§ 8. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee Continued

The word Matthew and Luke use here for "thanks" (ἐξομολογέω) is fairly uncommon; it quotes the famous refrains of the Psalms (in the Septuagint translation). When David set up the worship in Jerusalem, the record shows:

1 Chronicles 16:7–8, 34

Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers.
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
…
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

One the one hand, the inescapable conclusions of Jesus's miracles and teaching are hidden from the wise. On the other hand, these things are revealed to those who are like little children. And this situation is by design.

Paul explains it well in 1 Corinthians 1:17–29. There we read that God destroys the wisdom of the wise and makes foolish the wisdom of the world. Indeed, God in His wisdom dictates that those who believe should be saved by the so-called foolishness of the gospel. And why does He do this? "So that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

1 Corinthians 1:17–29

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But 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 chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

The gospel is hidden from the wise and understanding because they do not seek it by faith.

Romans 10:3

Being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Hebrews 4:2

Good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

The "little children" (literally, "infants") to whom truth is revealed are little children at heart.

Two places in the Psalms are particularly notable for describing the power of God's word to transform the "little children" into the wise and understanding.

Psalm 19:7–8

The law of the LORD is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
    making wise the simple (LXX, "little children");
the precepts of the LORD are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
    enlightening the eyes….

Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts understanding to the simple (LXX, "little children").

Jesus will revisit this theme later in the gospel of Matthew, when He invites us to humble ourselves.

Matthew 18:1–4

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

The word rendered "gracious will" (εὐδοκία) indicates satisfaction, approval, or consent. This, too, appears at the time that David set the worship in Psalms into motion.

1 Chronicles 16:10

Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the LORD (LXX, "those who seek His approval") rejoice!

The word Matthew uses here for "know" (ἐπιγινώσκω) is typically rendered "recognize," as in Matthew 7:16 and 7:20, "you will recognize them by their fruits," or in Luke 24:16 and 24:34 when the disciples do not "recognize" the risen Lord. The parallel account in Luke says, "no one knows who the Son is except the Father" (Luke 10:22), confirming that Jesus is talking about understanding the true nature of the Father and the Son.

One passage in John seems a particularly good commentary on these things.

John 8:12–14, 18–19

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
…
I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

The knowledge of the true identity of the Son and the Father thus hinges upon faith. This idea is consistent with the teaching above that some things are hidden from those who do not seek them by faith.

It is for Jesus to make the Father known to us since He is the "One Mediator between God and man" (1 Timothy 2:5). John said as much at the opening of his gospel.

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

We should also note that Jesus revealing the Father here corresponds to the Father having revealed these things to little children.

To Matthew's account, Luke adds, "He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit."

It is encouraging to see Luke account for all three Persons (Father, Son, and Spirit) in this triumphant song. Some ancient versions of Luke say only "He rejoiced in His Spirit" rather than "He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit." Far from raising doubt, this variation confirms that Jesus was Divine: that copyist safely assumed Jesus's Spirit is necessarily the Holy Spirit.

(See also Matthew 12:22–32 on the Spirit of the Lord being the Holy Spirit of God.)