Matt, 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
During the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, He has thus far produced many miracles, signs and wonders. His message has been directed largely to the nation of Israel as a restored Kingdom. His messages have been Kingdom minded. Earlier in this book he went from city to city, town to town, hamlet to hamlet, to be either excepted or rejected by those who heard him. In Verse 20 of this same chapter he begins to upbraid them. That word UPBRAID means to shame or reproach.
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, 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. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Jesus began to shame the cities for not believing in his message or his person. He felt the need to approach the nation of Israel, then the cities of that area. Just as he deals with the U.S. today and even cities of this nation, but notice in our text he switches from a national and regional cry for repentance and acceptance to a personal plea for discipleship. As a nation we can experience revival. As an area we can experience Revival. Even as a church we can see the moving of God, but what he wants more than anything is for individuals to turn to him. SO LET’S LOOK AT HIS OFFER: Come unto me---Jesus issues an invitation to those he spoke to and also to us today. You can attend church, even be a leader, but until you COME UNTO HIM you have not been saved. The same usage of the word COME is used in: Matthew 22: 1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
This is the same usage of the word COME. Notice he said COME UNTO ME. Not Allah, Buddha, Confucius, or a higher power, but rather Jesus said, COME UNTO ME. We realize salvation is of and by Jesus Christ. Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. If salvation is your goal you don’t find it in organized religion, a good name, good works, or family affiliation. It must come thru Jesus Christ. The Devil thought he had him defeated on Calvary. He threw Jesus to the ground as soldiers straddled him with hammer and nails. As the Devil saw the pain and agony, He thought, I must now let the world see what I have done to the Son of God. So lift up the cross and Oh, he should not have done that. Hear the words of Jesus, John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. When Jesus is lifted in our preaching, singing, worship or witness the invitation is issued COME UNTO ME.
Next Jesus said, all ye. Aren’t you glad this is for “Whosoever will”. Anyone, anywhere, of any color, race or origin can come unto Jesus. The inclusive ALL is an invitation to everyone. No matter who you are not how deep in sin you may have fallen Jesus stills says this is for everybody. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. :17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Next Jesus said, Come unto me, all ye that labour, Labour means 1) to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief) 2) to labour with wearisome effort, to toil 2a) of bodily labour. We are so exhausted and wearied by the labor of our own hands whether you work a public job of 60 hours a week or if you are a sales person, own your own business, or maybe a homemaker. It seems we are so tired all the time. Jesus issued this invitation, come all ye who are tired, listless, and wearied. How many of us are burdened and wearied today? In tandem Jesus said Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden.
Heavy laden means 1) to carry or to carry some burden or even to bear with one’s self. To bear up i.e. uphold (keep from falling) To endure, to endure the rigour of a thing, heavy as the lading of a ship. We have many things to bear. Our burdens and crosses; Bear ye one another’s burdens; and bearing or carrying the Gospel to all creation. Some of us seem to have more to bear than others. Some have more sickness, diseases, economic problems, relationship problems it seems than others, but Jesus said, Bring your needs, problems, burdens, and shortcomings to me. Whatever you are YOKED with in the world bring to me and I will unlease, set free, deliver you from your YOKE of bondage. But you are not to stay unyoked:
Jesus said, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me. When we are released from the bondage of sin we are to lay down the cross of shame, sin, and depreciation while lifting high the YOKE or joining to Jesus Christ. It is through this joining together with Christ that we learn of his ways and what he would have us be.
For I am meek and lowly in heart. Jesus’ attitude is I will be mild and humble in comparison to the Devil as a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour. Jesus will never force his way; deceive you in anyway; misrepresent his purpose or promises.
and ye shall find rest unto your souls What so many people are searching for is rest. 1) to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour
in order to recover and collect his strength 2) to give rest, refresh, to give one’s self rest, take rest
The writer of Hebrews told us,
Hebrews 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. :9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. :10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
The Old Testament prophet wrote for us:
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Again He wrote:
Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. :10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: :11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. :12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
After the Holy Ghost was given in Acts 2: Peter explained in the next chapter:
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
The Holy Ghost is the REST for the people of God.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
EASY--1) fit, fit for use, useful, virtuous, good 2) manageable, mild, pleasant (as opp. to harsh, hard sharp, bitter)
LIGHT-- 1) light in weight, quick, agile as opposed to heavy, intolerable and overbearing.
Conclusion: Jesus has promised us a rest and refreshing. It comes by and through our faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work on Calvary. Also by obeying the word of God. MEN AND BRETHREN WHAT SHALL WE DO?
Acts 2:38—Peter preached and they asked “What must we do?” His reply, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.”
