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Jesus' Easy Yoke - Matt 11:28-30
Jesus' Easy Yoke - Matt 11:28-30
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Jesus offers relief and hope by inviting people to come to him. Specifically, He invites those who are weary and heavy-laden. All who are weary and heavy-laden poses the question of weary of what?
Even a cursory reading of the sermon on the mount will show that Jesus’ requirements are in one sense extreme. They require the whole of the person. Such has been God’s invitation and demand: love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus demands that we love Him more than family, friends, and life itself (Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:27)
Where then is the easy part? We find forgiveness! Such does not lower the bar of expectation for godliness and holiness, but it provides for our failures. Such does not lower the expectation of striving but provides for times of weakness.
Peter exhorted believers to ‘give all diligence’ to the changing of their character. “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, (2 Peter 1:5). “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10). “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).
What makes Jesus’ yoke bearable is knowing that we have a High Priest who is touched with our infirmities. We forever have a High Priest who makes intercession for us. We can continually find forgiveness. We come to Jesus knowing and admitting that we have fallen short of righteousness. We come to Jesus seeking mercy and forgiveness – and find it. Are you trusting in Jesus?
Hugh DeLong
