Matthew 11:28-30

A General Appeal To Men And Women (11:28-30).

This final general appeal to all who will hear confirms that in spite of His words to the towns, for those who will respond there is a way back to God. In the turmoil of a troubled world there is a place of rest, and it is under His yoke which will result in walking as outlined in the Sermon on the Mount. So He calls on men and women to turn from the yoke of the Scribes and Pharisees and come under His yoke and walk with Him.

The yoke was a well known picture in Judaism of anything to which men committed themselves. The Scribes spoke of the yoke of the Law and of it as the yoke of the Kingly Rule of Heaven. The removal of this yoke as regards the Sabbath is found in Matthew 12:1 where the Scribes seek to bid the disciples and Jesus under the yoke of the traditions of the elders, only to find themselves confuted by the One Who is Lord of the Sabbath and can thus provide perfect rest.

Analysis.

a Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden (burdened).

b And I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

c Take my yoke upon you,

d And learn of me,

c For I am meek and lowly in heart.

b And you will find rest to your souls.”

a For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30).

Note that in ‘a' the people to whom Jesus is speaking labour and are heavy laden, and in the parallel those who take Jesus' yoke on them find it easy and light. In ‘b' Jesus will give them rest, and in the parallel they find rest. In ‘c' He calls them to take His yoke on them, and in the parallel that yoke is one of meekness and lowliness of heart. Centrally in ‘d' they must learn of Jesus.