Luke 10:22 - Printer Friendly

What does Luke 10:22 mean?

ESV: All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

NIV: All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'

NASB: All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.'

CSB: All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him."

NLT: My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.'

KJV: All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

NKJV: All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

Verse Commentary:

Jesus is further explaining to His disciples the relationship between Himself and God the Father.

"All things" are responsibilities related to salvation and judgment. This includes what Jesus does and says (John 5:19; 12:49); the souls of the saved (John 10:29); and the right to judge the redeemed (2 Corinthians 5:10), the wicked (Revelation 6—16), and the nations (Luke 10:13–16; Matthew 25:31–46). The Father also gives the Son the authority to send the Holy Spirit (John 15:26), initiate the church to spread the gospel (Acts 1:8), and restrain evil through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:6). Most relevant to the passage is that the Father authorizes the Son to inaugurate the kingdom of God (Luke 10:9).

The Father gives these things to the Son. The wording reveals that the Son is in submission to the Father. So, how can they both be God? In their being, the three Persons of the Trinity have the same essence. In their relationship, they have distinct roles. This is called "the economic Trinity." They exist in mutual love and unity and they have the same nature, and they choose to interact in distinct ways. That submission can exist in the Trinity, where there is no inferior or superior Person, shows that the same can be true in human relationships.

God the Father also provides the Son with authority to reveal Himself to the Son's followers. Since the Father and the Son have the same essence, the Son reveals the Father by being Himself. The Son is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). In the Upper Room, Philip says, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us" (John 14:8). Jesus replies, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?" (John 14:9–10).

Hebrews 1:1–2 explains, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." In the Old Testament, God did reveal Himself, but He spoke to very few people directly. While He manifested Himself visibly from time to time, including what seem to be pre-incarnate appearances of the Son, that was relatively rare (Genesis 12:7–9; 18:1–33; 32:22–30; Exodus 3:2—4:17; 13:21–22; Deuteronomy 31:14–15). Moses, Aaron, two of Aaron's sons, and seventy of Israel's elders "saw the God of Israel" and even ate and drank there (Exodus 24:9–11). Moses saw a veiled display of the Father's glory, poetically referred to as God's back (Exodus 33:18–23). After powerful displays of wind, an earthquake, and fire, Elijah heard God in a low whisper (1 Kings 19:9–18). Isaiah (Isaiah 6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1), and Daniel (Daniel 7) saw visions of God in heaven. But the disciples have a personal knowledge of the Father because they know Jesus.

The verse says that only the Father knows the Son and only the Son knows the Father. Does this mean the Holy Spirit does not know either? First Corinthians 2:11 says, "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." The Holy Spirit, the Father, and the Son are of the same essence and know each other perfectly. In this passage, Jesus is comparing the knowledge of the Father the disciples receive through Jesus to the ignorance of the "wise" religious leaders (Luke 10:21).

Luke 10:21–24 records Jesus' praise to God the Father and a celebration of the salvation offered to believers. Jesus told seventy-two returning disciples that Satan is already defeated and their real victory is that God has given them salvation (Luke 10:17–20). Now, Jesus praises God the Father for their salvation (Luke 10:21–24). Matthew records the same words but places them in different contexts (Matthew 11:25–27; 13:16–17).

Chapter Summary:

Jesus commissions seventy-two of His followers for a unique mission. They are sent into towns and villages, preparing people for Jesus' ministry. Those who accept the message will be blessed; those who reject it will be left behind. The disciples return celebrating what they have seen and accomplished. Jesus reminds them that salvation is the real victory. The parable of the good Samaritan explains that the obligation to love extends to anyone and everyone. A visit to the home of Martha and Mary offers a contrast between good things and the best things.

Chapter Context:

Luke 10 provides the bulk of the first section of what some refer to as Jesus' travelogue (Luke 9:51—19:27). In this extended description of travels and events, Jesus draws away from public ministry and theological debates. His focus is preparing His disciples for what will happen in Jerusalem, by teaching them about the kingdom of God. In Luke 9:51—11:13, the disciples gradually learn how to properly follow Jesus. Next, the Pharisees will reject Jesus (Luke 11:14–54) and Jesus will teach more about the kingdom (Luke 12:1—19:27). After the travelogue, Jesus will enter Jerusalem and face crucifixion.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 4/29/2024 10:55:20 AM