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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 056. Mat 11:29-30. Christ's Yoke
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Mat_11:29-30. Christ's Yoke
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest into your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."—Mat_11:29, Mat_11:30.
The chapter from which the text is selected, commences by recording a message sent from John to Christ, and Christ's reply to that message, ver. 3-6. Christ gives a very high account of the character of John , 7-11; he then censures the people for their neglect both of John's ministry and his own, and shows them what vain pretexts they adopted for neglecting the discourses delivered to them. He then pronounces the doom of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, and concludes by he moving and affectionate invitation of the text, "Take my yoke," &c. Notice,
I. The Yoke he imposes.
"Take my yoke upon you." A yoke is that which is placed on the neck of the ox, and by which it is placed under restraint. Christ uses the figure to denote, that his religion has its laws and restraints. There is,
1. The yoke of Christ's doctrine.
It demands the prostration of our minds before him. Reception of the humiliating and mysterious doctrines of the cross—those doctrines which are to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness. "By grace are ye saved," &c.
2. The yoke of Christ's laws.
He has not abrogated the moral law, but explained, spiritualized, and enlarged it. Love to enemies, &c. See Mat_5:6, Mat_5:7. No true disciples without obedience. "Ye are my friends," &c. "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
3. The yoke of Christ's cross.
"If any man will be my disciple, let him take up his cross," &c. This implies very much. Public profession of Christ—self-denial. If necessary, abandonment of friends, wife, children, houses, land, yea, life itself, for Christ's sake. Notice,
II. The Lessons he communicates.
"And learn of me," &c. We are to learn of him, both the doctrines he teaches, he law he enjoins, and the sacrifices he demands. We are to learn of him,
1. By hearkening to the words of his mouth.
He is our prophet, to whom we are always to repair, and to hear him always. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." God enjoins it imperatively upon us, "Hear ye him."
2. By imitating his example.
He is our perfect exemplar. He does not enjoin any duty but what he embodied in his own blessed life. He has trod the path, and we are to follow him, and walk in his steps.
3. By imbibing his spirit.
"For I am meek and lowly in heart." We are to have within us Christ's lowly and humble mind. "If any man hath not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." True piety humbles the mind, and makes the temper gentle and meek. Notice,
III. The Blessing he promises.
"And ye shall find rest unto your souls." Bodily rest is truly sweet and indispensable, but how much more precious is rest to the soul! The promise includes,
1. Rest from the bondage of sin.
No labor or toil more severe and cruel, and accompanied with more misery than this. Wretched bondage indeed! Satan's slave. Vassalage of sin, &c.
2. Rest from inward disquietude.
Wicked like the troubled sea, restless and agitated. No peace, saith my God, to the wicked—but fear—unceasing dread. "Being justified, we have peace with God," &c. "Cloud of transgressions blotted out." Soul can sing,
"Now I have found the ground wherein,
Sure my soul's anchor may remain;
The wounds of Jesus, for my sin,
Before the world's foundation slain,
Whose mercy shall unshaken stay,
When heaven and earth are fled away."
3. Eternal rest in heaven.
"There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God." From toil, conflict, sorrow, suffering, crosses, &c. Full, uninterrupted, and everlasting; Rev_14:13 To induce sinners to comply with his invitation, observe,
IV. The motive he adduces.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." It is so,
1. When contrasted with the yoke of sin.
"What fruit had ye in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?" The yoke of sin is full of the gall of bitterness, and the wages thereof is death. It is so,
2. Compared with any of the various forms or modifications of Paganism.
These are full of the habitations of cruelty. The whole of these systems are written in the blood of their unhappy votaries. Immolated children—burning widows —torture—groans—devastation, and death in its most terrific and appalling forms. Christ's yoke is full of mercy, gentleness, peace, and purity. Goodness its essential feature.
3. It is so when compared with the Jewish dispensation.
And that was divine, from heaven, &c. Yet a yoke which they were unable to bear. Consider their numerous services, sacrifices, purifications gifts, &c., &c.
4. It is so in itself Nothing irrational, nothing degrading, nothing oppressive in Christ's yoke. "His commandments are not grievous." To love God. To believe in Jesus. To be subject to the laws of God, and to the directions and influences of the Spirit. To be full of the fruits of goodness, &c.
5. It is so in the support which is afforded.
Sufficiency of direction and of strength to bear it; and an abundance of peace and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. "My grace is sufficient for thee." "We can do all things through Christ," &c.
Application
1. Appeal to the infatuated slave of sin on the folly of his course.
2. Invite all to try Christ's yoke.
Encourage Christ's disciples to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth."