Come Unto Me Matthew 11:28-30

These words of our Savior are often quoted, sung, and remembered. Why do you suppose this is so? Perhaps it is because these words offer us comfort and reassurance, and for this reason our hearts gladly call them to mind. But there is more here than consolation. In the context Jesus is speaking of those who reject Him as well as those who accept Him, vs. 20-27. Let us examine our master's plea so that we may gain the full benefit of its meaning.

I. The Call. The promise Jesus holds out to us is so pleasant that we often overlook the fact that He is telling us to do something. Before we can receive the blessings, we must respond to the Master's call.

A. "Come to me...", Jesus is not going to tackle us and drag us to Him. He calls to our conscience through the gospel, but we must choose to go to Him. We come to Jesus by going to where He may be found. In prayer, worship, and study of His words we draw close to Him. You can not find Jesus or the comfort He offers in the world, so you must leave the world if you are to be near the Savior.

B. "Take my yoke upon you", In Jewish literature the yoke was used as a figure for all the obligations that a certain doctrine placed upon its disciples. As an ox bore the wooden yoke to pull a load, the disciple accepted the yoke of the law as his teacher interpreted the law, Matthew 23:1-3. Jesus says that he has a yoke that his disciples must bear, a teaching that they must accept and follow. He elsewhere calls this load a cross, Matthew 10:38. A comparison with Jeremiah's call is instructive, Jeremiah 6:16.

C. "Learn from me", To receive the rest that Jesus offers we must learn from Him. But the learning to which Jesus refers is not simply the acquisition of knowledge. In the context of Jewish culture the disciple "learned" from his master how to think, speak, and act. Matthew 10:24-25.

D. When we see the full implications of these requirements, we realize that the "rest" Jesus offers comes to us only when we make a complete commitment to the life that Jesus commands us to live. If we do not respond to the call, then we will never secure the comfort that these words hold out to us.

II. The Offer. What does Jesus offer to those who answer His call? Rest and ease.

A. Rest. But what kind of rest? vs.29, Rest for our souls. Though many people look to Jesus for relief from worldly troubles or ailments, the relief that Jesus offers is not for the body, but for the soul. In terms of our physical welfare Jesus promises His disciples persecution - Matthew 5:10, tribulation - John 16:35, and a sword - Matthew 10:34. What Jesus offers by way of rest and peace is for the inner man. How does Jesus give rest or relief to our souls? He delivers us from that which afflicts our souls; He delivers us from sin. Sin and the guilt, anxiety, and consequences it brings is a great burden that crushes our souls. When we come to Jesus He takes all of that away.

B. A lighter load. Jesus gives us a load to bear. It is the load of a righteous life, the life that comes by following His teaching. Such a load may seem too heavy, but it is actually light in comparison to the alternative loads that we will look at in a moment. Also, we must trust our Master. Because Jesus is gentle and humble in heart, vs. 29, He will take it easy on us and will not make it impossible for us to carry His load.

C. A kind yoke. Jesus gives us a yoke that will help us to bear the load of a righteous life. In primitive countries people still use wooden yokes on their shoulders to help distribute the weight of a heavy load so that it is easier to carry. Jesus says that His yoke is easy, or perhaps more accurately "kind" or "gentle". The "ease" in the yoke of a Christian life is to be found in the forgiveness from our sins that we have in Christ. Through His sacrifice we can be forgiven when we stumble. This makes it possible for us to lead a righteous life, even though we are weak and often sin. Through Christ the load of righteousness becomes bearable.

III. The Alternatives. Who are the weary and heavy-laden whom Jesus would relieve? What are the alternative loads that make the load of Christ seem so light by comparison?

A. It is likely that Jesus has directly in mind the law of Moses, or at least the application of that Law by the religious leaders of the Jews. That the law was an unbearable "yoke" is well attested, Acts 15:10-11. Paul calls it a "yoke of slavery", Galatians 5:1. Without provision for true forgiveness, the law only served to condemn those under it, Romans 3:19-20. The Jews struggled in vain under the law and were indeed weary and heavy-laden. Compared to such a burden, the yoke that Christ offered was indeed a very easy one.

B. The load of the law of Moses was made even more unbearable by the Pharisees and their ilk who strictly interpreted the law for others, but admitted by their own non-compliance that the load they designed was impossible to carry, Matthew 23:4. What a relief to the common man was the teaching of Christ.

C. The life of sin in general is also a heavy load. It is common for us to see the righteous life as burdensome, and the life of worldliness as being easy and carefree, but nothing could be further from the truth. Though a sinful life might liberate us from many responsibilities and constraints, it also enslaves us to guilt, anxiety, and many vile consequences. "The way of the transgressor is hard", Proverbs 13:15. Unrestrained hatred, selfishness, loose living, and materialism all prove to be crushing weights to those who give in to them. See 1 Timothy 6:9, Proverbs 5:3-5, Proverbs 23:29-30, etc. The life Christ offers is a life without anxiety, guilt, envy, hatred, fear, or the natural punishments that come with foolish living. The yoke of Christ is light when compared with slavery to sin.

D. The ultimate consequence of sin is the heaviest load of all. Even the most light hearted among the wicked will feel the true weight of sin when he lifts up his eyes in torment. If you think godly living is hard, then consider the difficulty of life without God in the next world. On the other hand, the tribulations of righteous living seem like nothing at all when compared to the weight of glory waiting for the faithful in the life to come, 2 Corinthians 4:17.

Conclusion: Jesus calls to "all" who are weary and heavy-laden. If you are in sin, then Jesus is calling you. You must answer the call of Christ by obeying His gospel, but the yoke you take up is light compared to the one you will lay down. Won't you answer His call today? 

Copyright © 1999 Doug Raymer. 

All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission of author