Matthew 11:28-30: Christ’s Invitation
Attention
1. All of us have received an invitation of some kind at
some time. Invitations have certain things in common.
a. They tell us who is
addressed, i.e. who the invitation is for. (E.g. Invitations for wives but
not husbands)
b. They tell us something about
the event we are being invited to enjoy.
c. They tell us how to accept
the invitation and how to participate in the opportunity being offered.
2. The Bible has a lot of “invitations” in it.
a. The Lord invited his people
through many prophets to enjoy salvation in Him. Is. 55:1-3, 6-7
b. Evangelism is a work of
inviting souls on behalf of Christ to come to God. 2Co. 5:20
c. The Lord’s invitation is
available to all, but many are unwilling to open the door. Re. 3:20; 22:17
3. Jesus offered many invitations during His preaching, but
none so famous as the one found in Mt. 11:28-30.
a. This invitation tells us who
is addressed, what is offered, and how to take
advantage of it.
b. The Lord’s invitation is
open to everyone, but few will actually accept that invitation. Mt. 22:2-3
4. Who does Jesus address in this invitation? He speaks to
the weary, those who labor and are heavy laden.
a. Those who are burdened by
the guilt of sin. Jesus offers them cleansing and a new life.
b. Those who struggle in the
grip of habitual weakness. Jesus offers them freedom and power to overcome it.
c. Those crushed by the despair
of legalism, knowing they’ll never be good enough. Jesus offers them grace.
d. Those worn out by an empty,
cheap religion. Jesus offers them a faith of substance, holiness, and work.
[Proposition] We must accept Christ’s yoke to find the
rest from sin that only the Savior can give.
I.
Jesus Offers Rest (28)
A.
What is the Rest?
1.
The rest Jesus promises here is not the kind that involves propping up
your feet and taking a nap.
a)
The work is not done when one believes and is baptized, the work has just
begun.
b)
Christianity does not offer rest for the body, but the Lord does
promise rest for the soul.
2.
The words translated rest in this text express the idea of
calmness, relief, and refreshment.
a)
The idea is that our souls are troubled, busy, restless, and unsettled
apart from Christ.
b)
Jesus comes to still the soul so that it can refresh itself and regain
strength.
B.
Jesus is Our Rest
1.
This inner, spiritual relief can only be found in Christ; He alone has
the power to still the soul.
a)
Men spend fortunes trying to find peace in pills, programs, and personal
development.
b)
In his Confessions, Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until
they rest in Thee, O Lord.”
2.
As long as we depend on ourselves, we are going to remain run-down and
spiritually weary.
a)
We may even grow so discouraged that we feel God does not know or does
not care.
b)
The secret to peace, rest, strength, and renewal is found in serving the
Lord. Is. 40:27-31
3.
Jesus offers the rest that our souls require, but that rest is given in
an unexpected way…
II.
Jesus Offers Work (29a)
A.
What is the Work?
1.
Jesus says, “I will give you rest, if you come and take
My yoke.”
a)
Wearing a yoke doesn’t sound very restful, but it proves to be exactly
what our souls need.
b)
Like the body, our soul becomes tired when we don’t use it for what it is
intended.
(1)
The human body isn’t made to sit at a desk; it needs to move, resist, and
work.
(2)
Our souls aren’t meant to waste away with sin; the soul needs godly
exercise.
2.
You can think of a yoke as a burden or a blessing.
a)
Wearing a yoke means working; you don’t wear it for leisure or style; you
wear it to pull.
b)
But the yoke makes the work easier; it distributes the load efficiently
and effectively.
B.
Jesus is Our Master
1.
The key to finding rest isn’t wearing just any yoke; the key is wearing
Christ’s yoke.
a)
The yoke of sin doesn’t fit us well; it looks good, but it chafes,
pinches, and seriously harms.
b)
The yoke of men is likewise a poor fit; it offers no rest, no peace, and
no true fulfillment.
2.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light; but what does
that mean exactly?
a)
The word easy is a poor translation, but it is the term most
translators eventually settle on.
(1)
The meaning of the Greek term is richer than any single English adjective
expresses.
(2)
The word refers to something that is useful, good, kindly, and
pleasant.
(3)
Christ’s yoke is well-suited to us; we can bear it well because we were
made for it.
b)
Whether you think of a yoke or of God’s commands, it is hard to imagine
either being light.
(1)
Isn’t it burdensome to live under the divine law? Isn’t the narrow way
difficult?
(2)
The narrow way is difficult, but the difficulty lies in acceptance, not
in performance.
(3)
God’s law fits our nature. It’s the food we were made to eat.
1Jn. 5:3; De. 6:24-25
3.
Jesus tells us, “If you want rest, you must wear My
yoke,” but there is one more part to His offer.
III.
Jesus Offers Direction (29b)
A.
What is the Direction?
1.
Did you notice what else Jesus said about His yoke? “Take My yoke,
and learn from Me.”
a)
When you yoke two animals together, they are going to learn to work
together; they have to.
b)
I have heard, but do not know, that an older animal is used to train a
younger in the yoke.
2.
Jesus is inviting us to be yoked with Him, to learn to pull beside Him,
to follow His lead.
a)
We are like young animals that don’t know what to do; Jesus says, “I will
show you.”
b)
There is nothing Jesus asks of us that He has not already done; He says,
“Follow Me.”
B.
Jesus is Our Teacher
1.
Jesus is our Rest, He is our Master, but He is also our Teacher.
a)
His law fits us perfectly; yes it restrains us, but the restraint is for
our good, not our hurt.
b)
He is gentle (meek) and lowly; as a Man, Jesus exemplified the character
we are to have.
2.
In every situation we can look to Jesus as the example we should imitate;
His life is the pattern.
a)
What is discipleship? Deny yourself, take up the cross, and follow
Jesus. Mt. 16:24
b)
Being a Christian is not just about believing certain things and
attending worship.
(1)
It is about taking Christ’s yoke on our shoulders and working as He
directs us.
(2)
It is about finding rest for our souls by fulfilling the purpose God made
us for.
3.
Christ offers the weary rest, the refreshment of our souls by godly labor
in the fields of our King.
Action
1. Do you remember the three parts of every invitation? The
addressee, the offer, and the terms of participation
a. Jesus says, “Come to
Me,” and He will give us rest. He says, “Take My
yoke,” and He will teach us.
b. He will not force that yoke
upon us. He will not give us the rest whether we want it or not.
2. Jesus extends the invitation to us all, but it is up to
each of us to accept or reject it.
a. You must come, because He
will not come again to get you. You must submit; He will not force it on you.
b. If you are ready to accept
the Lord’s invitation, hear His words. Mt. 16:24; 28:18-20; Mk. 16:16