Luke 10:22, commentary and pictures

Jesus declared while rejoicing in thanks that his Father had placed everything in his hands and that Father and Son know each other fully and uniquely. No one can know the Father except through the Son, who discloses him to those he chooses and who receive him. That disclosure is hidden from the self-wise and prudent and given to the humble who become like little children and yield to the Spirit. The One so entrusted is equal with the Father as mighty God and Creator, yet clothed in humanity with divinity and humanity united to be the world's Redeemer. He turned to his disciples to bless their seeing and hearing by faith that the promised Messiah was among them, rejoicing above all in the turning of even one soul from sin to holiness and sending them to tell others.

Context and Wording

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and gave thanks to the Father as Lord of heaven and earth for hiding these things from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes, because it seemed good in the Father's sight. In that same rejoicing He declared that all things are delivered to Him by the Father and entrusted to Him, and that no one knows who the Son is but the Father, and no one knows who the Father is but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals Him. This revealing is given to the humble who receive it and become like little children, while it is hidden from the wise and prudent and self-important, so that outward standing and human wisdom do not enable understanding. He then turned to His disciples privately to bless their eyes for seeing and their ears for hearing what many prophets and kings desired to see and hear and did not.

The setting was the mission of the seventy and of the disciples and the progress of the gospel in the adding of souls to the church of such as shall be saved. Christ rejoiced in spirit over that progress, for nothing rejoices His heart so much as the converting of souls from sin to holiness, and the converting of even one soul is His full joy. His words and works, including the disciples' mission, gave evidence that He was sent by God, though people resisted that light.

Father, Son, and Revelation

All things have been handed over by the Father to the Son, entrusted to Him and placed into His hands. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son, for Father and Son know each other uniquely and fully. The Father is made known only through the Son, who discloses Him to those He chooses and to those who receive that disclosure.

That knowledge is given to the humble who become like little children, while it is hidden from the wise and prudent and self-important. Outward status and human wisdom do not enable anyone to understand Christ, and the world cannot understand this revelation on its own. Surrender to the Holy Spirit brings growing insight into Him as God present in human form. The One to whom all is entrusted is the mighty God and Creator, equal with the Father in dignity, glory, and blessing, yet clothed in humanity. In Him divine and human natures are united and the fullness of the Godhead dwells, and His authority and prerogatives enable Him to act out heaven's principles. This transfer was made so that He could be the world's Redeemer and incarnate Saviour.

Blessing and Calling

After speaking these words, Jesus turned to His disciples privately to bless their eyes for seeing and their ears for hearing what was then revealed. What made them blessed was perceiving by faith that the promised Messiah was among them. That sight and hearing had been longed for by many prophets and kings, who desired to see and hear these things and did not receive them. Having seen and heard, they were commissioned to tell others what they had seen and heard.

His rejoicing in spirit at that hour was over the progress of the gospel and the adding of souls to be saved. Nothing rejoices His heart so much as that progress. The converting of even one soul from sin to holiness is His joy, a full joy.

The same declaration is joined to holding firmly to the beginning of one's confidence through to the end. It stands as part of a call to serious work that enlists heart, mind, soul, and strength in God's service. That labor is not to be confined to believers, but is to become acquainted with unbelievers and place truth before those who are living up to all the light they have. It especially seeks precious souls in the cities, loving those for whom God gave His Son. By Christ's death to redeem human beings from sin an open door has been set, to be used to bring others into fellowship with the saints.