Come to Me: Christ’s Call to the Weary

Good morning! Please open your Bibles to Matthew 11.

Today, we are continuing our series, The King and His Kingdom, as we journey through Matthew’s firsthand account of Jesus’ life and ministry. This morning, we’ll be wrapping up chapter 11 before we pause and transition into the Advent season next Sunday.

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already here, and Christmas is just around the corner. As this season picks up and life gets busier, I want to encourage you to take intentional time to slow down and refocus your heart on Christ.

I believe today’s passage will be especially meaningful because it’s the only place in the New Testament where Jesus explicitly reveals His heart. In this text, the Son of God pulls back the veil, allowing us to peer into the very core of who He truly is — and what we are about to read is absolutely life changing.

If you are able to — please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 11:25–30 (CSB)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. 27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This is the Word of the Lord

Let’s Pray

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Burdened? Like you’re running on empty, and the next gas station is nowhere in sight? Does life ever feel like a relentless cycle of striving, failing, and exhaustion?

Maybe it’s the guilt of sin that’s weighing you down—the things you’ve done or left undone — the habits and struggles you can’t seem to shake — or perhaps — it’s the weariness of trying to be good enough—you have been carrying the weight of personal, family, or even religious expectations for so long that it’s crushing your soul.

These burdens aren’t new. The truth is—being weary and burdened is part of our fallen human condition. In other words, the people in Jesus’ day also felt these burdens. They too were crushed under the weight of sin and guilt, burdened by impossible expectations, and exhausted from trying to earn God’s favor.

And it was into this spiritual weariness that Jesus speaks an extraordinary word of hope: 'Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'

Friends, what Jesus is offering here is more than just temporary relief. Yes, a vacation is nice—rest from work and responsibility can refresh your mind and body—but we all know it only lasts a short time. Why? Because there is no vacation — there is no break, that can completely lift the burden from your soul.

Augustine described it this way when he wrote,

“Lord, thou hast made us for thyself, and we can find no rest till we find rest in thee.” - Augustine

Friends — there is a restlessness of the soul that cannot be satisfied by anything or anyone other than God. You see —what we need to lift our burdens isn’t just physical rest or a mental escape. What we need is a deep, lasting rest for our souls—the kind of rest that only Jesus can give.

And the good news is — for those humble enough to hear Him — Jesus is inviting us to lay down our heavy burdens of sin and self-reliance so that we might find true rest in Him. And — He shows us — that rest is not something we can achieve through our own efforts—it’s something we receive when we come to Him in faith.

We will see this amazing invitation unfold in our text through two profound movements:

1. The Lord’s Prayer (vv. 25-27)

2. The Lord’s Invitation (vv. 28-30)

1. The Lord’s Prayer

Last week, we looked at a tough section of Scripture—Matthew 11:20-24—where Jesus delivered a sobering rebuke to the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. And —these weren’t just any cities — NO- these folks had front-row seats to Jesus’ ministry. They witnessed His miracles. They heard His teaching. They had every reason to believe that He was the Messiah. But — instead of receiving the gift of repentance and turning to Jesus in faith — they responded with apathy — and in some cases — they outright rejected Jesus.

And Jesus — well — He didn’t sugarcoat it. He didn’t pull any punches. He said that if the pagan cities of Tyre, Sidon, and even Sodom had been given the opportunity they had to hear His teachings and witness His miracles — they would have repented.

Can you imagine? Jesus was saying that Sodom—a city we all know for its wickedness— they would have been quicker to turn to God in repentance and faith than these religious towns. And friends — that’s a chilling statement. — for — it reminds us that rejecting Jesus has eternal consequences.

But here’s the thing — Jesus wasn’t surprised by their rejection. In fact, He turns to prayer in verse 25—and not a prayer of frustration or of defeat, but a prayer of thanksgiving. Look at verse 25

Matthew 11:25 (CSB)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, …

Jesus began to pray out loud— Why? Well — this wasn’t just an intimate, private conversation between the Son and the Father. This was a public declaration — spoken for the benefit of those listening.

You see, this moment follows His denouncement of the unrepentant cities. And by praying out loud, Jesus was intentionally drawing the attention of any prospective believers—then and now—to something critically important..

Notice first —how Jesus addresses God —He calls Him "Father, Lord of heaven and earth."

Now — consider with me this word "Father." The title of “father” carries a ton of weight — for — it speaks to one who has both authority and affection. You see — as a Father — God is both a disciplinarian and a loving parent. And — His authority isn’t about causing fear or rebellion - our obedience to him is not because we have too — but rather — His authority is meant to inspire our respect — and as a result — our obedience to Him is rooted in our love for Him. Why? — Well — because we’re His kids.

Think about it — "Father" is much more than a title — it speaks to a relationship. A father isn’t just someone who creates life - he’s someone who forms a bond with his child. Yes its true — God is the Creator of everything — yet He calls us —His children — into a personal relationship with Him. Isn’t that truth amazing!! ??!!

But here’s the catch — some people focus so much on God being our Father that they forget He’s also Lord. Yes — He’s loving. He is kind, and full of grace — BUT He’s also the sovereign ruler over everything. From the smallest raindrop to the greatest storm, from the quietest whisper to the loudest crack of thunder — God is in control. Brothers and sisters — we need to recognize that God is not only our Father, but He is also the Lord of all creation. If we miss that — we’re missing a huge part of who God is.

So — God is our Father and He’s the Lord of Heaven and Earth — and —Jesus continues to pray — look back at verse 25 … Jesus says, I praise you God…

Matthew 11:25–26 (CSB)

25 …because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure.

Jesus is praising God for His sovereign wisdom — and — what stands out is how God chooses to reveal the truths of salvation — not to the “wise” and self-sufficient — but to those who come to Him with humility — like infants. And what this is telling us is — the first step toward salvation is recognizing that we have nothing to offer God and that we are to come to Him completely empty-handed.

Friends — it’s no coincidence that the first beatitude is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). The Kingdom of God doesn’t belong to those who think they can earn it — it belongs to those who know they can’t. The Kingdom of God belongs to the humble.

In other words — there is no one who can — or will ever —know who God is or what God’s kingdom looks like through their own effort, intelligence, or self-reliance — For God keeps these truths hidden from the proud — from who think they’ve got it all figured out. And instead — God reveals these truths to the humble— to those who come to Him with childlike trust and open hearts.

Think about it—whenever someone comes to faith, it’s not because they stumbled on the right answers or pieced everything together perfectly. It’s because God chose to open their eyes and make Himself known to them. That’s His gift, His work, and His grace.

And this connects to a bigger truth about God’s rule. You see — God’s sovereignty isn’t just about His power—it’s about His right. God is the Creator, and He has the absolute right to do whatever He wants with His creation. It’s hard for some to accept — but the truth is — we do not have a claim on anything from God—especially not after the fall.

But here’s the amazing part — God — in His mercy chooses to show us compassion. Not because we deserve it or have earned it, but simply because He wants to. Yes — it’s true — we will not always understand why God does what He does — but one thing is clear—God has every right to act however He chooses. He is God!

Now — in a culture that values personal freedom and independence — the idea of God’s sovereignty can be a tough pill to swallow. But here’s the thing — whether we like it or not, God is the ultimate authority. So instead of resisting this truth — what if we stood in awe of the sovereignty of God? Instead of pushing back, what if we humbled ourselves before Him? What if we let the reality of His rule shape how we live? And what if we approached Him with the childlike trust and faith that He delights in?

Now — with the same exalted tone of praise and thanksgiving, Jesus now turns from addressing the Father to speaking directly to His disciples. And as He does, He reveals an even deeper truth about His unique relationship with the Father—a truth that stands at the very heart of the gospel. Look at verse 27

Matthew 11:27 (CSB)

27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.

At first glance, these words might seem strange. Is Jesus saying that no one knows God at all? Not quite.

Consider Romans 1:20-21

Romans 1:20–21 (CSB)

20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

You see — everyone has a general knowledge of God. His existence is revealed in creation. Deep down — every person knows there is a Creator. But here’s the problem—our dead sinful hearts reject that knowledge.

And so — what Jesus is talking about here is something much deeper than general knowledge of God. You see — the Greek word translated into English as the word “knows” speaks of a deeper knowledge — it refers to an intense, intimate, and complete knowledge. In other words Jesus is saying that only the Father fully and perfectly knows the Son, and only the Son fully and perfectly knows the Father.

But here’s the amazing part: Jesus doesn’t stop there. He says, 'no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.' Do you see what He’s saying? Jesus reveals the Father. He makes His deep knowledge of His Father known, but not to everyone—only to those He chooses.

This means — friend— if you know the Father it’s because Jesus has chosen to reveal Him to you — it’s not because of your intelligence, your effort, or your righteousness. It’s because Jesus, in His mercy and grace, has chosen to reveal the Father to you.

I am reminded of Matthew 16,

Picture this — Jesus and His disciples are walking through the region of Caesarea Philippi. It’s an area steeped in idolatry and pagan worship, with temples and shrines dedicated to false gods everywhere you look. Against this backdrop — Jesus turns to His disciples and asks a question that cuts right to the heart of everything: 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?'

And — the disciples begin to respond with all the rumors they’ve heard. 'Some say John the Baptist,'. 'Others say Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' It’s clear that people are confused about who Jesus really is. They see Him as important, even extraordinary—but they don’t truly understand Him. But then — Jesus makes it personal. He looks at His disciples and asks, 'But who do you say that I am?'

Can you feel the weight of that question? Think about it — Jesus wasn’t simply testing Peter’s knowledge — rather this was a question that demanded a confession of faith.

And in that moment, Simon Peter stepped forward and boldly he declared, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” . And Jesus immediately responded to Peter’s confession of faith— and said, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.'

Do you see what happened here? Peter didn’t come to the realization of who Jesus is on his own. It wasn’t his intelligence or insight that allowed him to see Jesus for who He truly is. No! It was a gift— it was a revelation from God the Father.

Even Peter—one of Jesus’ closest friends—needed God’s grace to open his eyes. And the same is true for us. Friend — If you’ve come to know who Jesus is — if you’ve experienced the grace of knowing the Father through the Son — it’s not because you figured it out — it’s because God — in His grace and mercy — has revealed Himself to you.

Which means — your salvation, your ability to know and love God, rests entirely on His mercy. It’s His work, His gift, His grace. And this truth should humble us. It should fill us with gratitude and worship. And — it should also give us hope.

If you’re here this morning and you feel far from God—if you feel like you’ve been trying to figure Him out on your own or earn His favor through your efforts — take heart. You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to be strong or impressive. All you need is to come to Jesus in humility — for He delights in revealing the Father to those who approach Him with childlike faith.

And this truth sets the stage for what may be the most beautiful invitations in all of Scripture

2. The Lord’s Invitation

Jesus extends an open invitation — but it’s not for the self-sufficient or those clinging to their own strength. No! — this invitation is for the humble— for those who have reached the end of themselves. It’s for those who have realized that their own merit, resources, or efforts will never be enough. It’s for those to whom God has graciously opened their eyes and given them the gift of faith.

And Jesus says:

Matthew 11:28 (CSB)

28 “Come to me…

Now, what does it mean to come to Jesus? How does one actually respond to His invitation? Well — coming to Jesus isn’t a physical act or agreeing with some ideas about Him. It's about believing in Him with a faith so deep that it transforms every part of your life.

To come to Jesus is to believe in Him — and not just as a teacher, a prophet, or a good example — but as the Savior and the Lord of your life. It’s not just agreeing with the facts about who He is — it’s trusting Him completely, to the point where you surrender everything you are and everything you have to Him.

Coming to Jesus means submitting to His Lordship. It’s saying, “Jesus, You are in charge of my life. My plans, my desires, my decisions—all of it—I’m handing over to You. For Your thoughts and your ways and your desires are so much better than mine!”

Understand — this kind of faith isn’t passive — it’s active. It’s a deliberate choice to turn away from self-reliance and sin, and to walk toward Christ, trusting Him to lead, to provide, and to sustain you. And the beautiful thing is — when you come to Jesus in this way, you find not only salvation but also rest, peace, and a purpose that can’t be found anywhere else.

Look back at Matthew 11:28…

Matthew 11:28 (CSB)

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Jesus is calling out to those who are at the end of themselves. He’s calling out to all of you who are weary— and not just physically tired, but worn out from the relentless grind of trying to measure up.

And — the word weary here means to be exhausted from hard work. And the word burdened paints a picture of being overloaded — like a ship weighed down with so much cargo it can’t set sail.

Jesus’ original audience would’ve felt this deeply. For they lived under the crushing weight of religious rules and rituals imposed by the Pharisees.

As Jesus said in Matthew 23:4

Matthew 23:4 (CSB)

4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders…

It’s the same struggle we see today with what I call “moral therapeutic deism.” Too many sermons lay a low-level law on people’s shoulders, packaged as advice on how to have a better marriage or be a better parent. And while those things are good, folks leave those messages working hard to clean up their lives, checking all the boxes—only to feel like they’re stuck in a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. No matter how hard you try to clean things — no matter how hard you try to be a better mom or a better husband — sin keeps popping back up and you’re crushed under the reality that you are not enough.

But Jesus sees your struggle. He sees the exhaustion of striving. And in His compassion, He’s offering you a better way. He saying, “Come to me … stop striving and let me carry the load you were never meant to bear.”

And what kind of burden is He talking about? It’s not just the everyday stress of life—work deadlines, family drama, or financial worries. Jesus is addressing the heaviest burden of all — the weight of sin, guilt, and shame.

Friends — there’s nothing more crushing to the human soul than unresolved guilt. It saps our joy and drags us down.

John Bunyan captured this so beautifully in His allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress. Christian, the main character, started his journey weighed down by a massive burden strapped to his back — a vivid symbol of the guilt and shame that comes from sin. This weight grew heavier with each step, and no matter how hard Christian tried, he couldn’t shake it on his own.

As Christian makes his way toward the Celestial City — he eventually comes to a hill with a cross at the top. There, in that sacred place, he finally lays his burden down. And — the straps that bound the weight to his back were loosed, and the heavy burden tumbled away, never to return. And — this beautiful scene paints a powerful picture of what Jesus offers us. Like Christian — we carry burdens we were never meant to bear—burdens of guilt, shame, and striving.

And this morning — Jesus is inviting you to come to Him and exchange those unbearable burdens for the gift of His rest. This is what Jesus means when He says, “Come to me.” He is offering you freedom from the crushing weight of trying to make yourself right with God, and He replaces your burden with the rest and peace that only He can give.

And get this — the rest He gives isn’t temporary! It’s not like catching your breath only to start running again. This rest is lasting. It’s the kind of rest that quiets your soul and satisfies your deepest longings.

The Greek here is really striking. When Jesus says, “I will give you rest,” the literal translation is, “I will rest you.” It’s active, personal, and full of promise.

Picture this: you’re climbing a steep hill with a crushing load on your back. Each step is harder than the last, and you’re running out of strength. You know you can’t make it, but you feel stuck. Then someone strong shows up and says, “Let me carry that for you.”

That’s exactly what Jesus is offering. He doesn’t just wait at the top of the hill for you to make it—He meets you right where you are, takes your burden, and walks with you.

Friend — are you tired? Are you burdened? This invitation stands for you to come to Jesus and find rest —but — this rest requires you to stop trying to improve yourself — it requires you to stop trying to earn your salvation … It requires you trust completely in Jesus and to find your confidence in Him. And — it requires your submission. Look at verse 29

Matthew 11:29–30 (CSB)

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

A yoke — in its simplest form — was a wooden frame placed over the shoulders of animals to harness them to a plow or to work in tandem with others. It was a tool designed to keep animals aligned, working together, and carrying out their purpose.

But in Jesus’ day — the term yoke carried a deeper — more symbolic meaning. You see — a yoke represented submission— it pointed to someone being subject to another’s authority. It also symbolized a burden — like the yoke of slavery or oppression. It also symbolized bondage to religious legalism. And — for many, life itself felt like a heavy yoke—one that crushed the spirit and left them weary.

And yet, Jesus does something incredible with this image. He flips the metaphor on its head. He doesn’t call us to cast off all yokes, but instead, He invites us to take His yoke upon us. And His yoke is unlike any other—it’s not a yoke of burden or bondage, but one of freedom, rest, and purpose.

You see — if we’re going to have a proper understanding of rest, we need to realize something crucial: true rest is not freedom from responsibility. It’s freedom within the responsibility for which we were created. True rest is not escaping work, but being bound to the right work—the work we were designed for. To love Jesus. To pursue a life that lives like Jesus. And to lead other to Jesus as we pursue faithfulness to make disciples of Jesus who make disciples.

Think about it — Is a tree free when the wind uproots it from the soil? Is a fish free when the fisherman’s hook reels it out of the water? Is a train free when it derails and leaves the direction of the tracks? Of course not. Freedom isn’t found in escaping the design—it’s found in living according to it.

Augustine put it this way:

“If you take a bird’s wings away, you might seem to be taking weight off it, but the more weight you take off, the more you tie it down to earth. There it is on the ground, and you wanted to relieve it of a weight. Give it back the weight of its wings, and you will see how it flies.” - Augustine

In the same way, Jesus gives us back the “weight” of His yoke—not to burden us, but to let us soar.

This is why He says in verse 30, ' my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' It’s not because life with Jesus is without challenges — but it’s because life with Jesus is no longer lived in our own strength.

Now—perhaps you’re hesitant. Maybe you hear Jesus’ invitation to take His yoke, to let Him carry your burdens, and yet — something in you is holding you back. For some of you, it might be because you’re not sure if you can truly trust Him — and — letting go of control feels terrifying.

Maybe, if you’re honest, your burden has become a badge— you have been carrying this burden for so long that it’s become a part of your identity. The idea of laying it down feels almost impossible. Or maybe it’s your pride. You’ve been so used to trying to do it all on your own, you don’t know how to let someone else carry the weight for you. Whatever it is, you’re hesitant. You’re resisting His invitation to rest.

But let me encourage you with this: You can trust Jesus. You can trust His heart. He’s not asking you to lay down your burden so He can take something from you. He’s asking you to lay it down so He can give you something — so that He can give you rest, peace, and freedom.

Think about how Jesus describes Himself — He says, 'I am gentle and lowly in heart.'

Brothers and sisters—this is your Savior! He is lowly in heart. He is meek and gentle. This means He’s not pointing His finger at you — He’s not scolding you for your struggles or your failures. No! — He’s standing before you now with His arms open wide.

Friend — Your Savior is gentle. He’s not harsh, not reactionary, not easily exasperated. In fact, Jesus is the most understanding person in the universe. He is tender. Welcoming. Willing.

And not only that, but Jesus is accessible. Yes, He is magnificent in glory, honor, majesty, and holiness— He is completely set apart. He is the risen Christ, whom God has highly exalted and at whose name every knee in heaven and on earth will bow. He is the One whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose voice is like the roar of many waters, whose sharp, two-edged sword comes from His mouth, and whose face shines like the sun.

In other words—Jesus is so unspeakably glorious that there are no words that could ever fully capture His magnificence. Yet, in His own words, He pulls back the veil so that you and I can see His heart. And what do we see? A Savior who is gentle and lowly in heart.

Can you see how astonishing this is? The One who holds all power, glory, and majesty is also the One who stoops to welcome sinners. He is the King of Kings, and yet He is tender. He is the Lord of Lords, and yet He is approachable.

You see — in all of His splendor and glory — to those who repent of their sin and trust in Him — He is approachable. He has no prerequisites. He has no hoops for you to jump through. The minimum qualification to come to Jesus is simply this: come to Him. That’s all He asks.

You don’t need to unburden yourself or fix yourself before you come to Jesus. Your very burden and weariness are what qualify you to come to Him! Did you hear that? It’s not your strength, your goodness, or your achievements—it’s your need that qualifies you. And guess what? There’s no payment required.

Isaiah 55:1 (CSB)

1 “Come, everyone who is thirsty,

come to the water;

and you without silver,

come, buy, and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without silver and without cost!

Friends — the rest that Jesus offers is a gift. It’s not a transaction. You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to work for it. You simply have to receive it. By grace through faith in Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection, you are saved.

So, what’s stopping you? What’s holding you back? What burden are you still carrying? Is it the guilt of sin that you’ve tried to manage on your own? Is it the fear of letting go of control and trusting Jesus fully? Or maybe it’s pride, the belief that you have to handle everything by yourself?

Whatever it is — Jesus stands before you today with His arms open wide, saying, ‘Come to me.’ He’s not scolding you. He’s not pointing His finger at you. He’s inviting you—gently, tenderly, patiently—to come to Him and find rest.

Now — If you’ve never trusted Jesus before — this is your moment. He doesn’t require you to fix yourself or clean yourself up before you come. He simply says, ‘Come to me.’ Lay your burdens down at His feet, repent of your sin, and trust Him to carry the weight you were never meant to bear.

But — maybe you’ve already trusted Jesus and you know Him as your Savior, — yet you still find yourself weighed down by burdens He has already dealt with at the cross. His invitation isn’t just for those coming to Him for the first time—it’s for all of us, every single day.

Let me ask you: are you living in the rest He’s promised you? Or have you taken on the burdens of guilt and shame that He has already covered with His blood? Maybe it’s the burden of striving to earn His favor, the weight of anxiety over things you can’t control, or the exhaustion of trying to live in your own strength.

If that’s you, take a moment right now to identify the burdens you’ve been carrying. Name them in prayer. Repent, and ask Jesus to help you lay them down at His feet. You don’t have to do this in your own strength—Jesus Himself helps you release those burdens when you turn to Him in faith.

This rest isn’t something you earn—it’s a gift He offers every day. And it’s not the kind of rest the world offers—a brief escape or temporary relief. This is the deep, soul-satisfying rest that comes from knowing you are fully loved, fully forgiven, and fully held by the Savior.

So — what will you do with this invitation? Will you keep trying to carry the burden on your own, or will you come to Jesus and let Him give you the rest your soul so desperately needs?

And remember this — the One who invites you is lowly and humble in heart. He doesn’t cast out those who come to Him. He doesn’t reject you, no matter how heavy your burden is. When you come to Him, He carries you and never lets you go.

Let’s pray