Graham Swift: Jesus' sovereignty first

Sunday, October 25, 2020
    Commemoration of Crispin & Crispinian, Martyrs at Rome, c.285
Meditation:
    At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
    —Matthew 11:25 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The basic assumption which all expositors seem anxious to secure is certainly right, namely, that the ultimate purpose of a parable is to help and not hinder the apprehension of the truth. But beyond this, we may say that it belongs to the very nature of revelation that the capacity to receive it depends upon the prior surrender and obedience of the will... The disciples had so surrendered to the sovereignty of Jesus and could therefore know. If temporarily parables concealed the truths of the kingdom from the outsider on the intellectual plane, it was only in order that moral conviction might first be secured with a view to intellectual enlightenment afterwards. There are many who, through intellectual pride, would like to have it otherwise, but it cannot be.
    ... C. E. Graham Swift, The New Bible Commentary, ed. Frances Davidson, Eerdmans., 1963, p. 814-815 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 11:25-27; 13:10-17; Mark 4:11-36; Luke 8:10
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your wisdom goes out to Your people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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