A reflection on Matthew 11:28-30 reminding believers to find peace, rest, and renewal through Christ’s gentleness and humility.
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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30
Brief note on the passage:
To come to Christ, in the new covenant, implies believing in Christ, his doctrine, to conform to his Word, and becoming his follower. The metaphor here is a man who has a great load laid upon him, which he must carry, every step he takes reduces his strength, and renders his load the more oppressive. A kind person, seeing his distress, offers to ease him of his load, that he may enjoy rest.
Wherever pride and anger dwell, there is nothing but mental agony. But, where the meekness and humility of Christ dwell, there is peace and quiet because the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness is assured quietness.
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” (Isaiah 32:17)
The invitation to sinners:
The invitation to sinners:
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 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 Saviour. All are invited to come, and all are promised rest.
I. A Burden:
1. All are laden with sin.
2. Many groan under the distresses of life.
3. The rites of the Mosaic institution are burdensome.
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.
The yoke of Rest:
It seems strange that a man already weary and overloaded must take a new weight upon himself in order to find rest. But this promise is similar to Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Those bound on heavy burdens by their observance of the law, vainly hoping to make themselves pleasing to God, are here invited to lay down their load, and receive the salvation procured for them by Christ.
Sinners, wearied in the ways of iniquity, are also invited to come to this Christ, and find relief.
Penitents, burdened with the guilt of their crimes, may come to this Sacrifice, and find instant pardon.
Believers, sorely tempted, and oppressed by the remains of the carnal mind, may come to this blood, that cleanseth from all unrighteousness; and, purified from all sin, and powerfully succored in every temptation, they shall find uninterrupted rest in this complete Savior.
All are invited to come, and all are promised rest. If few find rest from sin and vile affections, it is because few come to Christ to receive it. Jesus is calling us to trust him with our souls and our worldly cares to him. He will carry us as well as our heavy loads.
Selie Visa
(The writer can be reached at: selievisa@rediffmail.com)