LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

There are three passages where the expression ‘Lord of heaven and earth’ is used. In Acts chapter 17 verse 24 Paul teaches his audience that the ‘Lord of heaven and earth’ is both the maker and the maintainer of everything. It is His mighty power that is the emphasis in this passage.

The two remaining passages, Luke chapter 10 verse 21 and Matthew chapter 11 verse 25, have the same setting but the gospel writers choose to emphasise different things. Both passages teach us that the ‘Lord of heaven and earth’ is the source of all knowledge. Luke gives us examples of what information the Father has revealed, ‘the harvest truly is great’, ‘the kingdom of God is come’, ‘I beheld Satan as lightening fall’, ‘your names are written in heaven’, etc. Matthew focuses on who the information is revealed to.

The setting of the statement in Matthew’s gospel is:

1. John the Baptist has been detained in prison and is having doubts as to whether Jesus is the Christ. The Lord graciously gives him the evidence that will strengthen his faith.

2. The Lord records John’s faithfulness in announcing the Saviour’s coming.

3. The Saviour laments the fickleness of the people of His day as they in their assumed wisdom questioned the actions of both the Saviour and John the Baptist.

4. The Lord condemns the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for being short-sighted and failing to recognise Messiah from the ‘mighty works’ that had been performed on their streets.

The Lord then prays to his Father. He is thankful that the ‘Lord of heaven and earth’ has chosen to reveal Himself and His Son ‘unto babes’, that is, those that are young, tender and vulnerable in their faith. Note, the Lord revealed Himself to John the Baptist, not to the wise of the general population or to the sophisticated people of the cities. We should be encouraged that the ‘Lord of heaven and earth’ still reveals Himself to those who, in simple faith, put their trust in Him.