Matthew 11:27
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus emphasizes that this unique, intimate knowledge isn't just theological fact; it's a gift that the Son actively chooses to bestow. This means true understanding of God isn't about intellectual brilliance, but about receiving God's grace through Christ's personal invitation to reveal Himself.
Jesus is responding to the disbelief and rejection he's faced from the religious leaders of towns like Chorazin and Bethsaida, contrasting their stubbornness with the openness of the "babes" (the simple, humble people) who are receiving his message. This declaration of his unique, intimate knowledge of God and the authority he has received from the Father serves as the basis for his subsequent invitation to find rest in him.
Jesus declares a unique transfer of power. What does it mean for 'all things' to be handed over to Him?
Jesus proclaims that "all things have been handed over to me by my Father." This isn't just a delegation of tasks; it signifies a complete entrustment of authority, power, and purpose regarding salvation and the universe itself. It’s a profound declaration of His divine commission and ultimate sovereignty as Mediator. This authority is not usurped but received, highlighting the perfect unity and agreement between the Father and the Son. It underscores that Jesus' mission and every aspect of His work—from His teachings to His ultimate sacrifice and reign—are directly willed and empowered by God the Father.
How can it be that 'no one knows the Son except the Father,' and vice versa? What does this 'knowing' truly entail?
Jesus reveals an unparalleled, exclusive intimacy between Himself and the Father. This isn't just intellectual awareness; it’s a deep, full, and perfect understanding of each other's very being, essence, and will. The Father knows the Son completely, and the Son knows the Father completely. This mutual, intrinsic knowledge is unique and eternal, existing before creation. It forms the bedrock of their divine relationship and unity. This profound connection means that any true knowledge of God originates from this divine exchange and is not something humanity can discover through its own reason or effort alone.
If the knowledge is exclusive, how do we come to know God? Jesus holds the key to revealing the Father.
The verse doesn't end with the exclusive knowledge between Father and Son. Jesus adds a crucial element: "and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." This is the divine pathway for humanity to know the Father. Jesus, in His sovereign will, decides to reveal the Father to certain individuals. This revelation is not automatic or universally granted based on merit; it's a deliberate act of grace initiated by the Son. It signifies that our saving knowledge of God comes through Jesus Christ, who illuminates our minds and hearts by His Spirit, making the Father known to us through the Gospel and His person.
Understand the original words
Huios · Greek Noun
The title representing Jesus as the unique incarnate God, sent by the Father to accomplish redemption. It signifies both his deity and his mission as the mediator between God and humanity.
apokaluptō · Greek Verb
To make known or uncover something previously hidden. In a theological sense, it refers to God revealing spiritual truths, himself, or his gospel to human hearts.
This passage echoes Matthew 11:27 by stating that no one has ever seen God, but the unique one, who is God and at the Father's side, has made him known, highlighting Jesus' unique role as the revealer of the Father.
John 10:15This verse parallels Matthew 11:27 by showing Jesus' deep, intrinsic knowledge of the Father, saying 'I know my own and my own know me,' just as the Father knows the Son and the Son knows the Father.
John 17:2-3This passage directly supports Matthew 11:27 by showing Jesus praying for His disciples and referencing the Father giving Him authority over all flesh so that He might give eternal life, demonstrating the 'all things' handed over to Him and His role in revealing the Father for salvation.
1 Corinthians 2:10-11This passage aligns with Matthew 11:27 by explaining that just as only the Spirit knows the depths of God, only God fully knows Himself, and Jesus, who reveals the Father, also has this unique, intimate knowledge, which He shares with believers through the Spirit.
Colossians 1:15-17This scripture elaborates on the 'all things handed over' aspect of Matthew 11:27, describing Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the creator through whom and for whom all things were made, emphasizing His supreme authority and central role.
vincentMatthew 11:27: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."
Are delivered (παρεδόθη)More lit., were delivered, as of a single act at a given time, as in this case, where the Son was sent forth by the Father, and clothed with authority. Compare Matthew 28:18.Knoweth (ἐπιγινώσκει)The compound indicating full knowledge. Others behold only in part, "thro…
calvinMatthew 11:25-30: "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."
- 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 was thy good pleasure. [57] 27. All things have been deli…
Jesus emphasizes that this unique, intimate knowledge isn't just theological fact; it's a gift that the Son actively chooses to bestow. This means true understanding of God isn't about intellectual brilliance, but about receiving God's grace through Christ's personal invitation to reveal Himself.
Jesus is responding to the disbelief and rejection he's faced from the religious leaders of towns like Chorazin and Bethsaida, contrasting their stubbornness with the openness of the "babes" (the simple, humble people) who are receiving his message. This declaration of his unique, intimate knowledge of God and the authority he has received from the Father serves as the basis for his subsequent invitation to find rest in him.
Jesus is responding to the disbelief and rejection he's faced from the religious leaders of towns like Chorazin and Bethsaida, contrasting their stubbornness with the openness of the "babes" (the simple, humble people) who are receiving his message. This declaration of his unique, intimate knowledge of God and the authority he has received from the Father serves as the basis for his subsequent invitation to find rest in him.
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"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." — Jesus emphasizes that this unique, intimate knowledge isn't just theological fact; it's a gift that the Son actively chooses to bestow. This means true understanding of God isn't about intellectu…
