Rest for the Weary

Scripture passage: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

Heavily Burdened

The metaphor is a man carrying a heavy load upon him, which he must carry to a certain place. Every step he takes reduces his strength, and renders his load the more oppressive. However, it must be carried on and he uses all his strength to reach the place where it is to be laid down. A kind person passes by, and, seeing his distress, offers to ease him of his load, so that he may enjoy rest.

Sinners, wearied in the ways of iniquity, are invited to come to Christ, and find speedy relief. Sinners burdened with the guilt of their crimes are invited to come and find instant pardon.

The Jews were heavily laden with the burdensome rites of the Mosaic institution. This was rendered still more oppressive by the additional stipulations made by the scribes and Pharisees. Of them Jesus said, “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4). Those bound on heavy burdens; and labouring, by their observance of the law, to make themselves pleasing to God, are here invited to lay down their load, and receive the salvation procured for them by Christ.

The word of Jesus, “Take my yoke upon you” is a strange paradox! It seems strange that a man already weary and overloaded must take a new weight upon himself to find rest. But this is similar to Psalm 55:22 where we are promised, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Wherever pride and anger dwell, there is nothing but mental labour and agony. Where the meekness and humility of Christ dwell, all is smooth, peaceable, and quiet for the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” (Isaiah 32:17 and 18)

The Israelites lost their rest

And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. (Hebrews 3:17-19)

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” (Hebrews 4:1)

Seeing the Israelites lose the rest of Canaan, through obstinacy and unbelief, let us be afraid lest we come short of the heavenly rest, through the same cause.

To have fallen short of it or miss it might be considered as an allegory. It shows that Canaan was a type or shadow of the Gospel. Canaan missed the grand privileges of the Gospel of Christ, and of the glorious eternity to which they lead. Metaphorically, it is an allusion to the races in the Grecian games. He that came short was he who was, no matter how small, behind the winner.

Will it be of any avail to us how near we get to heaven, if the door is shut before we arrive? To run well, and yet to permit the devil, the world, or the flesh, to hinder in the few last steps! What a threadful thought, and what tragedy to have missed being eternally saved!

Finding our Rest in Christ

The blood of the sacrificial Lamb of God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness and purify us from all sin. Believers will find everlasting rest in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior. All are invited to come, and all are promised rest.

I. The Burden:

1. Some are laden with sin.

2. Others groan under the distresses of life.

II. The Relief:

1. Christ offers pardon to the guilty.

2. Christ offers purity to the unholy.

3. Christ offers grace for the needy.

III. The Means:

1. We must go to Christ. To this end, we must seek him.

2. We must approach him humbly.

3. We must approach him obediently.

4. We must approach him believingly.

Jesus is calling us to trust him with our souls and our worldly cares. Then he will carry us as well as our heavy loads.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Remind yourself that God concerns himself with the things that interest you because he cares for you. Whatever things concern a follower of God, whether they be spiritual or temporal, or whether in themselves great or small, God concerns himself with them. Cast all your cares on the Lord. He will sustain you, he will strengthen you, he will support you, and you will find rest in him.

Selie Visa