Come to Me, And I Will Give You Rest

Matthew 11:20-30, ESV

²⁰ Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

1. Jesus’ disposition toward unrepentant sinners is one of and .

²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

² “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, ³ so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. ⁴ They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. (Matthew 23:2-4, ESV)

¹⁰ Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? (Acts 15:10, ESV)

2. Jesus offers rest to those who are spiritually  and .

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. 

• “πραυς” (“gentle”) – humble, , meek (BDAG, 861)

• “ταπεινός” (“lowly”) – undistinguished, of no account, (BDAG, 989)

 ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ (Matthew 11:19, ESV)

3. Jesus’ disposition toward repentant sinners is , , and .

 ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

• “χρηστός” (“easy”) –, loving, benevolent (BDAG, 1090)

• “ελαφρός” (“light”) – lightweight (BDAG, 314)

These verses “take our hands, and lay them upon Christ’s breasts, and let us feel how his heart beats and his bowels yearn towards us…”
(Thomas Goodwin, The Heart of Christ, p. 16)

How should we respond?

1. to Christ.

2.  coming to Christ.