Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Dake's Study Notes
Matthew 11:28
a. [Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest] Christ's first recorded general invitation to all men. Compare the last one (Rev. 22:17).
b . [labor] Greek: kopiao (GSN-2872), to feel fatigue, to work hard, toil. Any weary, hard worker can find rest (Ephes. 4:28).
c. [heavy laden] Greek: phortizo (GSN-5412), to carry a load; to overburden with ceremony (Matthew 11:28; Luke 11:46). The Mosaic rites were burdensome enough, but the Pharisees had manufactured hundreds of additional burdens related to keeping the minutest detail of the law.
d. [rest] Twice rest is promised to all laboring, heavy-laden, soul-distressed, and sick people (Matthew 11:28-29; cp. Isaiah 28:9-11; Hebrews 3:11-14,18; Hebrews 4:1-11; Rev. 14:13).
Life Application Notes
(NIV Life Application Notes)
Matthew 11:28-30A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen. It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull. A person may be carrying heavy burdens of:
(1) sin
(2) excessive demands of religious leaders (Matthew 23:4; Acts 15:10),
(3) oppression and persecution, or
(4) weariness in the search for God.
Jesus frees people from all these burdens. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor. A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual productivity and purpose.
