“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).

Here is a passage that is preached in various and sundry circumstances to encourage anyone, who has any kind of trouble, burden or hardship in life. Since there is very little context for Jesus' words here and this is the only one of the Gospels in which this saying is found, such a broad interpretation cannot be easily set aside. However, I do not believe that such a broad application was in view when Jesus spoke these words.

First, it lies at the heart of a chapter, where the Pharisees were seeking to entrap Jesus, and Jesus is highlighting the bankruptcy of their legalistic righteousness. They have attacked John the Baptist and now they are after Him. Their violent and wrong-headed approach to God's kingdom is contrasted with Jesus' call to repentance and faith. Thus, the very context suggests that the rest that Jesus has in mind in Matthew 11:28-30 is in stark contrast to the legalistic burdens that the Pharisees were imposing to control and manipulate Him and the Jewish people. 

Second, notice that legalistic righteousness is elsewhere called a heavy burden:

Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them (Luke 11:46).

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? (Acts 15:10).

The yoke of legalistic righteousness is wearisome and heavy, exactly what Jesus said that He came to replace. In place of that burden, Jesus would give them His yoke of grace, which brings rest to their souls. Jesus would do the heavy lifting, perfectly fulfilling the mandates of the Law and bearing the full penalty for sins on the cross.

Friends, it is easy to take Matthew 11:28-30 and preach something like, "Are you tired? Is your job weighing you down? Are people treating you unfairly? Jesus offers you rest." But this would be wrong. I do not believe this is what the passages teaches. Jesus was giving rest from the burden of the Law, not a removal of pain, suffering or hardship. It was a soul's rest that He offered, particularly for those weighed down by the straightjacket of Pharisaic legalism. 

Therefore, next time you hear this passage preached, understand its context and meaning, so that you will make a right application for yourself and for those around you.

Consequently, even if Jesus simply offers freedom from the burden of legalistic righteousness, this is no small thing. For apart from what Jesus gives, no one could have a right standing before God, and all would be condemned.

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-37).

This is a critical text for understanding what Jesus meant by "fruit" when speaking of false teachers and false prophets. Many times, "fruit" has been misunderstood to mean "behavior" rather than "teaching". Therefore, someone like Jimmy Swaggart is rejected because he was found to be immoral, even though his teaching from Scripture may have been sound. Yet, someone like Mike Bickle is accepted, even though his teaching from Scripture is not sound. 

The text above makes clear that fruit refers to what is spoken and to words. Thus, what is taught by false teachers and false prophets are in view. Now, consider what Jesus said of false prophets earlier in Matthew's Gospel:

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:15-20).

Notice that Jesus is using the same analogy of fruit from trees. Now, here He does not explain what He means by "fruit," except to say that the false prophets would be recognized as false by this fruit. This is why we must look to a passage like Matthew 12:33-37 to discover what is meant. Not ony are they in the same gospel, they also have a similar reference to the enemies of gospel truth. 

Many err by trying to find the meaning from any arbitrary reference to fruit in Scripture. So they come accross passages like Galatians 5, which speak of the fruit of the Spirit, referring to character and behavior rather than teaching. But this is Paul, not Matthew, writing about a wholly different matter, the Christian walk, not false teachers and false prophets.

Even if we allowed for meaning from another author, it would be important that the context of what is being written about be the same. Do we have such a parallel context for Matthew 7? Yes! Luke 6:

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:43-45).

Just a cursory look at Luke 6 would clearly show that Luke refers to the same Sermon on the Mount teachings that Matthew 7 records. What is more, it can probably be deduced that this text refers to precisely the same teaching found in Matthew 7:15-20 but from Luke's perspective. What is key is that Luke brings in one significant additional comment, namely, "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." This is the same language as Matthew 12 that relates "fruit" to speech and words.

These evidences show that Jesus taught that false prophets and false teachers would be known to be false primarily by the fruit of their teaching, that is, what was spoken and by their words. 

Friends, what does this mean for us, who do not want to be led astray by false prophets and teachers? Are we to accept these people because they seem to be doing some good things for people? Are we to accept these people because they really know how to "worship," crying out to Jesus with meany tears? Are we to accept these people because they seem to have some apparent power, declaring prophecies left and write, healing people, and casting out demons?

No!We are to evaluate every claim by their teaching. I have discovered that most of the claimants to "power" today routinely distort the Scriptures, extracting verses out of context, and connecting words together just to support their perspective. Their prophets are unwilling to take responsibility for failed prophecies and for backing their fellow "prophets," who also have failed, leading many astray. Their healers are unwilling to take responsibility for their failed healings and for their complete inability to heal anything organic (not functional), which was the nature of all the healings in the New Testament.

Friends, everyone and everything must be tested by the Scriptures. When self-proclaimed prophets fail the test, we must be ready to reject their claims and their authority. I have recently stepped out of my home church because I believe the top leaders have embraced certain false prophets and teachers and have set in motion, in increasing measure, the propagation of their wrongful teaching within the congregation. I cannot in good conscience be a participant, even as a dissenting bystander, to this trend within the church.

Notice, right after Jesus warned about the wrongful teachings of the false prophets, He declared,

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

Neither prophecies, nor exorcisms, nor claims to miracles mean anything. It is the Word of the Lord that stands, and every believer must be true to God's Word. And we have this assurance, that the Word of God is all-sufficient for us to do all that God expects from us:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:48-50 NIV)

"Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:37-39 NIV)

These are some strong statements by Jesus with respect to family and family relationships. We typically define family closeness by biology and blood. We say he is my father or she is my daughter because they share a blood-identity with us. Yet, what Jesus speaks of here is something that is deeper and greater than blood identity. It is a relationship of believers to one another on the basis of God's will and the Spirit, where God is our Father and Jesus is our Husband and we are to each other spiritual brothers and sisters. 

Jesus is saying that our spiritual ties must be greater than our biological ties. In other words, a believing brother must be closer to you than an unbelieving spouse. And no biological mother or father should take precedence over your love and obedience to God. This is also true of our sons and daughters. They must not precede our loyalty to God. 

Jesus says in no uncertain terms that if we get this order wrong, we are not worthy of Him. He says three times that if we love anyone, whether our parents, our children, or our very lives more than Jesus, "(You are) not worthy of Me." While I would love to water this down and make it easier to digest, Jesus seems to deliberately use this strong language to prevent me from doing so. So what I'm confronted with is my failure and disobedience, a trembling expectation of God's grace in view of His other promises, and a daily and ardent desire to better obey Him.

You may ask, "How have you disobeyed?" I have disobeyed when I give more time and attention to my kid's athletic or academic development when the Scripture clearly commands the emphasis be on their spiritual and moral instruction. I have disobeyed when I prioritize "other" events that displace or deprioritize worship and biblical instruction. I have disobeyed when I give more time to getting unnecessary things for myself and my family than to giving to those that are truly in need. I have disobeyed when... well, you can fill in the blank here. 

Jesus warns the towns near Galilee which saw the miracles and heard his teaching yet remained unrepentant. Then Jesus offers encouragement:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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." (Matt 11:28-29)

The are many thoughts that come to mind. Firstly, that God always extends His hand of grace - though we remain unrepentant Christ calls us to his rest. While we were sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). Repeatedly in the Old testament God disciplines Israel for their betrayal but always with a promise of grace for those that were repentant. Gods grace always triumphs over our sin.

Next I take that Jesus the image of a yoke - the wooden beam that bind oxen together. Often young ox were bound to an adult to teach them, all the while the adult does the real work (my yoke is easy and burden is light) - this is the image Christ portrays. We need only follow in His steps, Christ will do the heavy lifting. While I love the imagery portrayed in this verse I find that in my own experience I have never worked harder than when I began to follow Christ. Certainly the life of a Christian is not free from toil and struggle, if anything we are assured by the bible that we will suffer for Christ's name. I have come to understand over time that the rest is peace in our hearts, knowing that Christ promises are assured.

Finally, I note that Christ's statement that he is 'humble in heart', this an extraordinary part of Jesus teaching and the example he sets for us all. The life of a true Christian is that of a humble servant - Christ demonstrated throughout his ministry, vividly portrayed as he washed the disciples feet. In Mark 25 Christ says that he came to this world not to be served, but to serve and give his life as ransom for many (the most humble act of all).

Pride is the antithesis of humility and is warned against throughout the bible. In verse 25 just preceding this passage Christ condemns the prideful (the wise and learned) that remained unrepentant. Often the learned of this world, desire knowledge over 'Truth', information over true Wisdom. Wisdom starts with humility, creating room for faith.

Friends,

Here's an explanation of Matthew 11:12, which has been preached in various ways...

Matthew 11:12 reads, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. " (NASB). Now, the NIV translates this verse, “the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it,” which gives another sense altogether. Interestingly, when the NIV was updated by the TNIV, they retranslated this verse as “the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it,” which matches the sense of the NASB.

The cardinal rule of all biblical interpretation is to understand all text in context: textual/literary context, historical/cultural context, and grammatical context.  Parallels to Matthew 11:12 can be found in Mark 9:11-13 and Luke 16:16-17.

Now, some have suggested a metaphorical and symbolic interpretation of Matthew 11:12, such that instead of reading it as "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence," the text should read, "the kingdom of heaven permits/rewards violence," drawing the application that Christians should, like John the Baptist, pursue a "holy violence." Now, is this interpretation justified? Do we need to interpret this verse figuratively and even allegorically or can we take it more literally and plainly?

We observed that there was much in the immediate context that suggest that Christians would suffer violence as they were witnesses for Christ (Christ sent the disciples as "sheep among wolves"- 10:16; they would be persecuted severely - 10:17ff; they would be hated and killed - 10:21-23; but they must "take up their cross", even give up their lives - 10:38-39). We also looked at the parallel passage in Mark 9:11-13, where Jesus spoke of John as Elijah. There he added, "Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer and be rejected" and of John the Baptist, "They have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him." Again, we got a sense of a literal violence, rejection and persecution. Finally, in another parallel in Luke 16:16-17, we read,

The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.

Once again, we get a vague expression from the words "and everyone is forcing his way into it." However, this time, it is set in contrast to the expression, "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away..." suggesting that whatever the meaning of the phrase it should be seen negatively, so that, even though people were forcing their way into the kingdom on their own terms, they would not succeed because God's Word cannot fail.

We looked at a number of other passages that argue that the religious rulers and Jews were seeking a political Messiah rather than a Savior for their souls. Rather than repent of their sins, they wanted to revolt against their Roman captors. We discovered that the Jews had a practice of trying to do things their way rather than submit to God's way. For example, they tried to establish their own righteousness rather than embracing the righteousness provided by God through Jesus Christ (cf. Romans 10:1-4). Rather than teach the true Law of Moses, the Pharisees developed “traditions” around the Law which became a hindrance to obeying the true Law (Mark 7:8-13) and a stumbling block for people so that they did not see their need for God’s grace in Christ (Romans 9:30-33). Also, rather than repent and receive Jesus as the Savior from their sins first, the Jewish people intended to forcefully make Him their political king. This is what we learn from John 6:14-15,

Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, 'This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.' So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Therefore, a compelling case can be made against reading Matthew 11:12 figuratively or seeing the verse as a positive endorsement for holy violence. One additional comment is noteworthy. If we were to see “holy violence” in this text, then John the Baptist and the OT Prophets are presented as representatives of those that were living out this “holy violence” (Matthew 11:13). However, John the Baptist was in prison at the time and about to be beheaded. And as for the OT Prophets, Jesus had earlier mentioned them as those who had a history of being "persecuted" (Matthew 5:12). This is hardly an endorsement for believers doing "holy violence," at least not the kind that most people who teach this have in mind. More accurately, it might be an endorsement for faithful perseverance in times when believers receive unholy violence done against them. It is a call to perseverence, much like Hebrews 11, that great chapter on the heros of faith. So, we read in Hebrews 12:1-3,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.