Read Matthew 11 Antagonism of the Jews

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV)

There was an old farmer ploughing with a team of oxen. One was a huge ox and the other a very small bullock. That ox towered over the little bullock that was sharing the work with him. Two such unequal animals in the same yoke? See the way those traces are hooked to the yoke; you will observe that the large ox is pulling all the weight with the little bullock following it.

Jesus gives the personal invitation. It is not a call to a program, nor a system of religion, nor to a church, but to a person, Himself. It is inclusive. He bits all who are tired. Weary of fruitless efforts to deal with sin, its guilt, and personal misery. Falling short of religious legalism, or the emptiness and frustrations of his soul likened to a burden upon the back of an ox.

Jesus gives an injunction. It is to take His yoke, thats His assignment in partnership with Him so as to learn of Him. Learn is manthano, the verb form from which mathetes, disciple,. It means to learn by inquiry, by use and practice, to acquire the habit of, be accustomed to, appropriate to oneself. This verb is in the continuous present tense and describes a process of discipleship.

Jesus gives the Incentives: you will find His ways are gentle, peaceful, and powerful. His gentleness of not striking back (I Peter 2:23); He identifies with the outcast, washing of the disciples feet (John 13:5)

Jesus gives the intention. He gives rest to refresh, cease from labour from within that flows out in our life style. The service is a joyous service without burdensome. No longer to impress others, Christs approval is all sufficient. For Christ's yoke is easy, means useful, manageable, serviceable, that which fills a need and is well fitting. In other words, it is designed to fit our needs; it is tailor-made. For His burden is light not burdensome, or overbearing.

Prayer: Lord I admit my inadequacy to fulfil all my responsibility. I am coming to You and focusing on You so as to learn of Your nature. While so serving I am learning You; there is my rest.

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