Luke 10:21

The Holy Spirit’s role in Jesus’ ministry was another special interest of Luke’s. The record of Jesus’ similar prayer in Matthew 11:25-26 lacks the references to joy and the Holy Spirit. The phrase "rejoiced . . . in the Holy Spirit" (NASB) probably means that the Holy Spirit was the source of Jesus’ joy (cf. Acts 13:52). He gave it to Jesus. This notation strengthens the force of what Jesus proceeded to say. All three members of the Trinity appear in this verse. The Son empowered by the Spirit addressed His Father. This, too, points to a very significant statement to follow.

Jesus praised God for something the Father had done. He addressed God intimately as His Father (Gr. pater, the equivalent of the Aramaic abba, cf. Luke 11:2). The title "Lord of heaven and earth" was a common one for Jews to use. It came from Genesis 14:19; Genesis 14:22, and it draws attention to God’s sovereignty. This allusion was appropriate in view of what Jesus thanked God for. Jesus probably meant that He praised God that although He had hidden the gospel of the kingdom from the humanly wise, He had, nevertheless, revealed it to the humble (cf. Luke 1:48-55; Luke 8:10; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31). The last sentence evidently means, "Yes, O Father, I praise you because this was your will (and I agree with it)." The wise and understanding people that Jesus had in mind were probably the Jewish religious leaders, and the babes were His disciples. Jesus rejoiced in the privilege these disciples had had of understanding God’s ways as they participated in His mission.