‘In that same hour he rejoiced (‘was thrilled with joy”) in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.” '
‘In that same hour.' This closely connects what follows with what has gone before. It is important that His disciples have their hearts and minds centred on what is of primary importance, and not be taken up with the idea of the casting out of evil spirits. God Himself must always take precedence over His work (compare Luke 10:42).
‘Rejoiced in Spirit.' Note in the passage the build up of joy. The disciples returned with joy. They are rather to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. Now comes fullness of joy in that God has revealed Himself to His own.
We learn here first of all that Jesus is still ‘full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1), for He ‘rejoices' (is ‘thrilled with joy') as a result of the Holy Spirit at work within Him. And through the same Holy Spirit He thanks His Father, Who is Lord of heaven and earth, because it has pleased Him, while hiding ‘these things' from the wise and understanding, to reveal it to those who are babes in wisdom and understanding. ‘These things' include the authority and power of Jesus over evil spirits by virtue of Who He is. The disciples could do what they did because within their hearts, even if not fully in their heads, they knew Who Jesus really is. Thus the Father has given them a revelation of Who and What the Son is. And He has done it because it was pleasing in His sight. It is of His sovereign will, and not of their deserving. Thus we have here confirmation that, although they may not have been able to put it into words, they are within them aware of the full divinity of Jesus.
‘He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit.' This is indicating in Jesus' unique case what was previously expressed in terms of ‘being filled with the Holy Spirit'. But because He is continually full of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1) this filling is ever within Him, thus when prophesying He rejoices and exults in the Holy Spirit Who is continually within Him in full measure, rather than receiving a filling. He is unique. The Holy Spirit is not given to Him by measure (John 3:34). He continually enjoys His total fullness. These words that follow are then specifically to be seen as ‘prophecy', the forthtelling of what comes from God in inspired form, similar to the prophecy we saw in Chapter s 1 & 2, but this time through a perfect channel.
‘You hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to babes.' In Psalms 8:2 we read, ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have established strength.' Jesus may well have had these words in mind in the form in which He cited it in Matthew 21:16, replacing ‘strength' with ‘praise'. The babes praise because they are given the understanding that others lack, compare Luke 18:16-17, and thereby are made strong for God.
For the whole principle of comparison between the weak and the strong in God's purposes see 1 Corinthians 1:18-20; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. The wise and understanding from whom such things are hidden include the chief priests, the Scribes and the Pharisees. And even past kings and prophets did not know them because they had not yet been revealed (Luke 10:24).