“COME UNTO ME”

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

There are several invitations given by Jesus in the Gospels. They are given to different classes of people. The invitation given in Matthew 11:28-30 is directed to all who are weary (lit. who work to exhaustion) and are burdened down. The promise is that of rest.

In the context of Matthew this primarily is speaking to those burdened down with the Mosaic Law (c.f. Acts 15:10). The law was a heavy burden borne by Israel since Sinai.

By wider application this refers to the burden of sin. It is true that sin is a hard taskmaster. And then there are those who are burdened down with the cares of life.

There is no rest quite like the rest provided by the grace that is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. He invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. The analogy is beautiful. In Israel the farmers trained young oxen by yoking them up with an older, experienced ox that was well seasoned in pulling heavy loads. The harness was attached to the older ox so that he pulled the bulk of the load. The remainder of the harness was then draped loosely over the young, inexperienced ox so that as he walked beside the older one, he wasn’t pulling any of the load.

What a beautiful picture of how Jesus wants us to take our burdens all by Himself. So we walk alongside Him in the hectic affairs of everyday life. We learn what a kind, gentle Saviour He is - willing to bear our load all by Himself.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are you bearing a load today that is weighing you down? You do not think you can go on much longer? If you are, please stop trying to carry it yourself. Put it on Him. He can carry it much better than you.

Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you (I Peter 5:7).

God bless!

Love to you all.