Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 10:21

"In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight." — Luke 10:21 (ASV)

The emphasis on joy combines with another subject of Luke’s special interest—the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ. These verses show (1) God’s sovereignty in imparting revelation, (2) the relationship between the Father and the Son, and (3) the privilege the disciples had of participating in this instance of messianic revelation and salvation.

Jesus’ words relate to the time in which the power of the kingdom is revealed. Jesus himself participates in the joy that characterizes the day of God’s salvation, a theme established at the beginning of Luke’s gospel (e.g., 1:44). He combines joy with thanksgiving on the occasion of God’s mighty saving work. A remarkable thing stressed by Jesus is not that the wise do not understand God’s revelation but that the simple do. The “children” are those whose open, trusting attitude makes them receptive to God’s word.

The knowledge God gives is “committed” (GK 4140) directly to the Son.

This explains why Jesus spoke with authority (4:32) in contrast to the scribes (Mark 1:22), who received their ideas through tradition, passed on from rabbi to rabbi. Jesus’ sayings confirm other teachings in the Synoptics and in John about the fatherhood of God and the unique sonship of Christ.