Matthew 11:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father 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 the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father 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 the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father 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 the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father 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 unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

NKJV: All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Christ paused His talk to the crowds with a prayer of thanks to His Father. He thanked God for hiding the truth of "these things" from those who are wise and understanding and revealing the truth instead to little children (Matthew 11:25–26). His meaning is that those who arrogantly think they are wise—and reject God as a result—are blinded to the truth. Those the world dismissed as simpletons and children are willing to accept what is real.

Now Jesus adds another comment about the information God chooses to reveal. He claims to know what God the Father knows, and to know God the Father Himself. God knows everything, and God the Father has given to Jesus "all things." Nobody truly knows the Son, Jesus, except for God the Father. In the same way, nobody truly knows the Father except for Jesus, the Son, and those to whom Jesus chooses to reveal the Father.

This describes a profoundly interconnected relationship between Jesus Christ and God the Father. They know each other completely. The Father has revealed all truth, all things, to Jesus, the Son. They are both united as God together in the Trinity, along with the Holy Spirit. Yet, they are somehow distinct from each other. This is a great mystery, but it is also a great declaration. Jesus is not hiding who He truly is from those who are listening. He is fully claiming to be the Son of God.

Jesus is also declaring that He has the power and authority to reveal the Father to people on earth, according to His own choice. In fact, Jesus is the only way in the universe for human being to come to know God the Father by beginning a relationship with Him (John 14:6).

Matthew 11:25–30 begins with Jesus' prayer of thanks to His Father for hiding the truth from those thought to be wise by the world's standards. Instead, the gospel has been revealed to those the unbelieving world dismisses as virtual children. Jesus declares that He and the Father know each other completely and that He can reveal the Father to anyone He chooses. He offers rest for the souls of all who are weighed down and weary if they will take on His yoke, saying that His burden is easy and light.

John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask if Jesus is really the Messiah. Jesus gives them a specific answer to use to reassure John and then upholds John to the crowds. John fulfills the prophecy about the one who would prepare the people for the Messiah. This generation, though, refused to hear John or Jesus, deciding John had a demon and Jesus was a glutton and drunkard. Jesus condemns the cities that refuse to repent and thanks the Father for revealing the truth to little children. He offers rest for those who are weary and burdened.

Matthew 11 follows Jesus' instructions to the apostles about taking His message and miracles to the towns of Israel with His own continued ministry of teaching (Matthew 10). Jesus answers a question from John the Baptist's followers, and upholds John's ministry. Jesus condemns several cities in Galilee for rejecting His teaching, despite obvious signs. He thanks His Father for hiding the truth from those who arrogantly think they are wise. He offers rest for those who will take His yoke. This leads to further confrontations with critics, recorded in chapter 12.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.