Jesus’ Joy and Thanksgiving (Luke 10:21–24)
What is the meaning of Luke 10:21-24?
In Luke 10:21-24, Jesus rejoices that God reveals spiritual truth to the humble rather than the wise. He declares that only through him can the Father be known and blesses his disciples for witnessing what prophets and kings longed to see. This passage highlights divine revelation, Jesus’ unique role, and the privilege of knowing him.
Introduction
This passage gives us a rare glimpse into Jesus’ personal joy and gratitude to the Father. After the seventy disciples return from their mission, Jesus praises God for revealing the truth to the humble rather than the wise and learned. He affirms his unique relationship with the Father and blesses the disciples for witnessing what prophets and kings longed to see. This passage emphasizes God’s sovereignty in revelation and the privilege of knowing Christ.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of Luke 10:21–24 and Commentary
Luke 10:21 – Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit
“At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will.’” (Luke 10:21, NRSV)
Here, Jesus is not just pleased—he is filled with deep joy, expressed in the Holy Spirit. This is one of the few times Scripture explicitly describes Jesus rejoicing, and it comes in response to the Father’s divine plan. He thanks God for revealing spiritual truth to “infants” while hiding it from the self-proclaimed wise. This echoes themes in Isaiah 29:14, where God frustrates human wisdom, and 1 Corinthians 1:27, where Paul states that God chooses the weak to shame the strong.
The contrast between the “wise” and the “infants” is not about intellect but about heart posture. The religious elites, the scribes and Pharisees, prided themselves on their knowledge, yet they missed the Messiah standing before them. Meanwhile, fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary people embraced the gospel with childlike faith.
Luke 10:22 – The Son’s Unique Relationship with the Father
“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.” (Luke 10:22, NRSV)
This verse is striking because Jesus claims absolute authority given to him by the Father. It echoes Matthew 11:27, reinforcing the idea that knowing God is not a matter of human discovery but divine revelation. The phrase “no one knows who the Son is except the Father” highlights the mystery of Jesus’ identity—people saw him as a teacher, healer, or prophet, but only the Father fully understood his divine nature. Likewise, only through the Son can the Father truly be known.
Luke 10:23-24 – The Blessing of the Disciples
“Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’”(Luke 10:23-24, NRSV)
Jesus shifts from public praise to private encouragement. He tells his disciples they are blessed because they are witnessing what prophets and kings longed for. Figures like Moses, David, and Isaiah anticipated the coming of the Messiah but never saw the fulfillment of their prophecies. The disciples, however, had the privilege of walking with Jesus and seeing God’s redemptive plan unfold before their eyes.
This passage reminds us of the immense privilege of knowing Christ. The Old Testament saints had glimpses of the promise, but we, like the disciples, have the full revelation of the gospel. It’s easy to take this for granted, but Jesus’ words call us to recognize the blessing of seeing and hearing the truth of salvation firsthand.
Luke 10:21–24 Meaning for Today
This passage teaches three key lessons:
1. God’s truth is revealed to the humble. Those who approach him with childlike faith will understand what the proud and self-sufficient miss.
2. Jesus is the only way to know the Father. True spiritual understanding comes not from human effort but through revelation in Christ.
3. Knowing Jesus is a privilege. We have what generations before us longed for—the full revelation of the gospel. Our response should be gratitude and faithfulness.
FAQ
Why does Jesus thank God for hiding the truth from the wise in Luke 10:21?
Jesus praises God for revealing his truth to those with childlike faith while hiding it from the self-righteous. This emphasizes that salvation is a gift of grace, not human intellect or effort.
What does Luke 10:22 mean when Jesus says ‘no one knows the Father except the Son’?
Jesus is declaring that he has an exclusive, unique relationship with God. Only through him can people truly know the Father, making faith in Christ essential.
Why does Jesus say His disciples are blessed in Luke 10:23-24?
Jesus tells his disciples they are blessed because they are witnessing the fulfillment of God’s promises—something prophets and kings longed for but never saw.
