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Explanation for:
Matthew
11
:
26
Yea, Father; for so hath it seemed good in thy sight.
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He does not explain the reasons for the Father's special favor upon Him, but rather expresses gratitude for that favor. Likewise, we should refrain from delving into the mysteries of God's intentions or the reasons behind His actions. Regardless of how He chooses to unfold His divine plan, it is enough for you to acknowledge and honor the very essence of God through thanksgiving. God operates without error or injustice; He did not create you to challenge Him, but to worship Him. You are not called to judge His deeds but to serve faithfully in obedience to His will. A good master attends to everything that concerns the well-being of his servant, while a faithful servant's duty is to carry out his master's wishes without questioning them."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In a spirit of deep affection, He addressed His Father so that the blessings that had started to manifest among the apostles could come to fruition."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In the preceding words, Christ reveals both His own intention and that of the Father. His own is evident in His gratitude and joy regarding what has been achieved, while the Father's intention is demonstrated by the fact that the Father acted not out of mere pleasure but according to His sovereign will. As He explains, the delight set before Him is indeed a reflection of the Father’s will. The question arises as to why this truth was hidden from certain individuals. Paul addresses this very point by stating, \\"Those who seek their own righteousness to establish their own righteousness will not obey the righteousness of God\\" (Romans 10:3). \\n\\nImagine how the disciples reacted upon hearing this revelation, understanding what the wise and learned did not grasp, all through the insight granted by God while they were still like children. Luke recounts that Jesus expressed joy and uttered these words at the precise moment the seventy disciples returned rejoicing over the submission of demons to them. This revelation not only fueled their enthusiasm but also fostered a deeper sense of humility within them. Acknowledging their achievements in casting out demons could easily lead to pride, so Jesus quickly redirected them toward humility, emphasizing that their triumphs were not simply products of their own efforts but rather results of divine revelation.\\n\\nConversely, the scribes and wise, who believed themselves knowledgeable, were led astray due to their arrogance. Thus, when the mysteries of the Kingdom are concealed from them and revealed to the humble, He admonishes, “be fearful and remain as infants; for your childlike nature has qualified you for revelation, while the opposing attitude has denied it to others.” The phrase \\"Thou hast concealed\\" does not imply that God is responsible for the ignorance of others; rather, as Paul notes when he explains that God \\"gave them over to a depraved mind\\" (Romans 1:28) and obscured their understanding, it highlights the role of individuals in their own spiritual blindness. In a similar spirit, Christ indicates that God’s concealment is a reflection of human condition rather than divine intent."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"This demonstrates the Father's connection to humanity, as He chose to disclose Himself to the little ones, not at anyone else's request, but according to His divine purpose from the very start. 'Grace' embodies both desire and intention."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Indeed, I express my gratitude to You, Father, for it was Your gracious will to unveil these mysteries. You chose to withhold them from the unworthy, those who have distanced themselves, and to disclose them to those who seek them with sincerity. This suffices. However, to prevent anyone from interpreting His gratitude to the Father as a sign of His lack of omnipotence or as being separate from the essence of the Father, He states, \\"All things are delivered unto Me by My Father.\\""},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Such is Your gracious will, such is Your divine pleasure, You who are all-knowing and guide everything toward the highest good, even through methods that may appear misguided to humanity. It might seem unusual to the world that the mysteries of the kingdom are disclosed not to the learned and discerning, but to the humble; yet this is Your purpose, and the world will come to understand that it is accomplished with wisdom.\\""},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"It may appear unusual to the sages of our time that You have not unveiled the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven to them, but the very works demonstrate it, and the entire world shall recognize that it has been skillfully authored by You: HERE, O Father! For this was Your good pleasure, Your intention, and Your will, O Wise One, Who guides all things to their highest purpose, often in ways beyond worldly understanding. St. Chrysostom observes that the term ‘withheld’ does not imply that God is responsible for this withholding, but rather is used in the same context as St. Paul states: “God gave them over to a depraved mind” (Rom. 1:28) and blinded their hearts, indicating not that God causes this, but rather that humans provide the opportunity for it. Why was it kept from them? Paul elucidates this by stating: “for they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3). So, what does this indicate? Does Christ take joy in their ruin and their failure to recognize it? Absolutely not; yet the least way to salvation is that those who disregard the offered truth, refusing to accept it, should not be forced into acceptance, thus their very rejection may evoke sorrow within them. The blessed Theophylact remarks that God has concealed profound mysteries from those who consider themselves wise, not out of unwillingness to grant them, but because their self-perceived intelligence renders them unworthy. For anyone who assumes themselves clever and places trust in their own understanding ceases to seek God in prayer, and when someone fails to pray, God does not assist them nor reveal mysteries to them. Furthermore, God often withholds His secrets from many out of compassion, ensuring they are not punished more harshly for neglecting what they have been shown. However, a wise individual can comprehend God’s mysteries only when they humble themselves before God like a child, submit their minds in faith, and purify their hearts of passions, especially pride and doubt. The Scripture states, “into a wicked soul, wisdom shall not enter” (Prem. 1:4); only “the pure in heart shall see God.” Since “God is love,\\" He is known empirically, to the extent possible for humanity, not through intellectual contemplation, but through heartfelt love. As John, the beloved disciple of Christ and the esteemed Theologian, asserts, “he who does not love has not known God,\\" as he delved into the depths of divine mysteries more profoundly than all others. St. Chrysostom questions, “For what reason does the Lord Jesus give thanks to the Father when He Himself has accomplished it?” He desires to demonstrate that not only did the Pharisees falter from Him, but also from the Father; thereby revealing both His will and that of the Father: His own delight in the finished work and the Father’s discipleship in enacting His will, not out of mere pleasure, but according to His sovereign intention. Thus, the Lord instructs us to shun pride and embrace humility. In this light, Paul also advises, “If any of you thinks himself wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise” (1 Cor. 3:18). Herein lies the revelation of God’s grace!"},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Pharisees and scribes, confident in their self-proclaimed wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures, failed to grasp the prophecies concerning the Messiah as well as the teachings of Jesus. They looked but did not truly see; they listened yet did not fully hear, which resulted in their inability to comprehend the events unfolding before them. Their spiritual blindness obscured the truth, rendering it hidden from them. In contrast, the ordinary people, who lacked the extensive knowledge of the prophecies and Scriptures known to the Pharisees and scribes, recognized Jesus as the awaited Savior. Their understanding came not merely from intellectual comprehension but resonated deeply within their hearts, reflecting a childlike faith. Although genuinely wise individuals, well-versed in the Scriptures, could have grasped the essence of Christ and His message more readily than those with simple hearts, such wise individuals were absent among the Jews during Jesus' ministry. Instead, they were surrounded by scribes and Pharisees who falsely claimed wisdom, having distorted their intellects to cleverly evade the rigorous demands of the law while leading the people into bondage. Consequently, seeing the lack of true wisdom around Him and being surrounded by those yearning for deliverance, Jesus proclaimed, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.’"},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Christ drew solace from the truth that the divine wisdom He shared remained concealed from those who considered themselves wise and learned, yet it was made known to the humble, those of lowly status within society who had previously endured the scorn of the world. To these individuals, the Savior lovingly extended His invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will comfort you. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me: for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is good, and My burden is easy.”"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The heart of the God-man was grieved by the profound disbelief of the towns that had witnessed the remarkable manifestations of God's might yet had not turned in repentance. However, the All-Knowing One understood that the proclamation of the gospel would ultimately prevail against falsehood and disbelief. He foresaw the universal triumph of Christianity and envisioned His chosen messengers—ordinary and uneducated yet filled with divine wisdom—spreading His teachings to every corner of the earth, overcoming all the powerful, esteemed, and learned individuals of the world. Filled with joy in His spirit, He earnestly addressed His heavenly Father, saying, \\"I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have concealed these truths from the wise and knowledgeable and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will.\\" Here, with the terms concealed and revealed, as explained by St. John Chrysostom, it is understood that God does not create these understandings but that they are credited to those who provide justifications for them."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Gospel of Matthew complements the account of John the Baptist with a critique of the towns that failed to recognize the Savior's works. This theme is also presented by Luke when he sends out the seventy disciples to preach. Additionally, Luke highlights Christ's thanksgiving to God the Father for disclosing the secrets of the kingdom of God to little ones. As Christ commissions the seventy disciples, He expresses His gratitude to God for revealing these divine truths to the humble and unassuming. Furthermore, Luke presents Christ’s revelation of His unique relationship with God the Father, emphasizing that He is the only begotten Son. This revelation comes together with His return of praise to the Father. After the seventy disciples report back, expressing their experiences, Christ joyfully responds. Determining the exact chronological order of these accounts among the Evangelists can be challenging. However, it is likely that Christ's admonition of the cities occurred toward the close of His public ministry, which would align chronologically with Luke's account. Likewise, Christ's praise, which was likely prompted by the demonstration of deep faith by His disciples, is also chronologically placed in Luke's narrative for clarity."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The joy of Christ is stirred by the sight of His disciples, whose sincere and unwavering faith empowered them to perform miracles. He expresses gratitude to God the Father for their belief (Lk. 21; Mt. 25-26). In this moment, the Lord firstly acknowledges the Father for the fact that the mysteries of the kingdom of God—the profound meaning of His teachings and miracles—remained concealed from the wise and learned, including the Pharisees and scribes, and were instead revealed to simple-hearted individuals, such as His disciples (cf. Jn. 9:39; 1 Cor. 1:26-29). Secondly, He confesses that this is an expression of the divine will of God: this pleases You, Father. Next, Jesus addresses His disciples directly and speaks to the gathered crowds (Lk. 22; Mt. 27-30), declaring that all authority has been entrusted to Him by His Father. All that the Father has entrusted to Jesus Christ as the Savior encompasses resurrection and eternal life, judgment and death (Jn. 3:35; 5:21; 17:2), including the privilege of revealing the Father to whomever He chooses, for only He, the one and only Son of God, possesses complete knowledge of the Father (Jn. 17:1). Since all authority has been given to Me by the Father, He invites all who toil in their quest for salvation and are weighed down by sin to come to Him for rest, promising to satisfy all spiritual needs and longings. He urges them to take on His commandments, to follow Him as disciples, for He is gentle and humble in spirit—contrasting with the Pharisees and scribes, who embody harshness and pride in their false righteousness. He assures them that they will find peace for their souls, for His yoke is good and life-giving, and His commandments are light compared to the burdensome law of Moses imposed by the scribes (Lk. 11:46). Finally, Jesus speaks only to His disciples, proclaiming (Lk. 23-24): “Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see,” and further explained by Matthew (13:16-17) in response to the disciples' inquiry about His use of parables. This connection serves as a beautiful addition and culmination to Christ’s testimony regarding His unique role as the one who fully knows God the Father, capable of imparting that knowledge to others and bringing complete comfort to souls longing for salvation."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Concurrently, he praised the heavenly Father, who, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, draws to Himself humble and gentle souls that respond to the divine call with childlike tenderness. These individuals witness the magnitude of God's work and grasp the divine grandeur of the teachings delivered by the Son of God. They do not rely on their own understanding, nor are they concerned about how to showcase this divine splendor in the modest form of the Messiah they anticipated in glory. Instead, they willingly relinquish all they have to follow Jesus. Admittedly, they remain as infants, yet God's grace is powerful enough to nurture them into completeness. I acknowledge to You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed this from the wise and learned, yet revealed it to little children."}]}
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