In The Word
Read: Matthew 11:25-12:7
Come to Me
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”
Sabbath Questions
12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. 2 Now when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!” 3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions— 4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? 5 Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? 6 But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 But if you had known what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Nowadays, it takes a lot of work to make ends meet. Most families have both parents working to make a living, and sometimes even that is not enough. It is times like these that we must encourage ourselves with these words of Jesus, “Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus has made this promise for all of us who are overwhelmed with our workload.
Yokes were a piece of equipment placed on a pair of oxen to help pull a plow. The yoke would bind the two animals by the neck, therefore decreasing the load from one animal onto two. Jesus is illustrating the point that He wants to join with you in your labors.
Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary (worked to exhaustion) and heavy laden (carrying a heavy load), and I will give you rest (take ease, refresh).” How will He do this? “Take My yoke (let Me join with you in this labor) and learn (study and observe) from Me.” Jesus wants to help you in this labor; together you will learn to lean on Him, and He will make your burden light.
Jesus says that His yoke is not harsh; there is no chaffing, irritation, vexing or exasperation! There is no burden in a relationship with Christ. So, the next time you feel an overwhelming pressure from work, remember that Jesus is ready to help; He’s right there ready to share your burden!