In a world often characterized by chaos, burdens, and restlessness, Christ’s invitation to all is that man should lay all of his problems on Him. It is an invitation that extends far beyond religious boundaries, reaching out to every soul seeking solace, hope, and meaning.
Found in the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 11:28, this invitation carries a profound message of divine love and compassion. It beckons all to come, find rest, and experience the transformative power of Christ’s embrace.
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Christ’s Invitation To All
In the preceding verses to our text, the Lord Jesus Christ had just upbraided the three cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, because they repented not at His preaching. This was a great disappointment to Him.
In our text today, Jesus Christ praised God and reaffirmed the fact that He is the only one with the authority from the Father to save (Matthew 11:25-27). He concluded by inviting everyone into salvation and submission to His rulership (Matthew 11:28-30).
Praising God: A Necessary Duty For Believers
(Matthew 11:25,26; Ephesians 5:20; Job 1:21; 1 Corinthians 1:27)
Although Christ was disappointed by the attitude of the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum to the gospel, He went ahead to praise the Father. In His words of praise, He gave thanks to God for revealing the Kingdom to the babes (unnoticed ones in the society) and concealing it from the wise and prudent. He left everything for the sovereignty of God in the way He programs His things (Matthew 11:25,26).
This attitude of praise by our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that whatever we experience in any area of our lives and ministries, the best thing is to burst into God’s praise and surrender all to Him. This will bring courage to face tomorrow.
God knows why He allowed it to be so. There is no querying Him concerning the works of His hand. He only knows why He chose to use Peter, a fisherman for such a great exploit instead of Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The Bible says God has used the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).
The best may not always come from great men. Job said in chapter thirty-two, verse nine, that “…great men are not always wise”. Job, in his calamity, gave thanks to God (Job 1:21).
Paul encouraged the Ephesians to give thanks always for all things, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
Jesus, in praising God, referred to Him as “Father, Lord of heaven and earth”. Whenever we also approach God with our praises and thanksgiving, we should refer to Him as “Father”.
This shows our reverence and love for Him. Calling God also the Lord of heaven and earth portrays Him as Creator and owner of the whole universe with whom nothing is impossible: “… with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).
The Power And Authority Of The Son
(Matthew 11:27; 2 Corinthians 4:6; John 14:6)
Jesus said, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and to whomsoever, the Son will reveal him” (Matthew 11:27).
Having all things delivered unto Him by the Father, Jesus manifests the power and authority in reconciling men unto God and in offering peace and happiness to the backslidden world. This is an encouragement to all who have wandered away from the faith, to come back to Jesus and be restored.
Christ’s unequaled intimacy with the Father is also seen in verse twenty-seven of our text, “…and no man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son….” With this intimacy between the two personalities, we are sure that the best advocate we have before God is Jesus Christ.
God will always honor our faithful prayers through Him and Him alone. No sinner can come to the Father except through the Son (John 14:6). Jesus Christ then is the greatest gift of God to man. He gives an open invitation to all who labor and are heavy-laden to come to His rest.
Christ’s To All
(Matthew 11:28-30; 1 John 5:3).
Jesus issues an invitation: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This is an invitation for salvation to all by Jesus Christ our PRIEST, PRINCE, and PROPHET.
It is a call to all sinners. Jesus said: “Come unto me,” meaning that it is the duty of sinners to come in humility unto Christ. The sinner must see Jesus as the only Advocate. He must freely and willingly come to be saved by Christ in His own way and on His own terms.
Jesus Christ will give assured rest to those weary souls, that come to Him by faith. This is why He counseled: “Take my yoke upon you….” There is a difference between the yoke of the devil and that of Christ.
The sinner is under the devil’s yoke that makes him weary, he is now asked to shake that yoke off and take up Christ’s yoke which is easy. His yoke in this context means His laws and commandments and possible persecutions that must attend to their being strictly obeyed.
We need not be afraid. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Animals yoked together to move in a defined path to be able to draw the implement attached to them, which they would not have been able to do without the yoke.
In like manner, without putting on the yoke of Jesus Christ, straying away from the narrow path that leads to heaven is unavoidable.
He also called us into “His school” by saying, “… learn of me”. We must come to Him as our Teacher and allow Him to instruct us through His Word and Spirit. There are two reasons why we must learn of Christ: he is meek and lowly in heart.
Being meek, He has compassion on the ignorant, he knows how to teach and bear with the dull and slow learners and open their understanding. Secondly, He is lowly in heart. By this, He condescends to teach poor scholars and novices. We cannot do without Christlike meekness and lowliness if we must prosper in our evangelistic pursuits.
Conclusion
In the timeless words of the scripture Matthew 11:28, we discover not only an invitation but a revelation of the very nature of Christ. It is an invitation extended to all, irrespective of their burdens, doubts, or past mistakes.
It is a testament to the boundless love and compassion that define the Savior’s character. When we heed this call, we enter into a transformative relationship with Christ, one that brings rest to our weary souls and purpose to our lives. This invitation, rooted in love, remains a beacon of hope for humanity, guiding us through the storms of life.
As we accept Christ’s invitation to all, we find not only rest for our burdens but a path towards spiritual renewal, a deeper understanding of divine love, and a life forever changed by the grace of our Savior.
FAQs
1. What Should Be Our Attitude In Times Of Disappointment?
Our attitude in times of disappointment should be one of resilience, trust in God, and a willingness to learn and grow from the experience.
2. Mention Saints Of Old Who Praised God In Their Times Of Difficulty.
Examples of saints who praised God in times of difficulty include Job, David, and Paul in the Bible, as well as figures like Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Francis of Assisi in Christian history.
3. What Are The Main Conditions For Pardon And Peace?
The main conditions for pardon and peace, often emphasized in Christian theology, include repentance (sincere remorse and turning away from sin), faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and seeking forgiveness through prayer and confession.
