28* Come [1205] (5773) unto [4314] me [3165], all [3956] ye that labour
[2872] (5723) and [2532] are heavy laden [5412] (5772), and I [2504]
will give [373] (0) you [5209] rest [373] (5692). 29* Take [142] (5657)
my [3450] yoke [2218] upon [1909] you [5209], and [2532] learn [3129]
(5628) of [575] me [1700]; for [3754] I am [1510] (5748) meek [4235]
and [2532] lowly [5011] in heart [2588]: and [2532] ye shall find [2147]
(5692) rest [372] unto your [5216] souls [5590].
Matthew 11:28&29 King James with Strongs numers
A look at the Greek
2872 kopiaw kopiao {kop-ee-ah'-o} from a derivative of 2873; TDNT -
3:827,453; v AV - labour 16, bestow labour 3, toil 3, be wearied 1; 23 1)
to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief) 2) to labour
with wearisome effort, to toil 2a) of bodily labour 373 anapauw anapauo
{an-ap-ow'-o} from 303 and 3973; TDNT - 1:350,56; v AV - rest 4,
refresh 4, take rest 2, give rest 1, take ease 1; 12 1) to cause or permit one
to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his
strength 2) to give rest, refresh, to give one's self rest, take rest 3) to keep
quiet, of calm and patient expectation VERSE 28 shows that Jesus will give
rest from hard work.
2218 zugov zugos {dzoo-gos'} from the root of zeugnumi (to join,
especially by a "yoke"); TDNT - 2:896,301; n m AV - yoke 5, pair of
balances 1; 6 1) a yoke 1a) a yoke that is put on draught cattle 1b)
metaph., used of any burden or bondage 1b1) as that of slavery 1b2) of
troublesome laws imposed on one, esp. of the Mosaic law, hence the name
is so transferred to the commands of Christ as to contrast them with the
commands of the Pharisees which were a veritable 'yoke'; yet even Christ's
commands must be submitted to, though easier to be kept 2) a balance,
pair of scales 3129 manyanw manthano {man-than'-o} prolongation from a
primary verb, another form of which, matheo, is used as an alternate in
certain tenses; TDNT - 4:390,552; v AV - learn 24, understand 1; 25 1) to
learn, be appraised 1a) to increase one's knowledge, to be increased in
knowledge 1b) to hear, be informed 1c) to learn by use and practice 1c1)
to be in the habit of, accustomed to.
What does Matthew Henry Say?
So what we read here is that we should take Christ's way of living upon us
because that will give us rest, his toughlove is rest. Matthew Henry says on
Matthew 11:28-30 (1.) We must come to Jesus Christ as our Rest, and
repose ourselves in him (v. 28), Come unto me all ye that labour. Observe,
[1.] The character of the persons invited; all that labour, and are heavy
laden. This is a word in season to him that is weary, Isa. 50:4. Those who
complain of the burthen of the ceremonial law, which was an intolerable
yoke, and was made much more so by the tradition of the elders (Lu.
11:46), let them come to Christ, and they shall be made easy; he came to
free his church from this yoke, to cancel the imposition of those carnal
ordinances, and to introduce a purer and more spiritual way of worship; but
it is rather to be understood of the burthen of sin, both the guilt and the
power of it. Note, All those, and those only, are invited to rest in Christ,
that are sensible of sin as a burthen, and groan under it; that are not only
convinced of the evil of sin, of their own sin, but are contrite in soul for it;
that are really sick of their sins, weary of the service of the world and of the
flesh; that see their state sad and dangerous by reason of sin, and are in
pain and fear about it, as Ephraim (Jer. 31:18-20), the prodigal (Lu.
15:17), the publican (Lu. 18:13), Peter's hearers (Acts 2:37), Paul (Acts
9:4, 6, 9), the jailor (Acts 16:29, 30). This is a necessary preparative for
pardon and peace. The Comforter must first convince (Jn. 16:8); I have
torn and then will heal. [2.] The invitation itself: Come unto me. That
glorious display of Christ's greatness which we had (v. 27), as Lord of all,
might frighten us from him, but see here how he holds out the golden
sceptre, that we may touch the top of it and may live. Note, It is the duty
and interest of weary and heavy laden sinners to come to Jesus Christ.
Renouncing all those things which stand in opposition to him, or in
competition with him, we must accept of him, as our Physician and
Advocate, and give up ourselves to his conduct and government; freely
willing to be saved by him, in his own way, and upon his own terms. Come
and cast that burden upon him, under which thou art heavy laden. This is
the gospel call, The Spirit saith, Come; and the bride saith, Come; let him
that is athirst come; Whoever will, let him come. [3.] The blessing promised
to those that do come: I will give you rest. Christ is our Noah, whose name
signifies rest, for this same shall give us rest. Gen. 5:29; 8:9. Truly rest is
good (Gen. 49:15), especially to those that labour and are heavy laden,
Eccl. 5:12. Note, Jesus Christ will give assured rest to those weary souls,
that by a lively faith come to him for it; rest from the terror of sin, in a
well-grounded peace of conscience; rest from the power of sin, in a regular
order of the soul, and its due government of itself; a rest in God, and a
complacency of soul, in his love. Ps. 11:6, 7. This is that rest which remains
for the people of God (Heb. 4:9), begun in grace, and perfected in glory.
(2.) We must come to Jesus Christ as our Ruler, and submit ourselves to
him (v. 29). Take my yoke upon you. This must go along with the former,
for Christ is exalted to be both a Prince and a Saviour, a Priest upon his
throne. The rest he promises is a release from the drudgery of sin, not from
the service of God, but an obligation to the duty we owe to him. Note,
Christ has a yoke for our necks, as well as a crown for our heads, and this
yoke he expects we should take upon us and draw in. To call those who
are weary and heavy laden, to take a yoke upon them, looks like adding
affliction to the afflicted; but the pertinency of it lies in the word my: "You
are under a yoke which makes you weary: shake that off and try mine,
which will make you easy.'' Servants are said to be under the yoke (1 Tim.
6:1), and subjects, 1 Ki. 12:10. To take Christ's yoke upon us, is to put
ourselves into the relation to servants and subjects to him, and then of
conduct ourselves accordingly, in a conscientious obedience to all his
commands, and a cheerful submission to all his disposals: it is to obey the
gospel of Christ, to yield ourselves to the Lord: it is Christ's yoke; the yoke
he has appointed; a yoke he has himself drawn in before us, for he learned
obedience, and which he does by his Spirit draw in with us, for he helpeth
our infirmities, Rom. 8:26. A yoke speaks some hardship, but if the beast
must draw, the yoke helps him. Christ's commands are all in our favour: we
must take this yoke upon us to draw in it. We are yoked to work, and
therefore must be diligent; we are yoked to submit, and therefore must be
humble and patient: we are yoked together with our fellow-servants, and
therefore must keep up the communion of saints: and the words of the wise
are as goads, to those who are thus yoked.
Now this is the hardest part of our lesson, and therefore it is qualified (v.
30). My yoke is easy and my burden is light; you need not be afraid of it.
[1.] The yoke of Christ's commands is an easy yoke; it is chreµstos, not
only easy, but gracious, so the word signifies; it is sweet and pleasant; there
is nothing in it to gall the yielding neck, nothing to hurt us, but, on the
contrary, must to refresh us. It is a yoke that is lined with love. Such is the
nature of all Christ's commands, so reasonable in themselves, so profitable
to us, and all summed up in one word, and that a sweet word, love. So
powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the encouragements,
and so strong the consolations, that are to be found in the way of duty, that
we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness. It is easy to the new nature,
very easy to him that understandeth, Prov. 14:6. It may be a little hard at
first, but it is easy afterwards; the love of God and the hope of heaven will
make it easy. [2.] The burden of Christ's cross is a light burden, very light:
afflictions from Christ, which befal us as men; afflictions for Christ, which
befal us as Christians; the latter are especially meant. This burden in itself is
not joyous, but grievous; yet as it is Christ's, it is light. Paul knew as much
of it as any man, and he calls it a light affliction, 2 Co. 4:17. God's presence
(Isa. 43:2), Christ's sympathy (Isa. 73:9, Dan. 3:25), and especially the
Spirit's aids and comforts (2 Co. 1:5), make suffering for Christ light and
easy. As afflictions abound, and are prolonged, consolations abound, and
are prolonged too. Let this therefore reconcile us to the difficulties, and help
us over the discouragements, we may meet with, both in doing work and
suffering work; though we may lose for Christ, we shall not lose by him.
(3.) We must come to Jesus Christ as our Teacher, and set ourselves to
learn of him, v. 29. Christ has erected a great school, and has invited us to
be his scholars. We must enter ourselves, associate with his scholars, and
daily attend the instructions he gives by his word and Spirit. We must
converse much with what he said, and have it ready to use upon all
occasions; we must conform to what he did, and follow his steps, 1 Pt.
2:21. Some make the following words, for I am meek and lowly in heart, to
be the particular lesson we are required to learn from the example of Christ.
We must learn of him to be meek and lowly, and must mortify our pride
and passion, which render us so unlike to him. We must so learn of Christ
as to learn Christ (Eph. 4:20), for he is both Teacher and Lesson, Guide
and Way, and All in All.
Two reasons are given why we must learn of Christ. [1.] I am meek and
lowly in heart, and therefore fit to teach you. First, He is meek, and can
have compassion on the ignorant, whom others would be in a passion with.
Many able teachers are hot and hasty, which is a great discouragement to
those who are dull and slow; but Christ knows how to bear with such, and
to open their understandings. His carriage towards his twelve disciples was
a specimen of this; he was mild and gentle with them, and made the best of
them; though they were heedless and forgetful, he was not extreme to mark
their follies. Secondly, He is lowly in heart. He condescends to teach poor
scholars, to teach novices; he chose disciples, not from the court, nor the
schools, but from the seaside. He teaches the first principles, such things as
are milk for babes; he stoops to the meanest capacities; he taught Ephraim
to go, Hos. 11:3. Who teaches like him? It is an encouragement to us to put
ourselves to school to such a Teacher. This humility and meekness, as it
qualifies him to be a Teacher, so it will be the best qualification of those
who are to be taught by him; for the meek will he guide in judgment, Ps.
25:9. [2.] You shall find rest to your souls. This promise is borrowed from
Jer. 6:16, for Christ delighted to express himself in the language of the
prophets, to show the harmony between the two Testaments. Note, First,
Rest for the soul is the most desirable rest; to have the soul to dwell at ease.
Secondly, The only way, and a sure way to find rest for our souls is, to sit
at Christ's feet and hear his word. The way of duty is the way of rest. The
understanding finds rest in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, and is
there abundantly satisfied, finding that wisdom in the gospel which has been
sought for in vain throughout the whole creation, Job 28:12. The truths
Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. The affections
find rest in the love of God and Jesus Christ, and meet with that in them
which gives them an abundant satisfaction; quietness and assurance for
ever. And those satisfactions will be perfected and perpetuated in heaven,
where we shall see and enjoy God immediately, shall see him as he is, and
enjoy him as he is ours. This rest is to be had with Christ for all those who
learn of him. Well, this is the sum and substance of the gospel call and offer:
we are here told, in a few words, what the Lord Jesus requires of us, and it
agrees with what God said of him once and again. This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.
Note this is pubic domain work and quoting it is therefore legal.
Last Updated - 20/09/2003
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