The term "well-pleased" in the Bible often signifies God's approval and delight in His creation, actions, or individuals who align with His will. This expression is notably used in the context of God's relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, and serves as a profound affirmation of divine satisfaction and favor.

Biblical Usage:

1. Divine Approval of Jesus Christ:
The phrase "well-pleased" is prominently featured in the New Testament during key moments in the life of Jesus Christ. At His baptism, a voice from heaven declares, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This divine proclamation underscores the Father's approval of Jesus' mission and His perfect obedience to the Father's will.

Similarly, during the Transfiguration, the voice from the cloud reiterates, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" (Matthew 17:5). This event further confirms Jesus' divine authority and the Father's pleasure in Him, urging the disciples to heed His teachings.

2. God's Pleasure in Righteousness:
The concept of being "well-pleased" extends beyond Jesus to encompass God's delight in righteousness and obedience. In the Old Testament, God expresses His pleasure in those who live according to His statutes. For instance, in Isaiah 42:21, it is written, "The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious" . This highlights God's satisfaction in the upholding and fulfillment of His righteous standards.

3. Sacrificial Offerings:
The notion of being "well-pleased" is also associated with sacrificial offerings that are made with a sincere heart. In Philippians 4:18, Paul speaks of the gifts sent by the Philippians as "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God" . This indicates that God takes pleasure in acts of generosity and selflessness that reflect His character.

4. Faith and Trust:
Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes that "without faith it is impossible to please God" . This underscores the importance of faith as a key element in being well-pleasing to God. Trusting in God's promises and living by faith are actions that bring Him delight.

Theological Implications:

The concept of being "well-pleased" with Jesus Christ serves as a model for believers, illustrating the kind of life that is pleasing to God. It involves obedience, faith, and a heart aligned with God's purposes. The repeated affirmation of Jesus as the beloved Son in whom God is well-pleased highlights the unique relationship between the Father and the Son, and it sets a standard for believers to aspire to in their own walk with God.

In summary, the term "well-pleased" in the Bible conveys a deep sense of divine approval and satisfaction. It is a term that reflects God's delight in His Son, in righteousness, in sincere offerings, and in the faith of His people.2106. eudokeo -- to think well of, ie to be well-pleased
... to think well of, ie to be well-pleased. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eudokeo
Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-dok-eh'-o) Short Definition: I am resolved, well ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2106.htm - 8k2654. chaphets -- to delight in
... rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire -- X any at all, (have,
take) delight, desire, favour, like, move, be (well) pleased, have pleasure ...
/hebrew/2654.htm - 5k

3477. yashar -- straight, right
... who is upright (1). convenient, equity, just, well-pleased, righteous, straight,
most uprightly,. From yashar; straight (literally ...
/hebrew/3477.htm - 6k

Of the Words or the Voice that came from Heaven Upon Him when He ...
... of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him; and, lo, a voice from heaven
saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This incident is ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xiv of the words or.htm

He Brings Forward the Witness of God the Father to the Divinity of ...
... And behold, a voice from heaven, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased." [2447] What do you say to this, you heretic? ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xvi he brings forward.htm

"So Then they that are in the Flesh Cannot Please God. "
... throughout the whole earth. How much more will it run abundantly towards them
whom he is well pleased with. And therefore the Psalmist ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxii so then they.htm

Psalm LXXVIII.
... "But," he saith, "not in all of them God was well pleased." [3529] All indeed ate
the same spiritual meat and drank the same spiritual drink, that is to say ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxviii.htm

On the Clause, and in one Lord Jesus Christ, with a Reading from ...
... The Father spake with a loud voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased [1120] . The Father was ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture x on the clause.htm

The Meaning of the "Bright Cloud. "
... cloud which overshadows the just, and prophesies of the things of God, who works
in it, and says, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased;" but I ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/42 the meaning of the.htm

Divine Support and Protection
... When He entered upon His office, a voice from heaven commended Him to sinners, This
is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17) . ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xlv divine support and.htm

Psalm CVI.
... God is praised in the person of the elect, of whom there is no complaint, whom I
imagine to have been there in those with whom God was well pleased; [4815] but ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cvi.htm

The Baptism
... face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, "This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.". These words of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 11 the baptism.htm

A Homily Delivered on the Saturday Before the Second Sunday in ...
... the glory of the Godhead, because he looked not at the substance of His flesh and
blood alone; and with this lofty faith Christ was so well pleased that he ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon li a homily delivered.htm

Well-pleased (11 Occurrences)
Well-pleased. Well-ordered, Well-pleased. Wellpleasing . Multi-Version
Concordance Well-pleased (11 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/w/well-pleased.htm - 9k

Pleased (172 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am wellpleased." (WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/pleased.htm - 36k

Voice (651 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am wellpleased." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/v/voice.htm - 38k

Beloved (117 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am wellpleased." (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/b/beloved.htm - 40k

Loved (249 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am wellpleased." (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/l/loved.htm - 35k

Behold (1513 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV). Matthew 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is
my beloved Son, with whom I am wellpleased." (WEB DBY NAS). ...
/b/behold.htm - 35k

Sky (278 Occurrences)
... Mark 1:11 A voice came out of the sky, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am
wellpleased." (WEB WEY). ... In you I am wellpleased." (WEB). ...
/s/sky.htm - 38k

Flame (61 Occurrences)
... source of the title may have been the employment of it in the voice from heaven
at His Baptism, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am wellpleased" (Matthew 3 ...
/f/flame.htm - 61k

Son (25967 Occurrences)
... source of the title may have been the employment of it in the voice from heaven
at His Baptism, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am wellpleased" (Matthew 3 ...
/s/son.htm - 48k

Love (703 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with
whom I am wellpleased." (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV ...
/l/love.htm - 65k

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