Text:
At that time Jesus answered 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 infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Chiastic structure:
Intro - Jesus declared (ESV)
1. a. I thank you, Father
2. b. hidden from the wide and understanding
3. b'. revealed to little children (ESV)
4. a'. Father's gracious will
A Couple of Thoughts:
The fact that God revealed Himself to the babies (KJV) or infants has great implications. First, It is the will of the Father to open Himself up/to reveal Himself to everybody - including infants. It is truly gracious will - not based on achievements of "the wise and understanding" (as structure points out the contrast between the two). Jeffrey A. Gibbs in his commentary on Matthew (Matthew 11:2 - 20:34, CPH, 2010, p. 587), "That is to say, "infants" are people who are unable and insufficient in themselves to accomplish anything good." As latter St. Paul will state in his letter to Ephesians (2:8): for by grace you have been saved.
The fact that the understanding of the role of the Messiah in the world (note the answer [v. 25] to the question that the disciples of John the Baptizer brought to Jesus [v. 11:2-3]) means that on their own level that - infants - take it by faith. If this revelation is accepted by them, then there is no reason children should not be baptized!
