Luke 10:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Now He does not rejoice and give thanks because the mysteries of God were hid from the Scribes and Pharisees, (for this were not a subject of rejoicing, but of lament,) but for this cause gives He thanks, that what the wise knew not, babes knew. But moreover He gives thanks to the Father, together with whom He Himself does this, to shew the great love wherewith He loves us. He explains in the next place, that the cause of this thing was first His own will and the Father’s, who of His own will did this. As it follows, Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

As a loving father rejoices to see his sons do right, so Christ also rejoices that His Apostles were made worthy of such good things. Hence it follows, In that hour, &c.

He saw in truth that through the operation of the Holy Spirit, which He gave to the holy Apostles, the acquisition of many would be made, (or that many would be brought to the faith.) He is said therefore to have rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, that is, in the results which came forth through the Holy Spirit. For as one who loved mankind He considered the conversion of sinners to be a subject for rejoicing, for which He gives thanks. As it follows, I give thanks unto thee, O Father.

We know also that the Saviour often speaks as man. For His divine nature has human nature joined to it, yet you would not, because of His clothing Himself with a body, be ignorant that He was God. But what do they answer to this, who wish to make out a substance of evil, but form to themselves another God, other than the true Father of Christ? And they say that he is unbegotten, the creator of evil and prince of iniquity, as well as the maker of the world’s fabric. (Gen. 1:1.) Now our Lord, affirming the word of Moses, says, I give thanks unto thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.

Lastly, he unveils the heavenly mystery by which it pleased God to reveal His grace, rather to the little ones than the wise of the world. Hence it follows, That thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent.

The preceding chapter along with this one is elaborated upon thoroughly.

For a feeling of deficiency is the preparation for coming perfection. For whoever by the presence of the apparent good perceives not that he is destitute of the true good, is deprived of the true good.

But a Gospel composed by Marcion has, “I give thanks to Thee, O Lord,” being silent as to the words of heaven and earth, and the word Father, lest it should be supposed that He calls the Father the Creator of the heaven and the earth.

For all other things have been produced by Christ from nothing, but He alone was incomprehensibly begotten of His Father; Who therefore of the Only-begotten alone, as a true Son, is by nature the Father. Hence He alone says to His Father, I give thanks to thee, O Father, Lord, &c. that is, I glorify thee. Marvel not that the Son glorifies the Father. For the whole substance of the Only-begotten is the glory of the Father. For both those things which were created, and the Angels, are the glory of the Creator. But since these are placed too low in respect of His dignity, the Son alone, since He is perfect God like His Father, perfectly glorifies His Father.

We receive these words as an example of humility, that we should not rashly presume to scan the heavenly counsel, concerning the calling of some, and the rejection of others; for that cannot be unjust which seemed good to the Just One. In all things therefore, externally disposed, the cause of the visible system is the justice of the hidden will.

Confessing (confiteor) does not always signify penitence, but also thanksgiving, as is frequently found in the Psalms. (Ps. 18:49; 30:12; 52:9.)

The Son walked among us on the earth, unveiling the truths of God both through His own revelation and by the Holy Spirit working within the apostles. Consequently, the understanding you glean from the Gospel and the writings of the apostles comprises your complete knowledge of the Father and divine matters. Do not seek beyond this, nor assume you can uncover the truth about God and His plans elsewhere. What a precious gift we have been given. Everything necessary has been revealed. There is no need for intellectual strain; simply embrace in faith what has been disclosed. It has been made known that God is one in essence yet distinct in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; accept and hold onto this truth through faith.

In conclusion, to reassure His followers of the correctness of their choice, the Lord addressed the inquiry posed by John’s disciples (Matthew 11:25). While it may have been somewhat obscure to the onlookers, He boldly affirmed, "All things have been delivered to me by my Father," indicating the complete scope of the Messiah's mission. People may be misled by His humble appearance and doubt His identity; yet they fail to recognize Him. Only the Father truly knows the Son as He is, and those who reject this understanding, finding it unworthy of the Father, do not truly understand Him. The Father is known only by the Son, and it is to whom the Son chooses to unveil this truth.

The view of the disciples, who held a deep and genuine belief that enabled them to perform miracles, brings joy to the heart of Christ, prompting Him to express gratitude to God the Father for their faith (Lk. 21; Mt. 25-26). In this moment, the Lord first gives thanks to God the Father for concealing the mysteries of His kingdom, the true significance of His great works and teachings, from those who claim wisdom and understanding, such as the Pharisees and scribes (cf. Jn. 9:39; 1 Cor. 1:26-29). Instead, these divine truths have been revealed to humble and unlearned individuals, such as His disciples. He acknowledges this as the wise and benevolent will of God: “to You, Father, this is the good pleasure” that pleases You.

Upon hearing these words, some may consider that if Jesus expressed gratitude to God for disclosing truths to the simple that were concealed from the learned, then it implies He did not possess this knowledge Himself. To counter such assumptions, Jesus promptly reiterates to His followers and listeners His divine equality with the Father, which He had elaborated on before; "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father," He asserts; "whatever the Father does, the Son also does; and no one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and to whom the Son is willing to reveal" (Matt. 11:27).

Many of the declarations recorded by John strikingly echo the dialogues of Christ presented in the Synoptic Gospels. Consider the statement attributed to St. Matthew (Matthew 11:27): "All things have been delivered unto Me by My Father, and no man knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and to whom the Son is willing to reveal.” This remark seems to share a similar essence with those found in John's Gospel. If it were located in John rather than among the Synoptics, critics would likely point it out as evidence that Jesus conveys His message in a markedly different manner in varying contexts.

The Lord's declaration of praise to God the Father, His remarks regarding the relationship between the Father and the Son, and His comforting words to the disciples are presented by Matthew as having been expressed on various occasions. These can be found in Matthew 11:25-27 and Matthew 13:16-17. It is possible that the Lord repeated these statements, or that one of the Gospel writers has placed them out of their original chronological order. If the latter is true, we might infer that these words were spoken as Luke has arranged them.

Recognizing how the message of salvation draws near to those with a humble spirit, receptive to the unveiled truth, the Lord rejoiced within and, as He did previously, expressed gratitude to the heavenly Father: ‘I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed these matters from the wise and learned, and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for it was pleasing in Your sight.’ Subsequently, addressing His disciples, He reiterated what had already been made known to them: ‘All things have been committed to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Fat