Matthew 11:25 says that Jesus thanked his Father at that time,
when his ministry’s popularity was waning and opposition to him was increasing (Matthew 11:16–19, Matthew 11:20–24), but Jesus was not discouraged, and began this new period with a song of praise that was also a confession. He was not grateful that the wise and intelligent (specifically, the scribes) had no insight into God’s plan of salvation, but rather that it was revealed to simple people. The stress falls on the second clause.
In Matthew 11:25 it is said that Jesus thanked his Father at that time,
which refers to the period when the first, more popular days of Jesus’ ministry had passed and the opposition against him was continually increasing (Matthew 11:16–19, Matthew 11:20–24). Yet Jesus was not discouraged, and initiated this new period with a song of praise, which was also a confession. He was not per se grateful for the fact that the wise and intelligent—that is, those who became learned through extensive study, the scribes—had no insight into the divine plan of salvation, but rather for the fact that it was revealed to simple people. The emphasis, in fact, falls on the second clause.1
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;