Luke 10:21

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-If you would, please turn to Luke 10...

…and find your way down to Verse 21.

That’s where we’re going to be...

…picking back up this morning.

And it is the final portion of that long section...

…that began back in Verse 1...

…which has been centered around...

...Jesus’ commissioning of the Seventy...

…to go out and begin the Messianic Harvest of Nations.

I thought a review of the Sermon titles...

…might be the best way to quickly refresh your memories.

The Mission of the Seventy

The Method of the Seventy

The Rejection of the Seventy

The Rejoicing of the Seventy

The Rejoicing of the Son

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-Needless to say… (but I’ll say it anyway)...

…when we come to a portion of Scripture...

…wherein we're enabled to behold the very heart of Christ...

…and see what brought him joy on earth...

…we can expect to encounter...

…some very rich and important theology.

And, such is certainly the case this morning!

-Now, I had originally planned to...

...cover all four verses this morning.

That was a pipe dream!

We’re only going to make it through the first verse...

But, we’re going to read all four verses...

…for the sake of better understanding the context.

Alright, let’s read our text...

…and ask for the Lord’s help:

Luke 10:21–24 (ESV)

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

22 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.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!

24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

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Pray

-Notice the way Luke...

…connects Verse 21 to the rejoicing of the Seventy…

…in the previous section:

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

21 In that same hour he rejoiced...

So, the Seventy had rejoiced...

…because of the success of their evangelism...

…and because the demons had been subject to them...

…as they were operating under Jesus’ authority.

And, Jesus had told them, that...

…the authority that he had given them...

…was more cosmic than they could have ever even imagined:

Satan was being defeated by their evangelism...

Nothing was going to prevent them...

…From successfully harvesting the souls...

…for whom He would soon die.

But, then he had said...

…that the greater cause of rejoicing (for them)...

…was that they were enrolled with permanent ink...

…into the citizenship of the heavenly kingdom...

…and that nothing that...

Men

Angels

Demons

Satan himself...

…could do, would ever take that away from them!

-And, it’s on the heels of that...

…that Luke records this rejoicing of the Savior.

And he doesn’t even use the common Greek word for rejoicing...

…to describe Jesus’ disposition, here:

Philip Ryken says:

The word that Luke uses here for rejoicing is more intense than any other word for joy, including the other terms that he has used in this very passage.

The Greek word agalliaō is a word for exuberant ecstasy, for complete exultation in the fullness of joy. — Ryken

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The language is strong and intense, here.

-But, before we see what could...

…be the reason for such exultation from our Lord...

…notice what Luke tells us...

…about the manner/source of it:

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit...

What does that mean?

Well, it doesn’t mean (as some interpret the use of this language elsewhere)...

…that he was praying “in an unknown tongue”

We know the intelligible words that he prayed.

Luke has written them down.

So then, what does it mean?

It probably means, simply...

…that Jesus was inspired with joy...

…by the Holy Spirit!

Remember that Luke has been emphasizing:

Jesus’ real humanity

The activity of the Holy Spirit in his ministry...

…throughout his entire gospel account.

Showing us that, Jesus is...

The Messiah (Christ — The Anointed One)

The Man in whom the Spirit dwells without measure!

The Man who is perfectly, completely, and fully...

…led by the Spirit of God!

And here, the Holy Spirit is inspiring him...

(in his humanity)

…to worship the Father!

(By the way… this is a VERY trinitarian passage)

-Now, look at the reason for his rejoicing...

...back in Verse 21:

Notice, first of all, the address:

He’s praying a prayer:

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

21 . . . “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth...

The word behind “I thank” there...

…can also mean to “offer praise”

So, he begins with gratitude and praise...

…and that worshipful heart...

…extends into his address.

Notice how he refers to the Father:

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

21 . . . “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth...

Before praising Him for what He has done...

…He delights in who He is!

(This should be the sequence...

…of the worship of all our hearts!)

(And it stresses the importance...

…of having a correct, biblical understanding...

…of who God is in his essential nature!)

-Now, what aspect of the Father’s nature...

…is Jesus emphasizing, here?

His Sovereignty!

He calls Him the “Kurios” . . .

Over Heaven

Over Earth

Over EVERYTHING

And we all affirm that with hearty “amen’s,” right?

If he wasn’t Sovereign over all...

…we would have no reason to trust...

…that he would be able to keep the promises he’s made to us, right?

-But, Jesus extends the scope of that sovereignty...

…into an area that makes us quite uncomfortable:

Watch what he says:

(Reading it in the NASB)

Luke 10:21 (NASB95)

21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things...

Wait, what?

What things?

The message of the Seventy!

The preaching of the Kingdom

The proclamation of the Savior!

And, lest we think that we’re...

...misunderstanding Jesus’ words here...

Remember what we read before:

Explaining the Parable of the Sower, Jesus had said:

Luke 8:10 (ESV)

10 . . . “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

Matthew recorded it with more simplicity:

Matthew 13:11 (ESV)

11 . . . “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

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This is a level of sovereignty that makes us...

Uncomfortable

Worry

Question God’s Righteousness and Goodness...

(we should NEVER EVER do that, by the way)

But... this is the only “level” of sovereignty...

…that exists.

If God isn’t sovereign over EVERYTHING, including...

The human mind

The human heart

The human will...

…then is he actually sovereign AT ALL?

And I know that this is hard for us to reconcile...

…with other portions of scripture...

…that emphasize (with equal clarity)...

The Moral Responsibility and Accountability of Man...

But, we must strive to do so...

…since the scriptures affirm both!

If God’s word states them both plainly...

…then we must mold our theology...

…into a place that it is able to do so as well!

-Now, here’s what’s fascinating about our verse.

It actually does that for us.

Notice, how Jesus...

After affirming the Father’s absolute sovereignty...

Invokes the reality of Man’s Responsibility:

Look at the type of men...

…from whom the truth of the gospel...

…is being hidden:

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

21 . . . “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding...

“understanding” can be “intelligent”

Means: Someone who thinks they have it all put together

How does that show their guilt?

Aren’t those good and desirable things?

Well, think of it in the context of:

1 Corinthians 3:18–21 (ESV)

18 ...If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

21 So let no one boast in men...

I think this is the broad application.

Meaning, a rebuke to the...

Intellectually and Academically proud

Morally and Religiously proud, too!

It’s an application of the universal principle, that...

James 4:6 (ESV)

6 . . . “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

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(And, that should serve as a stark warning...

…to all of us...

…that we need to be ever mindful...

…of the posture of our heart toward...

God

His Word

His people)

-But, I think the more precise application of our text...

…is being made toward...

The Jewish Religious Leaders!

The ones who assumed...

…that when it came to the...

Knowledge of God

Intention of his will...

…that they “had it all put together.”

The ones, who had, hitherto...

…rejected the light of Revelation...

…that had shone before them...

…in the face of Jesus Christ!

And, from these men...

…and from those who follow in their footsteps...

…The saving grace of God has been withheld.

And, as the Sovereign of all...

…he is well within his rights to do so!

AND… He is righteous and just to do it...

Because they deserve it!

-Now, look back at Verse 21.

He gives a second reason for his gratitude:

He says:

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

21 . . . “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children...

Notice the contrast:

To those who were assumed...

to be the greatest in the Kingdom...

to have the most to offer God...

...He has extended His arm of Judgment.

But, to those who were assumed...

to be the least...

to have the least to offer...

…He has extended His arm of Mercy

You see, “little children” there...

…is more literally, “infants”

So, it’s not just those...

…who are MOSTLY helpless and dependent...

It’s those who are UTTERLY helpless and dependent.

-And, let’s be clear about something:

This IS a metaphor.

It is an object lesson

He’s not referring to literal infants.

He’s referring to...

The Meek

The Lowly

The Humble

It’s an echo of the sentiment...

…that we saw a few months ago:

Matthew 18:3–4 (ESV)

3 . . . “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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This is the principle...

…over which the Spirit of God...

…has led the incarnate Son of God...

…to break out in Gratitude and Rejoicing!

-Now, the final clause in Verse 21...

…is incredibly important:

It prevents us from getting the wrong idea...

…about the cause and affect, here:

Look at it with me.

Jesus says:

Luke 10:21 (ESV)

21 ...you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

The NASB translates it like this:

Luke 10:21 (NASB95)

21 ...You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

Calvin makes a piercing observation, here:

To restrain more fully that curiosity which is constantly springing up in the minds of men, he rises above the world, and contemplates the secret decrees of God, that he may lead others to unite with him in admiring them.

And certainly, though this appointment of God contradicts our senses, we discover not only blind arrogance, but excessive madness, if we murmur against it, while Christ our Head adores it with reverence. — Calvin

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That’s sobering, isn’t it?

-Now, I feel like this begs a question:

Why would Jesus rejoice in this set up?

Because this “set up” most protects and promotes...

…the glory of God...

And the glory of God…

…is his...

Greatest Concern

Chiefest Desire

Philip Ryken explains:

People often consider the sovereignty of God’s grace to be a dark and difficult doctrine.

Why does God bring some people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, while others are left to perish in their sins?

The Bible never gives us the full answer, except to say that God does it for his own glory.

But far from treating this mystery as an occasion for anxiety, the Bible presents it as a comfort for the soul.

The doctrine of election, which proves God’s sovereignty in salvation, is a doctrine of joy.

We find this on Christmas night, when the angels sing “Glory to God in the highest!” and bless the people who are in God’s pleasure (Luke 2:14).

We find it in Romans 9 to 11, where Paul’s exposition of election ends with a grand doxology of praise.

We find it in Ephesians 1, where the fact that God has chosen us in Christ is celebrated with high praise to God.

We also find it here in Luke 10, where God’s sovereignty in salvation brings joy to the very Godhead. — Philip Ryken

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I believe that THAT is the reason why...

…Jesus is so elated over these truths.

NOT because he is...

Cold-hearted

Dispassionate

Mechanical

But because his heart is...

Warm

Full

…with love for His Father!

And the Father’s exaltation...

…is his highest good!

And the Father’s Sovereignty over salvation...

…ensures that no one...

…can ever rob him of his glory!

-We see a similar thing in the heart of Paul, in...

1 Corinthians 1:18–2:8 (ESV)

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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Let’s pray for help...

…to humble ourselves before him, this morning:

Pray