Out of Context: Matthew 11

Intro

maybe a lesser known or popular one than the last few

still a popular passage

one that presents a bit of a different challenge than the others as well

does Jesus contradict himself?

Matthew Again

the gospel to the Jews

Jesus is the prophesied savior

especially for this passage, Jesus is the fulfillment of the law

Jesus is going to change what it means to follow the commands of God

this was difficult for many to hear and the reason for many not following him

Chapter 11

Jesus has just sent out the twelve

before our passage he condemns the unrepentant cities

after our passage he has the discussion with the Pharisees about the Sabbath

Jesus is turning on its head what following God is meant to look like

a very different image of a way of life than what had been for a long time

truly having a relationship with God is more than keeping laws that look like man’s laws

Verses 28-30

my yoke is easy and my burden is light seemingly dangerous because it is difficult to be a Christian

elsewhere Jesus talks about one doing the most difficult thing anyone could do voluntarily

in context, Jesus is speaking in comparison to what the Pharisees or even the world will burden you with

the wise and understanding have a burden that is far greater than what Jesus, the Father, and little children have

innocence and blamelessness, unconditional loving relationships, humility and kindness in the face of everything else

these are not easy to achieve by any stretch, but I life spent striving after these rather than the law is much easier and better spent

Application

the danger of the passage out of context is a seeming contradiction and a possible promotion of a lack of effort

Here Jesus says this is easy but just before this he talks about not coming to bring peace but a sword and he talks about how only the one who takes his cross and will give his life will find it

it almost seems like there are two different Jesus’s talking in two different chapters

Jesus is saying the burden of the Pharisees is far greater in comparison to the burden of even the cross

the burden of carrying your sin and all of that guilt and worrying about your ritual cleanliness and or whether or not you will ever be good enough in everyone else’s eyes

that is heavy in comparison to what Jesus offers, everything he does and offers is out of compassion

even if what Jesus asks is still no small task, it is still the far more comforting choice of the two ish