Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, special ones.
Once again, we’re running late. Lots of time talking in our bedroom over lots of things. We just returned from a chilly walk/jog. It must be warming a bit since it started raining midway through our excursion.
Now what? We need to make decisions regarding Thano’s ailing pickup truck, a replacement vehicle for us, research some marketing options for specialty wood, fetch more raw milk and cream from a local farm, and get busy with sawing up some Port Orford Cedar logs. And that’s not all there is on the list. Well—I guess I need to scratch the idea of sawing up those logs—I just called the guy and he’s sick. Another time.
May your day be productive and blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray.
The metaphor “children” is used by Jesus in contrasting ways in this passage. Let’s review 11:16 where Jesus says, “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’”
Compare that description with the FOCUS VERSE: “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.”
Here’s how I’m processing the comparison: The children of 11:16 are actually the “wise and learned” of 11:25…who are really no more than arrogant “dumb kids” insofar as their grasp of God’s Truth is concerned. And the children of 11:25 are actually the humble seekers of God (children of God) for whom the children of 11:16 are playing and singing and trying to influence…getting quite upset that these “Christians” are not conforming to their worldview by the standard of their “wise and learned” superiority. Hmm. Do you think this might have some current-day relevance?
This fits well with a line of reasoning I’ve used many times in dialogue with unbelievers—pointing out that if Sovereign God really wanted to make everything concerning His Truth clear to everyone everywhere He could do so very easily. After all, if He is truly Sovereign, He has an aweful lot of resources available. But for reasons of His own, He reserves and withholds fuller revelation to only one kind of person—one who seeks Him at heart level—a HEART AFTER GOD. And even for them, He does not respond with full disclosure—only adequate disclosure. He clearly wills that our relationship with Him, while on this planet, be on the basis of ongoing seeking Him, ongoing loving Him, and ongoing trusting Him. May none of us reject those terms.