hoti ekrypsas tauta): "Hidden" implies a purposeful, sovereign act of God. "These things" refers to the spiritual truths of the kingdom, the person and work of Jesus, and the way of salvation. It is not that God actively obstructs, but that those unwilling to receive in humility are, by God's design, kept from understanding what is obvious to others. This highlights God's initiative in revelation.
• from the wise (ἀπὸ σοφῶν - apo sophōn): Refers to those esteemed for their intellectual acumen, learning, or worldly knowledge, often implying self-reliance or pride in one's intellect. In a Jewish context, it would apply to the learned religious scholars.
• and understanding (καὶ συνετῶν - kai synetōn): Denotes those who are intelligent, discerning, or sagacious, capable of grasping concepts. The pairing with "wise" strengthens the idea of intellectual capability, which, without humility, can become a barrier to spiritual truth.
• and revealed them (καὶ ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτά - kai apekalypsas auta): "Revealed" (from apokalyptō) means "to uncover," "to unveil," or "to disclose." It emphasizes God's active role in making truth known. The shift from hiding to revealing points to God's selective, purposeful, and sovereign act of grace.
• to little children (νηπίοις - nēpiois): Literally "infants" or "babies." Metaphorically, this refers to those who are humble, simple-minded in a worldly sense (not unintelligent), dependent, receptive, and without intellectual pretension or pride. They represent those who acknowledge their spiritual need and embrace Jesus with simple faith. This stands in stark contrast to the "wise and understanding."

Matthew 11 25 Bonus section

The passage implicitly sets up a dual meaning of "wisdom." There is human wisdom, often characterized by intellectual pride, self-reliance, and reliance on established earthly paradigms, which can actually be an impediment to spiritual truth. Then there is divine wisdom, which comes through revelation, often paradoxically revealing itself to the simple and humble, as articulated in the teachings of Paul in 1 Corinthians. Jesus himself embodies this divine wisdom and offers it freely, but it must be received with humility. The phrase "Lord of heaven and earth" reinforces that the one who hides and reveals is the supreme authority, whose choices are ultimately unchallengeable and just. This sovereignty applies to salvation as well as revelation, hinting at themes later expanded by Paul regarding God's election.

Matthew 11 25 Commentary

Matthew 11:25 is a pivotal moment revealing a profound truth about divine revelation and God's sovereign wisdom. Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving bursts forth after witnessing the widespread spiritual blindness and stubborn refusal to repent among the sophisticated cities, contrasting sharply with their physical proximity to His mighty works. He thanks the Father, the omnipotent Lord of creation, for a seemingly counter-intuitive action: hiding truth from the "wise and understanding" while revealing it to "little children." This is not a condemnation of genuine intellect or knowledge itself, but a profound critique of intellectual and spiritual pride—the kind of self-sufficient wisdom that blinds people to God's saving truth.

The "wise and understanding" represent those who rely on their own human reason, established traditions, or worldly achievements to define reality and approach God. They assume an innate capacity to grasp spiritual truths, thus resisting divine grace and direct revelation. In contrast, "little children" represent humility, openness, dependence, and teachability. They lack pretense, self-sufficiency, and the complications of worldly status or intellectual arrogance, making them receptive vessels for God's truth. God sovereignly chooses to unveil Himself and His kingdom truths to those who approach Him with childlike simplicity and dependence. This divine reversal underscores that spiritual insight is a gift, not an earned achievement, and is contingent upon God's will and a humble heart, not human merit or intellect. It reaffirms God’s absolute control over salvation and the distribution of spiritual understanding, emphasizing that His ways are higher than human ways.