Matthew 11:25

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Cross-reference

Matthew 13:11-16 expands on the same principle — God reveals mysteries to disciples but hides them from the hardened, echoing the 'hidden from wise, revealed to little children' in Matthew 11:25.

Matthew 16:17 shows Jesus attributing Peter's insight to the Father's revelation, directly illustrating the principle of hidden from wise, revealed to babes.

Matthew 18:3 says to become like little children to enter the kingdom, connecting to the 'babes' who receive revelation in the main verse.

Matthew 18:4 emphasizes humility like a child as greatest—parallel to the condition for receiving divine revelation in the main verse.

Matthew 5:3 Parallel

Matthew 5:3 blesses the 'poor in spirit' — the same humble recipients of the kingdom as the 'little children' here.

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says the kingdom belongs to 'such as these' children — directly echoing revelation to the 'little children' here.

Matthew 21:16 quotes Psalm 8 about infants perfecting praise—similar imagery of children, but focused on praise rather than revelation.

In Mark 10:14-16, Jesus says the kingdom belongs to little children—same theme of receiving revelation with childlike trust.

In Jeremiah 1:5-8, God calls the young Jeremiah, telling him not to say 'I am only a child'—revealing to the inexperienced.

Daniel 4:35 Parallel

Daniel 4:35 emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over heaven and earth — reinforcing the title Jesus uses in Matthew 11:25.

In Mark 4:10-12, Jesus explains that parables hide the secret from outsiders but reveal it to disciples — identical to hiding from wise and revealing to infants.

Genesis 14:19 uses 'Creator of heaven and earth' — the same title for God (Lord of heaven and earth) Jesus uses in Matthew 11:25.

Luke 10:21-24 records the identical prayer of Jesus, providing a parallel account with additional details about the disciples' blessedness.

In John 9:39-41, Jesus says the blind will see and the seeing become blind — exactly the reversal of wisdom and childlikeness.

In John 12:38-40, Isaiah's prophecy of blinded eyes is fulfilled — showing God's action in hiding truth from the wise.

Acts 17:24 Parallel

Acts 17:24 explicitly calls God 'Lord of heaven and earth' — the same phrase Jesus uses in prayer in Matthew 11:25.

Romans 11:8 Allusion

In Romans 11:8, Paul cites God giving a spirit of stupor and blind eyes — the same divine hardening that hides truth from the wise.

1 Corinthians 1:18-29 expands on God choosing the foolish to shame the wise, directly echoing Jesus' words about hidden things revealed to babes.

In 1 Corinthians 1:27, God chooses the foolish to shame the wise—direct parallel to hiding from the wise and revealing to infants.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8 speaks of God's secret wisdom hidden from this age's rulers, reinforcing the theme of divine revelation to the humble.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 warns against worldly wisdom, quoting that God catches the wise in their craftiness—parallel to hiding from the wise.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 says the gospel is veiled to perishing but God shines light in hearts—echoes revelation to the humble, contrast with hidden from wise.

Isaiah 66:1 Parallel

Isaiah 66:1 describes heaven as God's throne and earth as footstool — the same lordship Jesus acknowledges in Matthew 11:25.

2 Kings 19:15 declares God made heaven and earth and rules over all — directly parallel to Jesus' 'Lord of heaven and earth' in Matthew 11:25.

Psalm 8:2 Allusion

In Psalm 8:2, God ordains strength from infants—echoing revelation to the childlike, not the wise.

In 1 Samuel 3:4-21, God calls the boy Samuel, revealing His word to the child rather than to the priest Eli.

Deuteronomy 10:14 declares that heaven and earth belong to God, grounding Jesus' address to the 'Lord of heaven and earth' in Matthew 11:25.

In Isaiah 29:10-14, God makes the wise blind and their wisdom perishes — directly echoed by Jesus hiding truth from the learned.

Genesis 14:22 also calls God 'Creator of heaven and earth', matching Jesus' 'Lord of heaven and earth' in Matthew 11:25.

In 1 Corinthians 1:21, God's wisdom bypasses worldly wisdom, using foolish preaching to save — echoing the same hidden-and-revealed pattern.

Romans 9:16 Parallel

Romans 9:16 grounds salvation in God's mercy alone — matching how revelation is given to the humble, not the wise.

In 1 Corinthians 1:26, Paul notes God chose few wise or noble — mirroring the little children who receive revelation over the wise.

Acts 4:13 Parallel

Acts 4:13 identifies Peter and John as unschooled men — the 'little children' through whom God reveals his power.

John 17:6 Parallel

John 17:6 affirms Jesus revealed the Father to his disciples — the 'little children' who receive the hidden truths.

Job 37:24 Parallel

In Job 37:24, God does not regard the self-wise, aligning with Jesus' praise that God hides truth from the wise.

In Philippians 3:8, Paul counts all worldly gain as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ—the very revelation Jesus says is hidden from the wise.

John 9:37 Parallel

John 9:37 has Jesus reveal himself to the blind man — a 'little child' who receives what the wise Pharisees miss.

John 8:19 Parallel

In John 8:19, the Pharisees' ignorance of Jesus reveals they are the 'wise' from whom knowledge of the Father is hidden.

Isaiah 54:13 promises that all children will be taught by the Lord, directly matching Jesus' statement that truth is revealed to 'little children'.

In Ephesians 1:17, Paul prays for a spirit of wisdom and revelation — the same kind of divine revealing Jesus thanks the Father for.

Luke 12:32 Parallel

Luke 12:32 calls disciples a 'little flock' given the kingdom — echoes the 'little children' who receive revelation here.

Psalm 116:6 Parallel

In Psalm 116:6, the LORD preserves the simple—a direct parallel to God revealing truth to humble 'little children'.

Luke 8:10 Parallel

Luke 8:10 parallels Mark 4:11: secrets given to disciples, hidden from others — same teaching as here.

In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul speaks of God's hidden wisdom, a mystery revealed to believers — matching the hidden things revealed to infants.

Mark 4:11 Parallel

Mark 4:11 states the secret of the kingdom is given to disciples but hidden from outsiders — the same idea of revelation to the humble.

In Proverbs 3:32, God shares His counsel with the upright—akin to revealing truth to the humble in Matthew 11:25.

In Proverbs 9:4, wisdom invites the simple—mirroring Jesus' 'little children' who receive revelation.

In Proverbs 14:6, the scoffer seeks wisdom in vain while the discerning find knowledge easily—similar to God hiding from the wise.

In 1 Corinthians 2:8, the rulers (the wise) did not understand God's wisdom — illustrating the same hiding from the intelligent.

Hebrews 5:13 uses the same 'infant' (nepios) but negatively—spiritual infants cannot handle solid truth, contrasting with the infants who receive revelation in Matthew 11:25.

In 1 Corinthians 2:10, God reveals deep things by His Spirit — continuing the theme of revelation to those who are not worldly wise.

Job 28:21 Parallel

In Job 28:21, wisdom is hidden from all living, including the wise—a parallel to God hiding truth from the learned.

John 6:44 Parallel

John 6:44 emphasizes divine initiative in coming to Christ — echoing how revelation is given by the Father, not earned by human wisdom.

In Psalm 119:99, the psalmist gains understanding through God's word beyond teachers, paralleling divine revelation over human learning.

Isaiah 28:9 Parallel

Isaiah 28:9 similarly describes God teaching those who are like weaned children, echoing Jesus' praise for revealing truth to the childlike.

Daniel 2:23 Parallel

In Daniel 2:23, Daniel thanks God for revealing hidden mysteries, closely mirroring Jesus' praise for revealing truth to the humble.

Job 32:9 Parallel

In Job 32:9, Elihu argues age alone doesn't bring wisdom, echoing that the learned may lack understanding.

John 3:10 Parallel

In John 3:10, Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, remains ignorant of the new birth — exemplifying the wise from whom truth is hidden.

Isaiah 5:21 Parallel

In Isaiah 5:21, woe is pronounced on those wise in their own eyes — the same self-sufficiency that blocks receiving revelation from God.

In Isaiah 29:18, the deaf hear and blind see — this reversal mirrors Jesus revealing truth to those considered 'little children'.

Genesis 1:1 Allusion

In Genesis 1:1, God creates heaven and earth—the title 'Lord of heaven and earth' Jesus uses in praise.

In Isaiah 29:19, the humble rejoice in the Lord — parallel to the childlike who receive revelation in contrast to the proud wise.

Colossians 2:2 aims for believers to have full understanding of the mystery of Christ—the same revealed knowledge Jesus says is granted to the childlike.

Colossians 3:3 uses the same 'hidden' (krupto) as Matthew 11:25—believers' life is hidden with Christ, paralleling truths hidden from the wise.

Isaiah 55:9 Related theme

Isaiah 55:9 declares God's thoughts higher than ours, providing the theological basis for why human wisdom cannot grasp divine truth apart from revelation.