“In that
hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them
to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.” (Lk. 10:21)
“The scribes were treated
with excessive deference in Jewish society because of their education and
learning. Everyone honored them because of their wisdom and intelligence. The
"mere children"(napioi in Greek, really meaning babes) were Jesus' image
for the uneducated and ignorant. He is saying that the gospel of grace has been
disclose to and grasped by the uneducated and ignorant instead of the learned
and wise. For this Jesus thanks God... The babes (napioi) are in the same state
as the children (paidia). God's grace falls on them because they are negligible
creatures, not because of their good qualities. They may be aware of their
worthlessness, but this is not the reason revelations are given to them. Jesus
expressly attributes their good fortune to the Father's good pleasure, the
divine eudokia. The gifts are not determined by the slightest personal quality
or virtue. They were pure liberality. Once and for all, Jesus deals the death
blow to any distinction between the elite and the ordinary in the Christian
community.”
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