(22) All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son; and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
The subject contained in this verse, short as it is, is so infinitely great and sublime, that though I could not dare to pass by it altogether unnoticed, yet I know not how to presume the offering my faint and imperfect observations upon it. I shall, indeed, but barely touch on the deep things contained in it; and no farther than may, under the Lord's teaching, lead the Reader's mind, with my own, to the consideration of the very sweet and precious instructions which arise out of it.
The all things delivered to Christ, of his Father, is a comprehensive expression, to denote the office and authority of Christ, as mediator. This part I do not allude to in respect to the depth of mystery contained in this verse; for though such, is the infinite fullness of Christ, that neither men nor angels can have capacities competent to conceive, yet this is not the most wonderful doctrine which this verse calls the church to contemplate. No man knoweth who the Son is but the Father: and, in like manner, who the Father is but the Son. Here are depths indeed of mystery. We are told by the Evangelist John, that no man hath seen God at any time, but that the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him, John 1:18. So that nothing can be more plain, than that it became impossible for the creation of God to know anything of Jehovah, in his three-fold character of persons, but by the immediate act of the Son, begotten into his mediatorial character, God-Man in one person, thereby to reveal him. By this voluntary act of the Son of God, and by this humbling himself, in order to make this revelation through the medium of the manhood, he hath done that, which, without this union of nature, never could have been done. And by this act, he hath brought in a new glory to the Godhead, in that his creatures have now a knowledge of the Father, Son, and Spirit; and which opens to the felicity of God's intelligent creation to all eternity. Our Lord's expression is striking: No man knoweth who the Son is but the Father: that is, as Son of God. It is God only, that can know God. For though the persons in the Godhead are revealed, sufficiently plain in proof, as articles of faith, yet none knoweth how the Son is Son but the Father. It is the Father only who knoweth the Son, as a person of equal dignity and glory with himself. And so, in like manner, No man knoweth who the Father is save the Son. The personal apprehension of each is to each, Father, Son, and Spirit, can be known only as such in their essential nature and Godhead, by each other. And when Jesus adds, and he to whom the Son will reveal him: that is, in making such a revelation of him, as he came purposely to make, and the enlightened soul, by grace, is capable of receiving.
Reader! ponder over the wonderful mystery; and, while looking into the vast depth, rather feel astonishment at the condescending grace of the Lord, in that we are enabled to apprehend so much, instead of marvelling that we know no more. It is very blessed that the Son of God hath come to make known such stupendous things, which, without his having taken upon him our nature, and in that nature made such gracious revelations of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, never could have been discovered to all eternity. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!
Though I passed by the consideration of the all things, delivered by the Father to Christ, at the opening of this verse, in order to attend the more particularly to the momentous doctrine contained in the latter part of it, yet let not the Reader overlook either the sweetness or the fullness of the blessed expression. Jesus, in his Mediator-character, here considers himself as the Great and Almighty Trustee of heaven; and that he is thus full in himself, and by the Father's appointment, in order to give out, in all the departments of nature, providence, grace, and glory, to the supply of all. And Christ's invitation is founded upon his ability, see Matthew 11:27-30. So that as all the promises, all grace, all the blessings of the covenant, all government; in short, the whole, and every part of supply for all things, can only be found in Christ; there, can be no possibility of obtaining anything either for time or eternity, but in him. And what tends to endear this state of things still more, is, that as all things are delivered from the Father to the Son, in seeking all things from Christ, we honour the Father by seeking for the Son. For as the Father puts honour upon Christ, in thus constituting him universal and everlasting Lord, so every poor needy creature, who looks by faith to Christ for his supply, puts honour upon him also. Reader! think of this in all approaches to Christ: and depend upon it, that whenever your poor heart is made joyful in Christ, and enriched by supplies from him, Christ is glorified in you, in giving out of his fullness, and gets praise from the riches of his grace in making all his people happy in him. Thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ! 2 Corinthians 2:14.