Where can we find true rest for our souls? Do we find true rest on a Sabbath day, in a promised land, or in Jesus and in eternity? Let’s look at what Jesus had to say about rest in Matthew 11:16-30.
“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” (Matthew 11:16-19 NKJV)
This is an allegory of children in a public square arguing while playing make-believe funerals and weddings. Some church music sounds like a dirge and some like a wedding. Do we childishly criticize legitimate and moral choices like John the Baptist “neither eating nor drinking” versus Jesus “eating and drinking?”
Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:20-24 NKJV)
Why did Jesus denounce three small towns in Galilee? Other, sinful cities would have repented. Jesus pointed out a problem with judgmental people, unwillingness to repent. Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Sodom in judgment. Why? It’s not where we start, but where we end up that counts.
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 prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. (Matthew 11:25-27 NKJV)
Why can’t our most highly educated and greatest minds bring about peace? Why can’t the wealthy and powerful of the world understand that their greed and selfishness destroys their own families and the world? God hides these things from the worldly wise and prudent and reveals them to humble “babes.”
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. (Matthew 11:28-29 NKJV)
Our permanent Sabbath rest is in Jesus in our eternal promised land (Hebrews 3-4). No Christian keeps the letter of the law as Deuteronomy (which expounds the Ten Commandments) demands. Some try to keep the law in the letter and the spirit, but the letter kills (2 Corinthians 3:6).
Christians keep the whole law in spirit, not the letter. The New Testament mandates no day. Our true rest is in Jesus not a day, circumcision is not in the flesh but in the heart (Romans 2:29), and love fulfills the whole law (Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14).
Jesus offers a rest that no one else can give, that no letter-of-the-law Saturday Sabbath observance can give. Rest is offered to all, rest in Jesus, the rest of a quiet conscience, the rest of friendship with God, the rest of forgiveness, rest from fears, and rest for our souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30 NKJV)
The church has often been tempted to add to Jesus’ easy burden, the heavy burden of man-made practices and doctrines, weights, cumbersome rituals, Pharisaic rules, and unbearable religious demands that neither Jesus nor His Apostles taught. We must always beware not to add to the light load that Jesus gave.
Hebrews 3:7-4:11 A Promise of Rest
Under Moses, a Sabbath-keeping people did not enter the land of rest (3:11), because of disobedience and unbelief (3:18-19). A promise remains of entering His (eternal) Sabbath rest through believing (4:3). The physical Sabbath pictures our rest in Jesus, available Today, while it is still called today.
Under Joshua, a Sabbath-keeping people, who did enter that physical rest in the land, did not obtain another rest (4:8). A rest remains even for Sabbath keeping people (4:9). We enter THAT rest, which can only be found in Jesus, by ceasing from our [human] works (4:10).
The ONLY “rest” command given by Jesus or the Apostles is to rest in Jesus. The Sabbath day, and the promised land of rest, were only foretastes of our rest in Jesus. That rest is eternal and available Today, any day! Let’s find true rest for our souls, in Jesus.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
The Ten Commandments expounded in Deuteronomy: 1) 6-11; 2) 12; 3) 13:1-14:21; 4) 14:22-16:17; 5) 16:18-18:22; 6) 19-21; 7) 22:1-23:14; 8) 23:15-24:7; 9) 24:8-16; 10) 24:17-26:15. Source: Hill, Andrew E. & Walton, John H. A Survey of the Old Testament. Zondervan Publishing House. 1991. 58.
Readings
Genesis 24:34-67 It is good when the faithful involve God in finding an appropriate life’s partner
Psalm 45:10-17 a wedding song reminds us of faithfulness in marriage and the joy pictured in Jesus marriage to His bride the church
Song of Solomon 2:8-13 the love of a man and woman are a picture of Jesus’ love for His church
Zechariah 9:9-12 hope for the faithful even under severe national oppression
Psalm 145:8-14 in a troubled world, “The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.”
Romans 7:15-25 Even the most faithful Christians are far from sinlessly perfect. Who will deliver us from this body of death? Paul says, “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Matthew 11:16-30 in Rhyme
This age is like little children
Playing, calling their companions
We played flute and you didn’t dance
We mourned, you gave no caring glance
John was strict and called demonic
Jesus a drunk? How ironic!
He blamed towns that would not repent
Chorazin, Bethsaida, He meant
Tyre, Sidon, would have repented
Capernaum will be tormented
E’en Sodom would have relented
But your judgment is cemented
I thank You, Father, You’ve hidden
this from the wise, but not children
Come to Me, you weary, oppressed
And burdened. I will give you rest
Take up My yoke and learn from Me
For I am gentle and lowly
And you will find rest for your souls
My yoke, My burden lightly rolls
