MATTHEW 11:27: “My Father has turned everything over to me. Only the Father knows the Son. And no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.” (GW)
OBSERVATION: Who does God reveal Himself to? There are multitudes who are seeking God each day. Thousands bow their knees in prayer, visit temples, burn incense, recite chants, and meditate upon nature in order to “find” God. But out of all these people – Who does God reveal Himself to?
Matthew 11:27 is the meat of the sandwich with regards to this question, but it is not the entire sandwich. The answer to this question is in the verses that both precede and follow this verse. There are three insights that we can glean from these verses that will help us answer the question – Who does God reveal Himself to?
In Matthew 11:27 we discover that God does not reveal Himself, He has turned over everything to Jesus, His only begotten Son. It is Jesus who reveals God to those that He is willing to reveal Him. There is no ladder to God, no 12 steps, no religious ritual that leads us to the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is a gift of revelation given by Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ, who is God in human flesh.
If we are not seeking Jesus Christ, then we will never have a revelation of God!
So, who is Jesus willing to reveal the Father to? This is the bread of the sandwich. Without bread you do not have a sandwich, and without these two important truths you will never see God. They are found in the verses preceding verse 27 and the verses following.
- “At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from wise and intelligent people and revealing them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what pleased you.” (Matthew 11:25-26 GW)
A revelation of God does not come from human wisdom or understanding. It is not found in achieving a certain level of spiritual understanding, or in the increase of religious service. Martin Luther tried to “find God” through religious service. He would beat himself on the back with a cord to atone for his sins. He would fast and deprive himself of comforts to humble himself and make himself worthy of receiving revelation. All of these efforts proved worthless and only led him to greater guilt and shame. That was until he read these words – “The just shall live by faith!” It was then that, in childlike faith, his eyes were opened. Jesus said,
- “I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15 GW)
A revelation of God only comes when we are willing to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As long as we continue to try and live our life in our own strength, as long as we try to be the lord of our own lives, we will never “see” God. It is only when we make Jesus Christ the center of our lives, the Lord of our lives, that our eyes are opened to “see” God.
- “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 GW)
So, who is the person to whom Jesus Christ is willing to reveal the Father to? It is the person who is willing to stop relying on their own understanding, and to stop striving in their own human strength. To the humble, hungry, and surrendered heart – Jesus Christ reveals the Father and the Kingdom of God. This is the heart that is “Born Again” and filled with the Holy Spirit. Without this man is left to an endless and empty pursuit of religion that simply takes him farther and farther away from the very thing that he is seeking!
Lord, this morning I recognize my deep need for You! I ask you to forgive me for the times that I have trusted and leaned upon my own human understanding. This morning I choose, by the gift of Your Grace, to trust fully in You! I run to you in childlike faith and lay my burdens down at the foot of Your Cross. Place Your yoke upon me, teach me, lead me, and reveal the Father to me!
In Jesus Name!
