25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25–30 (ESV)
Matthew 11 concludes with a prayer by Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15. We now can observe how, and for what, did Jesus pray?
First, He addressed the Lord of heaven as Father. God’s transcendence and immanence are both in view. Second, Jesus acknowledged God the Father revealed Himself to those who are His elect. Thirdly, Jesus affirmed that God the Father is sovereign overall. God’s sovereignty involves the following areas.
Fourthly, Jesus prayed for sinners to come to Him to find rest for their souls. Jesus addressed individuals who were burdened down with the reality and guilt of their sins. To achieve a self-salvation or a works based righteousness was a heavy laden labor. Jesus also turned His attention upon the religious leaders of His day condemning them for loading people with heavy burdens and then not helping them carry those burdens (Luke 11:46).
“Jesus referred to the practice of adding commandments to Scripture, making the law a burden. He likely also referred to the Pharisees’ and lawyers’ failure to show mercy to sinners. Instead of drawing near to people crushed by their sin, calling them to repentance and encouraging their obedience, they distanced themselves from those whom they considered unfit and beyond God’s grace. Jesus did the opposite, dining with notorious sinners who recognized their transgressions and sought forgiveness. Without approving of their sin, He came close to help them find release from sin (Luke 5:27–32),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Lastly, Jesus prayed, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“People’s weariness comes from enduring their burdens, probably the burdens of sin and its consequences. Rather, they should come and yoke themselves with Jesus. By placing themselves under His yoke and learning from Him, they may find rest for their souls from sins’ burdens. By yoking, they become true disciples of Jesus and join Him in His proclamation of divine wisdom. To learn (mathete) from Him is to be His disciple (mathētēs). People can trade their heavy, tiring burdens for His yoke and burden (phortion, “load”), which by contrast are easy and light. To serve Him is no burden, for He, in contrast with those who reject Him, is gentle (praus; cf. 5:5) and humble,” explains commentator Louis A. Barbieri.
Soli deo Gloria!
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