Matthew 11:28-30
Introduction:
1. Having set forth Jesus’ participation in our burdens this morning, this evening we ponder the necessity of our participation in His burdens.
2. Using an agricultural analogy, Jesus calls His disciples to yoke themselves to Him with the promise to give rest to every soul willing to do so.
Discussion:
I. The Invitation
A. Christ came to rescue the weary soul from sin’s unbearable burdens and grant them an abundant life (Isaiah 61:1-4; Luke 19:10; John 10:10).
B. He came into the world to grant God’s grace, but those who would receive it must come to Him (John 1:9-14; Titus 2:11ff).
II. The Conditions of Reception
A. The heart must first be humbled.
1. Consider His description of those the Father gave spiritual vision (11:25-27).
2. Which matches the description elsewhere (Matthew 5:3-12; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; James 2:5).
3. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
4. Lowliness prompts one to come to Him.
B. It is not enough to simply come to Him; we must learn from and submit to Him.
1. The yoke was an emblem of subjection, submission, and service.
2. As two oxen were yoked together, they had no choice but to pull in the same direction.
3. When we take Christ’s yoke upon us, we bind ourselves to pull with Him, not against.
C. The promised rest demands it (Cf. Jeremiah 6:16).
III. The Character of the Master
A. Such language sounds oppressive, and often it is (Deuteronomy 28:48; Jeremiah 28:14; Lamentations 1:14; Galatians 5:1).
B. The nature of the yoking depends on the character of the master to whom one submits.
C. The call is for us to humbly submit, not something that comes naturally.
D. Thankfully, our Master is gentle and lowly in heart, not binding unbearable burdens on us (Isaiah 42:3; 57:15; Matthew 23:4; 1 John 5:1-3).
E. His yoke is liberating, not oppressive (Galatians 5:1).
IV. The Promised Result of Submission
A. Attached to this call for submission is the promise of rest for the weary soul.
B. Rest to the faithful is a consistent biblical theme.
1. He promised rest to Israel upon entering the promised land (Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 12:9-10; 25:19; Joshua 1:13; 21:44).
2. Unfortunately, their persistent refusal of His yoke caused them to forfeit this promised rest (Jeremiah 6:16; Hebrews 3:7-11; 4:1-5).
3. Yet, to the faithful in this age, rest is once again assured (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:6-11).
Conclusion:
1. The call to take the Lord’s yoke and enter His rest remains open to all.
2. The deciding factor is our attitude towards the yoke.
3. If we harden our hearts as they did, we too will fail to enter His rest.
4. However, if we yield ourselves freely, rest is assured on the most reliable testimony of all, the Creator of all things (Hebrews 6:13-20).