Matthew 11:25
Matthew 11:25 | |
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← 11:26 → | |
Book | Gospel of Matthew |
Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Matthew 11:25 is the 25th verse in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.
Content
In the original Greek according to
- Ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν, Ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι, πάτερ, Κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἀπέκρυψας ταῦτα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν, καὶ ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
- 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.
The New International Version translates the passage as:
- At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children".
Analysis
Here we have the reason for the condemnation in the previous verse, i.e. pride and haughtiness, since Jesus lauds the "little children". Christ uses the word for confess (Ἐξομολογοῦμαί) which is used regularly in the psalms, e.g. "I will confess to Thee with my whole heart", and, "Confess to the Lord, for He is good." Both the KJV and NIV render it as praise. Here we also see Jesus referring to God's dominion over all things (i.e. heaven and earth). MacEvilly points out that God's lordship separates the proud from the humble both in heaven (Satan from the good angels), and on earth (the Apostles from the Pharisees and Scribes). The "little children" portion appears to be an allusion to Psalm 8:2(3), "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise." Jesus contrasts the worldly choosing of those who are rich and intellectual, with God choosing the poor, ignorant and weak.[1][2][3]
Commentary from the Church Fathers
Glossa Ordinaria: "Because the Lord knew that many would doubt respecting the foregoing matter, namely, that the Jews would not receive Christ whom the Gentile world has so willingly received, He here makes answer to their thoughts; And Jesus answered and said, I confess unto thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth."[4]
Glossa Ordinaria: "That is, Who makest of heaven, or leavest in earthliness, whom Thou wilt. Or literally,"[4]
Jerome: "Let those hear who falsely argue, that the Saviour was not born but created, how He calls His Father Lord of heaven and earth. For if He be a creature, and the creature can call its Maker Father, it was surely foolish here to address Him as Lord of heaven and earth, and not of Him (Christ) likewise. He gives thanks that His coming has opened to the Apostles sacraments, which the Scribes and Pharisees knew not, who seemed to themselves wise, and understanding in their own eyes; That thou hast hid these things from the wise and understanding, and hast revealed them unto babes."[4]
Hilary of Poitiers: "The hidden things of heavenly words and their power are hid from the wise, and revealed to the babes; babes, that is, in malice, not in understanding; hid from the wise because of their presumption of their own wisdom, not because of their wisdom."[4]
Hilary of Poitiers: "The justice of this the Lord confirms by the sentence of the Father's will, that they who disdain to be made babes in God, should become fools in their own wisdom; and therefore He adds, Even so, Father; for so it seemed good before thee."[4]
Jerome: "In these words moreover He speaks to the Father with the desire of one petitioning, that His mercy begun in the Apostles might be completed in them."[4]
References
- ^ Robert Witham, Annotations on the New Testament of Jesus Christ, Dublin: 1730
- ^ John MacEvilly, An Exposition of the Gospel of St. John consisting of an analysis of each chapter and of a Commentary critical, exegetical, doctrinal and moral, Dublin Gill & Son 1879.
- ^ Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide; Thomas Wimberly Mossman The great commentary of Cornelius à Lapide, London: J. Hodges, 1889-1896.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Catena aurea: commentary on the four Gospels, collected out of the works of the Fathers: Volume 6, St. John. Oxford: Parker, 1874. Thomas Aquinas". 1874. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
Preceded by Matthew 11:24 |
Gospel of Matthew Chapter 11 |
Succeeded by Matthew 11:26
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