United With The King Matthew 11:25-30 Introduction This chapter began with Jesus’ explanation of the ministry of John the Baptist (vv.1-19) and continued with Jesus’ condemnation of certain cities (vv.20-24). Now Jesus will issue an invitation to those who labor in self-righteousness or are burdened with guilt, despair or hopelessness. The rebellion against the King has already begun and soon that rebellion will result in open rejection of Jesus. And what will Jesus do? He will turn to His Father and acknowledge His sovereignty and give Him thanks! What a lesson for us! What an example for us in times of distress and deep difficulty! The will of God should always govern our lives. Jesus is willing to bypass those who are wise in their own eyes and proud in their own heart and accept those who will simply trust God and God’s Messiah. We are not always privy to the mystery of God’s will but we can adore and obey Him. Here Jesus will issue an invitation for all to come to Him. The message is no longer limited to Jews (as it was in chapter 10:5-6). The Lord Jesus Christ will throw open the door an issue an invitation to all who will believe in Him and embrace His yoke! The religious leaders had laid many a heavy burden on the people (see Matt. 23:4). But their religion of sacrifice and ritual and law keeping did not give rest and peace! No human philosophy or man made religion can bring peace to the human heart! Concealing Christ From The Proud (v.25a) Matthew 11:25a (NKJV)25At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent After pronouncing judgment on the cities Jesus offers prayers to the Father. He thanks God for concealing the message of salvation and the mission of the Messiah from the wise and prudent (or proud). The religious establishment—the scribes—Pharisees and doctors of the Law for the most part have rejected Jesus. There are two other times where Jesus expresses thanks; when Jesus takes the loaves and gives and expresses thanks for physical life (John 6:11); again in John 11:41in the raising of Lazarus when Jesus says; “Father, I thank You that You have heard me”. There Jesus expresses thanks for the upcoming victory of life over death. But here Jesus expresses thanks for imparting spiritual life to the simple and the humble. Even though the Father has concealed Jesus from “the wise and proud” Jesus appeals to all to accept him, trust him, believe him. Jesus is not opposed to reason or intellect or wisdom. Some people enjoy greater intelligence than others. Jesus is opposed to intellectual pride. A rather simple farmer once approached John 1

United With The King Matthew 11:25-30 Wesley and told the famous evangelist; “God isn’t impressed with all your book learnin’. God could care less whether you know Greek or Hebrew.” The wise Wesley replied’ “God isn’t impressed with your ignorance either.” One Bible writer wrote; “The heart, not the head, is the home of the gospel.” The brain does not keep the gospel out of the heart, and the heart does not keep the truth out of the head. It is humility, not stupidity that allows someone to receive the gospel, receive Christ into the heart (see William Barclay p. 14). Some people incorrectly place all matters of Christianity in the arena of faith, and all matters of science in the arena of facts. Reason and faith are placed in two corners of a self-constructed boxing ring and asked to ‘have at it’. But intimacy with God is not dependent or raw intellect. Being smarter doesn’t equate to being closer to God. How can I reach both head and heart? Jesus preached the greatest message of hope and liberation from sin, forgiveness and acceptance by God. Jesus preached the greatest messages, performed the greatest miracles and people still rejected Him! If people can reject God’s offer of love and hope from the mouth of Jesus; it makes perfect sense to me that no matter how anointed, prepared, and powerful my pitiful words—people will say in their hearts “no thanks”! The preaching of Jesus—perfect! The preaching of Gino—imperfect! The witness of Jesus— perfect! The witness of Gino—imperfect! “Men’s rejection of Christ proves their failure, not God’s” (see John MacArthur p. 269). “. . .these things” is a reference to the things of the Kingdom and salvation. Who are the wise and the prudent? Here the word means intelligent and caries with it the idea of educated. That is—instructed—in the wisdom of this world or wise in their own eyes. These are people who are impressed with their own academic accomplishments or credentials as the vehicle to acceptance by God. God isn’t picking on smart people—but wants smart people who rely exclusively on their reason and self-righteousness to beware. Paul the Apostle ranked with the top thinkers of his generation. Paul was brilliant by every standard that people use to measure brilliance. But even Paul did not trust his education and training or wisdom apart from Christ. In Colossians 2:3 he writes; “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. Intelligence, wealth, social standing can serve as blessings or curses. God’s gifts become God’s curses—when we rely on them instead of him or find our fulfillment in them instead of Him. “Intelligence is a gift of God, but when it is perverted by pride it becomes a barrier to God, because trust is in the gift rather than the giver” (John MacArthur p. 270). How has God hidden ‘these things’? The Lord uses people’s pride and arrogance, haughtiness and conceit, lust and selfishness to keep the most basic principles of faith ‘hidden’. Unsaved scholars and unregenerate professors ay think they have all the answers, but they don’t even know how to ask the right questions. The gospel cannot be discovered or explained by human reason alone—it must be revealed and proclaimed to the human heart by divine

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United With The King Matthew 11:25-30 revelation and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Man did not invent the gospel. God did. Jesus is not simply contrasting smart people and dumb people; the educated and the uneducated; he is contrasting those who are wise in their own eyes and trust in the wisdom of men rather than the revelation of God. The proud person will not submit to the wisdom of God. The religious person who relies on good character and good works and traditions and the observance of Holy Days has no better chance of going to heaven than the person who trusts her own wisdom or intelligence or wits on the day of judgment. For the person who is committed to unbelief no amount of proof or evidence is sufficient. In John 12:37-40 we read; “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because Isiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts; Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” Revealing Christ To Whom God Wills (v.25b-27) and have revealed them to babes. Babes is not a reference to age but spiritual condition. Babies are helpless, dependent, needy! Jesus reveals Himself to such! One unknown poet wrote; “Still to the lowly soul He doth Himself depart, and for His dwelling and His throne He choses the humble heart.”

26Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. God is sovereign. He acts according to His own will. And all the while He respects your will. A tiny percentage of the world’s population rejects the notion their is a God. 27All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. The statement is powerful on several levels; Jesus has a unique relationship to His Father. All things have been delivered to Jesus by God the Father. One way we might translate verse 27 is “Absolutely everything has been handed over to me by my Father; and no one really knows (epiginoskei) the Father except the Son and the one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Bruner p. 432). We simply cannot know God apart from Jesus Christ. Without Jesus we cannot know God! And many people are alarmed, troubled, some are even incensed by the exclusive claims Jesus makes. Note—Jesus is the one making the claim! When Jesus says; “I 3

United With The King Matthew 11:25-30 am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to Father but by Me”—do not take umbrage with Christ’s followers for simply repeating their Master’s message! You might argue—how can you simply dismiss every Jew, every Hindu, every Muslim, every atheist, agnostic, skeptic, Christian Scientist—with one fell swoop! We must allow Jesus to be in charge. We must allow God His secrets. But we preach Christ. We must also teach what the text says; there is no salvation apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved. Many people inside and outside of the church find this statement to be arrogant, narrow, bad form. We must assume Jesus has chosen us His saints—and we must tell everyone the gospel. Without exception, without hesitation, we must assume everyone is lost who does not hear the gospel, believe the gospel and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We must love them—share the gospel with them and if need be—die for them. Jesus is not in the business of giving false hope. Jesus does not want to leave people with the false impression that if people are decent, good, people they will be saved. People have the right to believe whatever they want; and if the proud and the self-sufficient chose to believe there is no God, there is no sin, there is no Savior there is no heaven and there is no hell—they are also free to believe there is no truth and there is no lie. Believing there is no God—does not make it so. Believing there is no sin—does not take away all of its horror, pain and death. Jesus makes the most outrageous claim ever made by anyone; Jesus is the center of the Christian faith; and only Jesus can reveal God to men (see William Barclay p. 15). To the self-respecting Jew listening to these statements—it became impossible—to ignore the fact that Jesus was claiming an authority and equality with God that would turn most against Him. The philosophy and wisdom of men cannot reveal God. Entertainment cannot reveal God. And both philosophy and entertainment cannot quench the nagging suspicion that perhaps Jesus is right. Approaching Christ In Faith (v.28a) 28Come to Me, The Jews were a religious people. They had Moses and the Law. They went to Temple, offered sacrifices, prayed and gave to the poor and read the Scripture in the original languages. But rather than lighten the load of guilt and sin; religion only seemed to pile the guilt higher; burning coals of inadequacy, deficiency and failure. Religion that exposes sin but provides no remedy for sin only increases the pain of sin. Legalism that demands perfection, but can only arrest and sentence and punish the offender only increases the burden. Sin is a burden. Guilt is a burden. Failure is a burden. When Jesus says “Come to Me”—He is not simply saying go to God—but 4

United With The King Matthew 11:25-30 rather “COME TO ME”. That should astonish you! Jesus is God’s fully authorized representative. When Jesus says; “Come to Me” it is not simply the command of a holy Savior but the cry of a concerned Father. Jesus doesn’t say come to me so I can send you back to Moses—or more religion or more secret information. The world can’t save you. Wealth, power, status, influence, fame cannot save you. A life time of good deeds and a legacy of charitable contributions cannot save you. A life-time of good deeds cannot erase the spiritual consequences of rebellion against God. Only Jesus can save you. When Jesus says ‘come’ he won’t reject you. He will in no wise cast you out. The invitation is real. We can only go to Jesus in humility and faith. Jesus is extending a real invitation to people to come to Him. Confessing Christ in Repentance And Rest (v.28b) all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. The one who feels no burden, no weight, no sin, no need will not come. The word ‘labor’ means to bear a burden—and is the word translated ‘weary’ in John 4:6—when it spoke of Jesus being ‘wearied’ with his journey. There are many forms of labor which can bring mental, emotional, physical, spiritual exhaustion. Heavy laden (perfect passive particle of phortizo—only here and in Luke 11:46)—it means loaded down or burdened (NIV). The burden is not always related to doing something wrong— but something right. In government or service in the world—doctors, lawyers, scientists, labor to relieve suffering and impart justice. We can use our time and talents and treasures in meaningful pursuits intended to relieve suffering and promote health and happiness. We can become weary in service to this world; in service to formal religion; in service to self—perhaps the worst form of slavery! We can only think of our friendships, relationships, or own honor or ease or comfort, or security our own enjoyment. We are sometimes slaves to Satan—steeped in gross sins— violence, drunk or high or unfaithful in marriage paying the steep price of sin. We put first what should be second—tradition, job, family and deny God His proper place. But everyone who is laboring under the heavy burden of sin, guilt, failure, inadequacy and rejection are welcome. There are voices in this world that offer rest; but they turn out to be artificial and temporary. Human beings need a rest that is both real and abiding. The world knows about the mental and emotional weight of fear, anxiety, worry, despair, fear of the future. People are weighed down by doubt, questions, perplexing problems. They are weighed down in heart—from aimless tailings, defeats, disappointments, misunderstandings. They are weighed down in conscience—and desperately want rest from guilt the burden and bondage of sin; pressure that seems to never 5

United With The King Matthew 11:25-30 subside. Weighed down in will—always saying yes—to sin—and no to the Savior—the endless struggle against the flesh and the devil and besetting sins! Weighed down—in mind, conscience, heart, will desperate for rest! “give rest” is one word in Greek (anapauso)—literally ‘I will rest you’! It is His presence that brings rest. We do not receive ‘rest’ as a gift to be kept in cold storage—his warmth and presence rests in our hearts! Here his tender voice. He gives first a promise it is divine; “I”—His is the greatest power, will and right to respond. His is unique and exact knowledge of need and how to supply it, filling the void the way an ocean fills all dark holes. It is faithful—“will”—Jesus brings certainty, for He never yet broke His word. His very presence causes calm! It is free—“give”—he gives—not sells—not barter—not trade—it is free—gratis—given through grace—given—not merely shown or told—it is His possession—and it is a possession that He is willing to share. It is personal—“you”—it is appropriated by accepting and wearing Christ’s yoke of shared obedience (see vv.29-30). It is associated with individual belief and trust—not your family or your mother or your heritage. Rest. Rest in our conscience. Rest in our heart. Rest in our mind. Rest in our will. There are blessings and benefits to education—wealth—status—friendship. But they are powerless to meet the persistent demands of a creature—made in the image of God—in rebellion to God. You need Christ. You need mercy, pardon, assurance, freedom from the penalty of sin, and the power of sin. You need forgiving grace. Rest in your heart—through instruction in the truth of God— resolving difficulties. Only the presence of Jesus can give you real rest. How is this rest possible? You must accept the invitation. Accept not decline! Surrender. Obey! Your rest is in a person—not in a religion! Rest means—‘fixed and settled’ ‘confident and trustful’—in the dictionary rest is ‘leaning, reposing, dependeing’ how true!

Inviting Christ In Submission And Obedience To Be Lord (vv.29-30)

29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Jesus extends the invitation to come, learn, rest, and submit. To the Jew—a yoke was an instrument of subjugation or submission. They were used on people by enemies, and on animals 6

United With The King Matthew 11:25-30 by farmers. The fact that Jesus refers to this yoke—as His yoke— or my yoke—may mean a couple of things. It may mean the yoke the Father gave the Son. It which case it means a willing yoke to go where the Father wants—to do what the Father wants to submit to the Father’s will. Jesus was a carpenter. He perhaps made yokes. Remember a yoke was a wooden instrument made to fit the animal to exact specifications so that the yoke would not chaff or scratch or injure the animal. God made a yoke to fit Jesus exactly. And God made a yoke to fit you exactly. Jesus adds; ‘learn from me’. The word learn is closely related to the word ‘disciple’. Jesus means learn in a submissive way—or a submissive manner. Jesus is gentle and humble in heart. His yoke is easy and his burden light. This isn’t true of Satan. His burden is awful—crushing—punishing—painful. Jesus will not give a burden to heavy to bear. In the end—He himself bears our burden. The yoke of obedience that Jesus gives is obedience to Him! Jesus liberates us—and keeps the demands of the Law—Himself. Submission to Jesus results in liberation for the soul and freedom. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Why is Jesus’ yoke easy? Because it fits so well. Jesus will give us what suits us. Conclusion Are you fatigued? Overwhelmed? Exhausted? Weighed down? Can you feel the pressure on your soul? Alan Redpath wrote that you never lighten the load unless first you have felt pressure in your own soul. You are never used of God to bring blessing until God has opened your eyes and made you see things as they really are. Perhaps its time to lighten the load. Perhaps its time to lay your burden down.

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