Mt 11:25-27
Joy: While the verses preceding this section of the Gospel deal with the theme of unbelief, this section alters the “tone” to that of joy. Up to this point in the Gospel, Jesus finds his ministry basically rejected in Galilee. However, he nevertheless finds reason to praise his Father, the Lord (the master, the Creator) of heaven and earth for having hidden the mysteries of the kingdom from the religious experts and revealed them to the powerless.
Joy: While the verses preceding this section of the Gospel deal with the theme of unbelief, this section alters the “tone” to that of joy. Up to this point in the Gospel, Jesus finds his ministry basically rejected in Galilee. However, he nevertheless finds reason to praise his Father, the Lord (the master, the Creator) of heaven and earth for having hidden the mysteries of the kingdom from the religious experts and revealed them to the powerless.
At this point, three Matthean themes are brought together. First, it is the Father who does the hiding and the revealing. All depends on God’s will.
Second, those who should recognize God’s revelation do not. These, of course, are the religious experts—the scribes and Pharisees for Matthew. They propose that obedience to the 613 precepts of the law is all that is necessary. Matthew characterizes them as arrogant and not open to revelation, and, therefore, not open to the possibility of authentic faith.
Third, those who should not recognize God’s revelation do. These are the childlike—the poor, the tax collectors, and the sinners. They are not capable of obedience to the precepts of the law. Matthew characterizes these people as open to the new revelation of Jesus, and, therefore, also open to the possibility of authentic faith.
Matthew is telling his community that this is the “gracious will” (11:26) of the Father, who handed over this revelation to Jesus, who, in turn, passed it on to his disciples and those who were open to receive it.