“All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”
My Notes
What Does Matthew 11:27 Mean?
Jesus makes a sweeping claim about his unique relationship with the Father: all things are delivered unto me — total authority. No man knoweth the Son but the Father — the Son is known fully only by God. No man knoweth the Father but the Son — God is known fully only by Jesus.
The mutual exclusivity of this knowledge is the key: the Father alone fully knows the Son, and the Son alone fully knows the Father. The relationship is closed — no one enters it except by invitation.
"And he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him" — access to knowledge of God is given by Jesus. He chooses whom to reveal the Father to. The knowledge is not available through human effort. It is revealed by sovereign choice.
This verse makes one of the highest christological claims in the Synoptic Gospels — language more typical of John's Gospel. Jesus claims exclusive, mutual, comprehensive knowledge of God and the sole authority to share it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it mean that only the Father fully knows the Son and only the Son fully knows the Father?
- 2.How does Jesus being the sole revealer of the Father change your approach to knowing God?
- 3.Is this verse exclusive or generous — or both? How?
- 4.Where have you been trying to know God through means other than what Jesus has revealed?
Devotional
All things are delivered unto me of my Father. Everything. Total authority. Comprehensive sovereignty. Delivered from the Father to the Son.
No man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Jesus is fully known only by God. You can know about Jesus. You can study him, follow him, love him. But only the Father comprehends the full depth of who the Son is.
Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. The knowledge runs both ways. Only Jesus fully knows the Father. Every human idea about God — every theology, every philosophy, every spiritual intuition — falls short. Only the Son truly knows.
And he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. The access point is Jesus. You cannot know the Father except through the Son's decision to reveal him. The knowledge of God is not earned through study. It is given by Jesus.
That is either the most exclusive or the most generous claim in Scripture — depending on how you hear it. Exclusive because no one else can reveal the Father. Generous because Jesus is willing to reveal him to whomsoever he chooses.
Do you know the Father? Not know about him. Know him — because Jesus has revealed him to you? The revelation is available. The Son is willing. The question is whether you are receiving.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Come unto me,.... Christ having signified, that the knowledge of God, and the mysteries of grace, are only to be come at…
All things are delivered ... - The same doctrine is clearly taught often in the New Testament. See Joh 3:35; Joh 6:46;…
In these verses we have Christ looking up to heaven, with thanksgiving to his Father for the sovereignty and security of…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture