Matthew 11:28
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
“You come to Me, all those laboring and having been encumbered, and I, I will give rest to you” (CG).
In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the intimate connection of knowing the Father and the Son, and that knowing the Father can only come through the Son’s revelation of Him. Next, Jesus speaks some of the most comforting words found in all of Scripture, beginning with, “You come to Me.”
As noted, He just spoke of the Father/Son relationship. He is now building on that thought, not stating something disconnected from it. It is the hope of the human soul to be reconciled to God, to know that He hears and will respond to our prayers, and to feel assured that the relationship between the two is sound.
Even people who deny this know deep inside that it is true. When the greatest crises of life arrive, we utter prayers and ask God for relief. We want Him to favor our steps and bless our efforts. It is instilled in us, and such knowledge must be suppressed. Jesus is essentially saying, “If you want the favor of the Father, come to Me.” He next defines who He is referring to, saying, “all those laboring and having been encumbered.”
The first word, kopiaó, was already seen in Matthew 6:28. It signifies to labor, toil, be wearied, etc. The second word, phortizó, translated as encumbered, is new. It signifies to load up, as in a vessel or on an animal. Figuratively, it gives the sense of overburdening. A single word that fits this thought is “encumbered.”
The words speak of those who are working to please God, feeling the weight and burden of both the law and their sin, which is imputed from violating the law. Add in the doctrines of the leaders of Israel, and the weight upon the people’s souls would have been a heavy burden. And yet, in their attempts to be pleasing through their efforts, they only felt more disconnected from God.
This is the problem with law. It seizes the moment and traps us, just as it did with our first father. Paul carefully and precisely details this in Romans. The weight and burden of the law could never provide rest to the people. On the other hand, Jesus emphatically declares, “and I, I will give rest to you.”
Here is a new verb, anapauó. It signifies completing a process. The thought is that of giving or experiencing rest after a needed task is complete. One can think of finishing a job and stopping for refreshment.
What is one of the main purposes of the plan of redemption? It is to return man to the state of rest that existed at the beginning –
“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3
This is why Jesus spoke of the Father/Son relationship before speaking of the granting of rest. The word used by Jesus here is not the same as a Sabbath rest, but it would be what one does on a Sabbath rest. There is the week of toil followed by the Sabbath. The rest that occurs on that day would be the refreshing effect that is realized.
God rested from His labors. That state of rest was set forth for man to eternally enjoy His Creator in a harmonious relationship. But that relationship was disrupted through sin. Sin came by a violation of law.
Adding more law to man only increased the knowledge and imputation of sin. Jesus, without yet explaining how He would do it, asks those around Him to trust Him. The rest that was lost would be restored through Him. To make that happen, Jesus said this in John’s gospel –
“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’” John 5:17
“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” John 5:36
The Father is working through the Son to effect the redemption of man. Jesus is the One who offers and grants God’s rest to His people. As it says in Hebrews 4:3, “For we who have believed do enter that rest...”
Life application: Jesus has promised rest, the rest offered by the Father through Him, to His people. How would this come about? What works can we do to be right with God? Paul says in Romans 7 –
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:7-12
The law only exacerbates man’s problems. When there is no law, there is no imputation for wrongdoing. But when a law is introduced, violating that law brings about guilt. This is why Jesus came. He was born under the law to fulfill it for those who could never do so. In His fulfillment of the law, He now imparts His righteousness to those who trust Him and His accomplishments.
In believing this good news, a person moves from law to grace. There is no longer the imputation of sin because that person is no longer under law. This is what Jesus is telling the people. He is the offering of God for release from the burden and toiling that man faces. He is the One to grant God’s rest. Through Him, harmony between the Creator and His creatures is restored.
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29
Lord God, thank You for the giving of Your Son for our transgressions. He has lifted our burden! He has restored us to You! In Him, we have found Your promised rest. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
