Jesus' profound joy isn't just for the disciples' success, but for the Father's deliberate choice to reveal divine mysteries to the humble, bypassing those who rely on their own intellect. This highlights that true spiritual understanding isn't earned through wisdom but is a gift freely given to those with childlike hearts open to God.
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 gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just heard from the seventy disciples He sent out, who are ecstatic because even the demons are subject to them in His name. In response, Jesus expresses deep joy and gratitude, recognizing that the Father has revealed His kingdom's truths not to the intellectually proud, but to the humble and receptive, much like these disciples and the "little children." This moment highlights the Father's sovereign will in choosing how and to whom His mysteries are made known.
Imagine Jesus, after seeing His disciples powerfully proclaim His message, suddenly bursting with joy. What could possibly cause such a profound spiritual elation?
The verse opens with Jesus 'rejoicing in the Holy Spirit.' This isn't just a mild happiness; the original language suggests an exultant, almost overwhelming joy. This ecstatic praise erupts as He reflects on the nature of God's kingdom being revealed.
A Divine Revelation
Jesus thanks the Father that 'these things' – the truths of God's kingdom and His Son – are hidden from the 'wise and understanding' but revealed to 'little children.' This isn't about intellectual superiority versus ignorance. Instead, it speaks to the posture of the heart. The 'wise and understanding' often rely on their own intellect and status, making them resistant to the seemingly simple, yet profound, truths of the Gospel. The 'little children' represent those with humility, teachability, and a childlike dependence on God, who readily receive His revelation.
Why would God deliberately hide crucial truths from some and reveal them to others? This verse points to a divine decision, but what does that mean for us?
Jesus' prayer reveals a core theological truth: God's sovereign choice in revealing Himself. He thanks the Father because this revelation is not based on human merit, intellect, or status, but on God's own gracious will.
The Father's Sovereign Will
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By calling the Father 'Lord of heaven and earth,' Jesus underscores God's ultimate authority. Nothing happens outside His decree. He chooses to hide these truths from those who, in their self-sufficiency, are closed off to them. Conversely, He reveals them to the 'little children' – those who approach faith with humility and dependence. This isn't to say God desires anyone to perish, but rather that His wisdom operates on a plane far beyond human comprehension.
Our Role: Humility and Trust
While God's choice is sovereign, the implication for us is clear: cultivate a humble, teachable spirit. The 'little children' are not necessarily the intellectually weak, but those who recognize their need for God and are open to His truth, regardless of their background. Jesus' rejoicing is partly for the Father's wisdom and partly for the receptive hearts that are drawn to Him.
Understand the original words
pneuma · Greek Noun
A divine Person of the Trinity who illuminates truth, empowers ministry, and dwells within believers to guide and sanctify them. He is the active agent of God’s presence and power in the world.
kurios ouranou kai gēs · Greek Noun phrase
The supreme Ruler of the universe, possessing absolute authority over all created reality. This title emphasizes God's sovereign control and ownership of both the physical and spiritual realms.
sophos · Greek Adjective (substantive)
Refers to those who possess intellectual pride or rely on their own human wisdom rather than divine revelation. Biblically, it often denotes those who are spiritually blind despite their academic or social status.
nēpios · Greek Noun
Those who exhibit humility, dependence, and lack of worldly pretense. They are receptive to God's truth because they do not rely on their own strength or understanding.
eudokia · Greek Noun
The sovereign, favorable choice of God according to His own purpose. It signifies that God's actions are motivated by His own good pleasure and mercy rather than human merit.
huios · Greek Noun
The title for the second Person of the Trinity, emphasizing His unique relationship with God the Father and His mediatorial role. He alone has the authority to reveal the Father to humanity.
This verse captures Jesus' profound joy and gratitude immediately after commissioning the seventy-two disciples. It highlights his recognition that divine revelation is not limited to the learned or powerful, but is freely given to those with simple, childlike faith, a pattern that continued throughout his ministry and into the early church.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus travels throughout Galilee, Judea, and surrounding regions, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. This period marks the height of his public ministry.
c. AD 28
Sending of the Seventy-Two
Jesus commissions and sends out seventy-two disciples (or seventy, depending on the manuscript tradition) to proclaim the Kingdom of God and prepare towns for his arrival.
c. AD 28
Return of the Seventy-Two
The seventy-two disciples return to Jesus, reporting their successes in casting out demons in his name, which Jesus affirms.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, and according to Christian belief, is raised from the dead three days later, marking the foundational event of the faith.
This passage presents the same prayer from Jesus, highlighting His joy that God reveals His kingdom's truths to the humble and simple, not to those who rely on their own intellect.
1 Corinthians 1:27This verse explains the principle Jesus rejoices in: God intentionally uses the 'foolish' and 'weak' things of the world to shame the 'wise' and 'strong,' demonstrating His power and grace.
Psalm 8:2This psalm echoes Jesus' praise by noting how God's strength is made perfect through the praise of infants and children, paralleling the revelation of divine truths to the seemingly insignificant.
1 John 2:27This passage emphasizes that true understanding of spiritual matters comes from an anointing received from God, not from human teaching, aligning with Jesus' revelation to 'babes' rather than the 'wise'.
barnesLuke 10:21: "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight."
See the notes at Matthew 11:25-27 .
calvinLuke 10:21-22: "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight."
- At that time Jesus answering said, I acknowledge to thee, [56] O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to little children. 26. Undoubtedly, O Father, such…
Jesus' profound joy isn't just for the disciples' success, but for the Father's deliberate choice to reveal divine mysteries to the humble, bypassing those who rely on their own intellect. This highlights that true spiritual understanding isn't earned through wisdom but is a gift freely given to those with childlike hearts open to God.
Jesus has just heard from the seventy disciples He sent out, who are ecstatic because even the demons are subject to them in His name. In response, Jesus expresses deep joy and gratitude, recognizing that the Father has revealed His kingdom's truths not to the intellectually proud, but to the humble and receptive, much like these disciples and the "little children." This moment highlights the Father's sovereign will in choosing how and to whom His mysteries are made known.
Jesus has just heard from the seventy disciples He sent out, who are ecstatic because even the demons are subject to them in His name. In response, Jesus expresses deep joy and gratitude, recognizing that the Father has revealed His kingdom's truths not to the intellectually proud, but to the humble and receptive, much like these disciples and the "little children." This moment highlights the Father's sovereign will in choosing how and to whom His mysteries are made known.
"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 yo…" — Jesus' profound joy isn't just for the disciples' success, but for the Father's deliberate choice to reveal divine mysteries to the humble, bypassing those who rely on their own intellect. This highl…
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Last reviewed October 2026
