Hidden Things Revealed: But not to all.

Matthew 11:25-27 "...At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him..."

Context:

- Jesus has just pronounced woe on a number of cities.

- Miracles have been performed, but people don't repent.

- Now Jesus thanks the Father that things have been hidden?

What has been hidden?

- understanding the coming day of judgment.

Who misses out on what's really going on?

- the wise and intelligent.

Why does the Father hide things from them?

- the worldly wise may seem intelligent, but it isn't wisdom from above.

John 3:3 "...Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God...”

James 4:6 "...God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble...”

Romans 1:28 "...And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done..."

Matthew 5:8 “...Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God..."

Who gets to see what's hidden to others?

- infants, who have not yet formulated their own reality.

Who gets to be "in the know"?

- "...anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal..."

Is this a good reason to walk with Him today?

Proverbs 3:5-8 "...Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones..."

Come, Take, and Learn: A very wise thing to do.

Matthew 11:28-30 "...Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light...”

What is labor?

- hard, tiring toil.

What does it mean to be heavy laden?

- to be overloaded, carrying too much.

What does Jesus offer to those who come to Him?

- rest for their souls.

- the essence of their lives will no longer be overly challenged.

Does Jesus offer a life without work or loads?

Genesis 2:15 "...The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it..."

- work was a part of God's original creative intentions.

"...my yoke is easy, and my burden is light...”

- teaming up with Jesus still involves burdens, manageable burdens.

When can we be sure that we've strayed from walking with Jesus?

- when we are toiling and overloaded.

- when our life is hard and heavy.

How can religion become very different from the life that Jesus offers?

- religion can create hard, tiring toil.

- religion can cause a person to become overloaded.

Jeremiah 6:16 "...Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’..."

- the Lord offers, but people make their choices.

Are we interested in "...the good way..."?

Will I walk, will I walk with Jesus today?

What quality of Jesus should we be learning?

- gentleness and humility.

Are we?