Christ’s disciples have a great deal of wisdom in God’s sight. A wisdom very different to that of the world. What are attributes of this wisdom?
Overview
Passage/s: Matt 11:25-27; 13:16-17; Luke 10:21-24
Context
Heart of Faith – believe
Eyes of Faith – see
Walk of Faith – perceive
Objectives
To understand:
- What qualities in children we need to emulate to gain true wisdom
- How we interpret these qualities in a spiritual context
Bible Passage
Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Bible Passage (Cont'd)
Luke 10: 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.”
Context
In Matthew 11, Jesus talks of unrepentant cities and contrasts them with the faith of His disciples. In Matthew 13, it is in the context of parables, that Jesus refers to the wisdom given to his disciples, his children. In Luke it is in the context of the return of the 72 and the joy they receive in the power of Jesus)
Jesus highlights that God reveals the deep secrets to “children”.
The foremost secret is that Jesus is the son of God.
Only God can reveal this to people. These have supernatural perception and are blessed.
Children vs. disciples
Jesus gives an object lesson on becoming like this child as described in Matthew 18:2–4.
In other passages as well we see the interplay between these terms – children, disciples, brothers and sisters – all the same
Christ’s Little children, disciples
Matthew 18:2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Heart of faith
“The secrets of the kingdom are not revealed to those who are wise in their own conceit, but to those who have the meekness of infants and the child-like eagerness for knowledge. In a special Jewish sense “the wise and prudent” are the Scribes and Pharisees.
The thought is of their helplessness and dependence” [1]
Heart of faith
A child completely trusts their father
Realizes how small they are
Humbles themselves
As spiritual babes we are born into God’s kingdom.
We are completely dependent on our father to grow and mature just as children.
Unless we realize and internalize these facts, it will be difficult to grow.
Eyes of Faith
Luke 10:22 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.”
The literal translation from Greek is as follows “In every way, to me it has been given over from the Father of mine and no one recognizes the Son if not the Father. Nor does anyone recognizes the Father if not the Son and to that one when he might choose himself, the Son, to reveal.” [2]
Walk of Faith
Luke 10:23 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.”
The Greek connotation refers to “see” as in see what is before you not so much as understanding.
The Greek word translated as “prophets” means “one who speaks for God”, “interpreter” and was the highest level of priesthood in Egypt. Christ uses it to refer not only to divine spokespeople but their books in the Old Testament. It is the verb that means “to shine before.” [2]
Walk of Faith
This walk goes one step beyond “seeing” who God is. It implies understanding and listening. It implies obeying God and walking with Him.
This is a beautiful cyclic process of blessing – and revelation: the more we see, the more we walk. The more we walk, the more we see.
Discussion
1.How do we know if our faith is real?
2.How do we ensure we are “shining before” others and
“walking” like the prophets, in faith?
References
1.Pulpit commentary
2.christswords.com