25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 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. 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:25-30 KJV)
Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
Christ gives thanks to God the Father. The reason for his thanksgiving is that he has hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes (Matthew 11:25). “These things” refer to the great truths of the gospel, the things that belong to our peace (Luke 19:42). Christ speaks of them with great emphasis because they should fill our hearts, as they did his. All other things are as nothing compared to these.
The term “babes” is used by Christ to refer to all his followers—the twelve and other disciples. Though they were few, despised by the world as poor and unlearned, they were precious to Jesus. He addresses God as his Father, showing his close relationship with him, and as the Lord of heaven and earth, the sovereign ruler over all. True prayer is most meaningful when we approach God as our Father, trusting his ability to supply our needs.
The great truths of the gospel have been hidden from many who were wise and prudent—those known for learning and worldly knowledge. Some of the greatest scholars and statesmen have been the greatest strangers to gospel mysteries. “The world through wisdom did not know God” (1 Corinthians 1:21). Worldly wisdom always opposed the gospel (1 Timothy 6:20), creating the impression that faith and the gospel are worthless. Those most skilled in worldly wisdom are often the least experienced in spiritual matters.
While the wise and prudent men of the world are in the dark about gospel mysteries, God has revealed them to the disciples of Christ—they know what it takes to be saved. Christ’s disciples were men of low status and simple education—no scholars, no artists, no politicians, “unlearned and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13). The secrets of wisdom, which are greater than earthly wisdom (Job 11:6), are made known to these babes so that through them God’s strength may be established (Psalm 8:2).
The learned of the world were not chosen to be the preachers of the gospel, but “the foolish things of the world” were (1 Corinthians 1:27), for “we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age” (1 Corinthians 2:6). None of the rulers of this world knew the wisdom of God, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8). These truths are not discovered by human intellect but revealed by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10).
This difference between the prudent and the babes is God’s own doing. It is he who has hidden these things from the wise and prudent. He gave them intelligence and learning above others, and they became proud of it, resting in it and looking no further. Because of their arrogance, God justly denies them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Though they hear the sound of the gospel, it remains a strange thing to them.
God is not the cause of their ignorance and error, but he leaves them to their own choices. Their sin becomes their punishment, and the Lord is righteous in it. “They could not believe, because Isaiah said: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts’” (John 12:39-40). The elect have obtained salvation, but the rest were hardened, as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear” (Romans 11:7-8).
Also Paul spoke of those whose hearts have grown dull, whose ears are hard of hearing, and whose eyes have been closed (Acts 28:26-27). Had these prudent and wise people of this world honored God with their wisdom, he would have given them knowledge of these higher spiritual things; but because of their pride and arrogance in this little earthly wisdom, God has hidden spiritual truth from them.
Jesus acknowledges God’s sovereignty in hiding gospel truths from the wise and revealing them to the humble. Those admired by the world—scholars, statesmen, and philosophers—are often the farthest from salvation. Many are given to their own wisdom and left in spiritual blindness. Meanwhile, God chooses those whom the world despises—the poor, the simple, and the lowly. Though some of the wise and powerful are saved, they are very few.
The gospel message has always been a stumbling block to the learned and those of high status, so they asked, “Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him?” (John 7:48). The difference between those who believe and those who reject is solely due to God’s will. If we question why he acts as he does, we have only one answer: “Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight” (Matthew 11:26). Those unsatisfied with this must look elsewhere for explanations, but they will find none better.
Christ invites those whom the Father has given him to come to him with full assurance of his power and willingness to save. He declares the authority given to him by the Father: “All things have been delivered to me by my Father” (Matthew 11:27). As the Mediator, he has been entrusted with the work of reconciliation and the blessings of grace. No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom he reveals him.
True knowledge of God does not come from human effort but from divine revelation. Only Christ, who has eternally been with the Father, can make him known. There is no true knowledge of God apart from Jesus Christ. To his disciples, he reveals himself in ways the world does not see (John 14:22).
Jesus calls weary and burdened sinners to himself. He invites those who feel the weight of sin and guilt, not just those burdened by religious rituals, but all who are trapped in sin and its consequences. His invitation extends to all, regardless of their past. He rejects none who seek him.
His call is simple: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He is willing and able to relieve every need. Those who come to him by faith, renouncing all other hopes, will find rest—pardon and peace, deliverance from sin’s bondage, and the sure hope of eternal rest.
In response, he calls his followers to take his yoke upon them. He must be received not only as Savior but also as Lord. Obedience must follow faith. He asks nothing unreasonable—only that his disciples follow his example: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). He was patient under provocation, kind to the weak, and humble in every way. Those who imitate him will find rest for their souls, experiencing the joy of communion with Christ and the peace of a heart transformed by his Spirit.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). His service is true freedom. Even trials and difficulties should be counted as joy because his grace sustains, his comforts abound, and his promises remain sure. Those who walk in his ways will find them to be paths of peace.