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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 11:28 - 11:30
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_11:28-30
28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Mat_11:28-30 These verses are unique to Matthew. Mat_11:28 affirms the doctrine of justification, while Mat_11:29 affirms progressive sanctification.
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Mat_11:28 "Come to Me" "Come" is an adverb used as an aorist active imperative. It denotes an immediate faith response to Jesus Himself and His radical new covenant message. Notice the emphasis was on personal relationship, not on doctrinal content or ritual only. This same truth was repeated often in the Gospel of John.
▣ "weary" This is a present active participle. The terms "weary" and "heavy-laden" in this verse describe hard labor. They are synonymous.
▣ "heavy-laden" This is a perfect passive participle. These two terms related culturally to the heavy obligations of rabbinical Judaism (cf. Act_15:10). This same idea is expressed by the Hebrew idiom "yoke" (cf. Mat_11:29-30; Mat_23:4; Luk_11:46). This was also used metaphorically for the Oral Tradition of the Jews (Talmud), which had become such a burden that it separated mankind from God rather than bringing them to Him. Judaism had become a barrier instead of a bridge!
The new covenant in Jesus has requirements just like the old covenant. However, they do not bring us to God and make us acceptable. They become the natural result of knowing Him in Christ. God still wants a righteous people who reflect His character to the world. I usually state the NT requirements as
1. repentance
2. faith
3. obedience
4. perseverance
▣ "I will give you rest" This is an emphatic grammatical construction. Jesus was saying, "I, myself, will lead you into rest." " Rest" did not refer to perpetual inactivity, but to a time of refreshment and training so as to move out into useful service for Christ. This concept of a rest goes back to the seventh day rest of Genesis 1. For a good discussion of the different ways this term was used in the OT see Hebrews, Matthew 3, 4.
Mat_11:29 "learn" This is an aorist active imperative. It is etymologically related to the word " disciples" found in Mat_11:1. Believers are commanded to learn and mature.
▣ "I am gentle and humble" These were not virtues in the Greek world, but Jesus made attitude the key. Humility and gentleness became the catch-words of the new kingdom of God.
Mat_11:30 "for My yoke is easy and My burden is light" There are new covenant tasks to be performed. Faith and repentance in Jesus' name are the first step; the second is obedience and maturity; the third is perseverance. Jesus changed the burdensome task of the Pharisees (cf. Mat_23:4; Luk_11:46) into a life of gratitude and service in His name (cf. 1Jn_5:3).
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