Wisdom Is A Work In Progress
And it begins with the children
"wisdom is justified by her children.”
Matthew 11:19b
Many times, smart men lack wisdom...but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
— 1 Corinthians 1:27
Jesus taught his disciples that they are to be like children, they must seek his wisdom like a child, and they are to share his gospel. Jesus even quotes the Old Testiment scripture-
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…
— Isaiah 61:1–2
Jesus expresses his wish that his students will be like a crowd of children — asking questions and telling others about Him. They are to be his witnesses in the world.
It's good to teach our children to praise God with songs and dance. In Matthew 11:25-27 Jesus speaks to God the Father with praise that he hid truths from the wise and revealed the truths to children. Here it's children who recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus knows children respond to God with great enthusiasm. On the other hand the secular priests (politicians really), principalities and authorities are on the attack. Their sin has blinded them to the true significance of Jesus. Some would say it is due to the will of God, who has hidden his revelation from the wise and learned. They say that those who choose to place their trust in the wisdom of this world will be blinded to the reality of God's kingdom, while those who reject such reliance on worldly wisdom (and depend on God) will receive understanding. They are said to be the children of God.
Jesus invites the believers to cast aside all vain and wearisome attempts at finding rest on the basis of any human efforts. His invitation instead means assuming His yoke (the teaching of the cross and the way of the gospel), which alone provides the wholeness every soul needs, and he commands that all spirits must seek after his wisdom like a child. The problem with believers and unbelievers in this generation who question the divine wisdom of the gospel is that they have heard of Jesus’ teachings and therefore have no excuse. And many have witnessed his miracles recorded in the historic record and gospel lessons, and yet failed to believe fully. It is far easier to criticize Jesus and his cross, than to obey. Jesus turns comfortable assumptions on their heads. Jesus demands that we repent and move in new directions—give up cherished pleasures and take on uncomfortable responsibilities. The root problem for those who reject Jesus, is their awareness that taking Jesus seriously requires they change their lives. “But wisdom is justified by her children” (v. 19). The meaning of this proverb is much the same as "By their fruits you will know them” (7:16, 20). The truth is, God has hidden the truth from “the wise and understanding” (v. 25) but has revealed the truth to “infants” (v. 25).
Do not miss the significance of Jesus mentioning the wisdom to recognize the fruit of his labors. In fact believers should pay close attention to his reply to John the Baptist who was suffering imprisonment and doubt...“the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them”(11:5). All these undeniable temporal evidences of his divine power. To fail to understand the significance of these eye witnessed events, one must themselves be blind and deaf—one must refuse to see—one must stop up ones ears--one must refuse to believe the good news. And it is far more difficult for people with great personal resources, whether wealth or genius, to admit their need for Christ.
The polarity between those who reject Jesus and those who flock to him is self-perpetuating. The more that Jesus appeals to the rejected and oppressed of society, the more that the society-people reject Jesus. Not being full of themselves, the children of God are open to receiving the gospel of God's kingdom to come. Having no secular or religious assurance, they are open to receiving God's grace in Christ Jesus. Possessing no state or religiously sanctioned wisdom, they are open to learning from Jesus and The Holy Spirit.
Do you want to hear God's wisdom?
God says, “Listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom” (Job 33:33). With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13).
Christ blesses the humble, the meek, the obedient.
Jesus said:
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
This is the gospel truth and blessed assurance for those who love God and obey his commands. And likewise it's a tiresome burden for those who deny and reject Him.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me”