Matthew 11:26 kjv
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Matthew 11:26 nkjv
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Matthew 11:26 niv
Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
Matthew 11:26 esv
yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Matthew 11:26 nlt
Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!
Matthew 11 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 25:9 | He leads the humble in what is right... | God guides the humble. |
| Psa 119:130 | The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. | Simplicity receives light. |
| Isa 29:14 | the wisdom of their wise men shall perish... | God confounds worldly wisdom. |
| Isa 29:18-19 | ...the deaf will hear the words of a book, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see... The afflicted will find new joy in the Lord... | Spiritual understanding to the afflicted. |
| Isa 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose,’ | God's sovereign counsel stands. |
| Matt 5:3 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." | Humility for Kingdom entry. |
| Matt 11:25 | "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..." | Immediate context, thanking the Father. |
| Matt 13:11-16 | "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom... because seeing they do not see..." | Kingdom secrets are selectively revealed. |
| Matt 16:17 | Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven." | Divine revelation, not human effort. |
| Matt 18:3-4 | "...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." | Childlike humility is necessary. |
| Matt 26:39 | "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” | Jesus' submission to Father's will. |
| Luke 10:21 | In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "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; yes, Father, for such was Your good pleasure." | Direct parallel, Jesus' rejoicing in Father's will. |
| Luke 2:14 | "...and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!" (NIV "those on whom His favor rests") | God's "good pleasure" brings peace/favor. |
| Rom 9:15-16 | "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. | God's sovereign choice in mercy. |
| Rom 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! | God's ways are beyond human understanding. |
| 1 Cor 1:26-29 | "...God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong..." | God chooses the simple to confound the wise. |
| 1 Cor 2:7-8 | "...but we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory... None of the rulers of this age understood this..." | Divine wisdom hidden from worldly powers. |
| 2 Cor 3:14 | "...their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted..." | A veil remains for those who do not turn. |
| Eph 1:5 | He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, | God's sovereign will and purpose. |
| Eph 1:9 | making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Him, | God's will is His good pleasure. |
| Eph 1:11 | In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His will, | God works all things by His counsel. |
| Phil 2:13 | for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. | God's "good pleasure" works in believers. |
| Jas 4:6 | "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | Grace is given to the humble. |
Matthew 11 verses
Matthew 11 26 Meaning
This verse expresses Jesus' heartfelt affirmation of the Father's sovereign and gracious will. It follows His declaration that the mysteries of the Kingdom have been hidden from those deemed "wise and prudent" by worldly standards, yet revealed to "babes"—the humble, simple, and unlearned. Jesus consents to this divine discretion, recognizing it as entirely consistent with God's benevolent and deliberate purpose. It highlights God's intentional choice to work contrary to human expectation, revealing truth to those who possess humble hearts, not necessarily intellectual prowess or social standing.
Matthew 11 26 Context
Matthew chapter 11 opens with John the Baptist's inquiry about Jesus' identity, which Jesus answers by pointing to His miracles. This leads to Jesus' commendation of John and then His sharp rebuke of the cities (Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum) where He performed many miracles, yet they did not repent. Despite clear evidence of His divine authority, the "wise and prudent"—likely the religious leaders and intellectual elites of the day who relied on their own understanding of the Law—rejected Him. Immediately following these woes, Jesus breaks into a prayer of thanksgiving (Matt 11:25-27), of which verse 26 is a key part. He is affirming the Father's decision to reveal spiritual truths to those who are humble and receptive ("babes"), rather than to the outwardly learned and self-sufficient. This sets the stage for His subsequent invitation to the "weary and burdened" to find rest in Him (Matt 11:28-30), implying that humility is a prerequisite for receiving such rest and understanding. The passage highlights a significant inversion of human values: what is deemed "wisdom" by the world is often a hindrance to divine truth.
Matthew 11 26 Word analysis
- Yes, / Even so, (Greek: Nai - ναί): An emphatic affirmation. It conveys hearty and complete assent. Jesus is not grudgingly accepting but strongly agreeing with the Father's judgment and action. It speaks of full recognition of divine righteousness and wisdom in this arrangement.
- Father: (Greek: Pater - Πάτερ): This intimate address highlights Jesus' unique relationship with God. It signifies filial affection, trust, and understanding. By using "Father," Jesus underscores that this divine wisdom flows from an inherently loving and perfect relationship, validating the Father's choices as ultimately good and trustworthy.
- for (Greek: gar - γάρ, or embedded in clause meaning 'because' / 'thus'): Introduces the reason for Jesus' affirmation. It explains why it is right and agreeable for God to hide these things from some and reveal them to others.
- this was / so it seemed good (Greek: houtōs egeneto eudokia enopion sou - οὕτως ἐγένετο εὐδοκία ἔμπροσθέν σου):
- houtōs (οὕτως): "thus," "in this way," "so." Emphasizes the manner or outcome as being perfectly aligned with divine will.
- egeneto (ἐγένετο): Aorist tense of ginomai, meaning "it came to pass," "it happened," "it was." Signifies a completed event or state; it definitively was this way, reflecting God's past and present sovereign determination.
- good pleasure / seemed good (Greek: eudokia - εὐδοκία): This is a crucial theological term. It refers to God's "good will," "benevolent intention," "favorable disposition," or "divine delight." It is not a sudden whim but a settled, gracious purpose and determination. It signifies a choice made with divine contentment and wisdom, always working towards the highest good according to His perfect plan.
- your / in thy sight (Greek: enopion sou - ἔμπροσθέν σου): "before You," "in Your presence," or "in Your sight/estimation." This stresses that the ultimate judgment and standard of what is "good" or "pleasing" is God's own perfect perception. It is God's internal decision and divine discernment that determined this outcome, uninfluenced by external factors or human expectation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Yes, Father": Expresses complete filial submission and affirmation from Jesus, the Son, to the sovereign will of the Father. This shows not only agreement but also profound unity in purpose and understanding between Jesus and God. It underlines Jesus' unique authority to interpret the Father's ways.
- "for this was your good pleasure" / "for so it seemed good in thy sight": This phrase asserts God's ultimate sovereignty in dispensing divine revelation. It highlights that God's ways are not based on human merit, intellectual capability, or social status, but purely on His own benevolent will and purposeful design. It signifies that this distinction (revealing to babes, hiding from the wise) is exactly what delights God, fulfilling His eternal plan. The implication is that what might seem unjust or contrary to human logic is, from the divine perspective, perfectly just, wise, and good.
Matthew 11 26 Bonus section
The concept of eudokia (good pleasure) is deeply significant. It speaks not of a capricious act but of God's fixed, benevolent will that perfectly aligns with His nature and plan for salvation. It underlines that all spiritual insight and grace originate purely from God's initiative, not human effort. This statement from Jesus, nestled between lamentations for unrepentant cities and the tender invitation to come to Him for rest, portrays Him as one perfectly in tune with the Father's heart and eternal decree. His "Yes, Father" demonstrates perfect Sonship and total trust, offering an example of true submission to divine authority.
Matthew 11 26 Commentary
Matthew 11:26 is Jesus’ profound statement of absolute confidence in the Father’s divine wisdom and sovereignty concerning the revelation of truth. In response to the spiritual blindness of the self-proclaimed wise, Jesus celebrates God's sovereign choice to reveal the profound truths of the Kingdom to those who are humble and childlike in spirit. This isn't arbitrary; it's rooted in God's eudokia—His deliberate, benevolent, and perfectly good pleasure. The passage emphasizes that access to spiritual understanding is not gained through intellectual achievement or worldly prestige, but through humble receptivity, a posture the "babes" possess and the "wise and prudent" lack due to their pride and self-sufficiency. Jesus affirms that this arrangement is not merely acceptable but inherently "good" in God's sight, serving His greater redemptive purposes and demonstrating His unsearchable wisdom that often confounds human expectation. This serves as a reminder that genuine spiritual knowledge is a gift of grace, freely given by God to those with prepared hearts.