Where To Go If You Are Weary and Burdened - Matthew 11

The Father Revealed in the Son

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In Matthew 5-7, Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount. In chapters 8-9 he showed what God's kingdom looked like here on earth through his miracles. In chapter 10 he equipped and sent out his apostles to do the things that he did.  In chapter 11, he reflects on the fact that God has hidden the truth about him to the wise and learned, and revealed it to little children.  This could be children by age, or more likely a description of the openness to his message.  Remember in another Jesus praised the , simple faith of Jesus. 

1. "Come unto me".  Note the personal nature of Jesus' invitation.  Though he is God in the flesh he chooses to ask us to come to him.  He is sincerely interested in the people around him. Though he preaches to the crowds he is just as comfortable one on one. 

2.  "Weary and burdened". People were weary and burdened physically and emotionally like we are today, but he may primarily be referring to spiritual tiredness.  The people were burdened by the Laws they could never live up to that the religious leaders had heaped on them.  The irony was the teachers themselves did not obey the laws prompting Jesus to call them, "a bunch of hypocrites and a brood of vipers". 

3. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me". In a farming society every person could relate to the yoke hitched to the oxen as they plowed the fields. If a yoke were not well fitting it would make the oxen's job much more painful.  Jesus invites them to the easy yoke as his followers.  The implication is that following Jesus will not be a burden but actually make their lives easier as they learn to live like he did.  

4. You will find rest for your souls.  This is what would lead one to conclude it is the spiritual burden Jesus is carrying.  Jesus came to heal people's souls.  He came to give them the peace they deeply sought.  The people were ruled by a heavy Roman hand and legalistic teachers and they needed rest for their souls.  

Can you relate to any of this?  Are you tired of feeling burdened by religion?  Are you wearied by life's distractions and demand? Hear and respond to Jesus' personal invitation to you today. He is the only place you will find true rest for you soul.