Matthew 11:25

ἀποκριθείς, answering, not necessarily to anything said, but to some environment provocative of such thoughts. ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι (= הוֹדָה לְ, Psalms 75:2, etc.). In Matthew 3:6 this compound means to make full confession (of sin). Here it = to make frank acknowledgment of a situation in a spirit partly of resignation, partly of thanksgiving. ἔκρυψας. The fact stated is referred to the causality of God, the religious point of view; but it happens according to laws which can be ascertained. ταῦτα : the exact reference unknown, but the statement holds with reference to Christ's whole teaching and healing ministry, and the revelation of the kingdom they contained. σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν : the reference here doubtless is to the Rabbis and scribes, the accepted custodians of the wisdom of Israel. Cf. σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων in Deuteronomy 4:6 applied to Israel. The rendering “wise and prudent ” in A. V [70] is misleading; “wise and understanding ” in R. V [71] is better. νηπίοις (fr. νη and ἔπος, non-speaking) means those who were as ignorant of scribe-lore as babes (cf. John 7:49 and Hebrews 5:13). Their ignorance was their salvation, as thereby they escaped the mental preoccupation with preconceived ideas on moral and religious subjects, which made the scribes inaccessible to Christ's influence (vide my Parabolic Teaching, pp. 333, 334). Jesus gives thanks with all His heart for the receptivity of the babes, not in the same sense or to the same extent for the non-receptive attitude of the wise (with De Wette and Bleek against Meyer and Weiss). No distinction indeed is expressed, but it goes without saying, and the next clause implies it.

[70] Authorised Version.

[71] Revised Version.