Luke 10: 21-22, 21 In that same hour he (Jesus) rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
John Gill says of this passage, “Here the Word designs the sovereign counsel and purpose of God, to which, and to which only, our Lord refers the different dispensations of God towards the sons of men: this is a reason which ought to satisfy everyone, and is better than ten thousand others that can be thought of, or devised by men. This difference among men, with respect to the Gospel revelation, cannot be owing to natural sagacity, prudence, and penetration; for these things are with those from whom it is hid; nor to any worthiness in those to whom it is revealed; for they are the poor, the base, the foolish things of this world, and even things that are not; nor to any foresight of their making a better use and improvement of such a revelation, but to the good will and pleasure of God only.
All the elect of God are delivered to him, to be kept and saved by him; all the babies and little ones, to whom it was the Father’s will to reveal the mysteries of grace. Both himself, and his Father, and the grace and glory of each, which he does by his Spirit; who is a Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; and which entirely depends on his own sovereign will and pleasure.”
First, it is important to take note of the title (Lord of heaven and earth) that Jesus addresses the Father with. This is a title that brings with it, the absolute fact of God’s absolute sovereignty. God is sovereign over all affairs of nature, in every detail therein, and yes even over salvation declares the Word of God.
We have a clear cross reference of our key passage in the Old Testament book of Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Which is to say, “The gospel of God, will produce exactly what God intends it to do, every time.” Whether the Gospel brings condemnation to the prideful, who believe they have no need of a Savior or worse that they have the power to save themselves, or to the humble ones, who acknowledge their sin and desperate need of a Savior, and understand that their lives could never meet the perfect standard that God has placed on humanity, and in no way could they ever earn merit with God on their own, let alone be worthy of heaven. And that’s the good news of the Gospel, that Jesus lived the perfect life that we could never live, and payed the debt of our sins for us, that by believing and trusting entirely on Him and His works (death & resurrection), we may be saved.
Lastly, notice the last six words of verse 21, for such was your gracious will. The word gracious means: an unmerited favor of mercy. Which clearly shows us that no one in human history is deserving of salvation, nor has anyone ever earned it. Therefore, what everyone rightly deserves is judgement in hell. However, God graciously chooses to save a portion of people in every generations, not out of obligation, nor because He owes us anything (except judgement), but because He chooses to show mercy where no mercy is due. Oh, how loving and kind our God truly is.
This passage clearly reveals to us that not all humanity will be in heaven. And know this Christian, “God will in no way, ever grant access into heaven, to anyone who doesn’t truly desire to, long for, or want to be there.” So, may it be said, the gift of heaven, is in the face of the Savior Jesus Christ.”
By Daniel C. Rodgers