Come Unto Me

Text: Matthew 11:28-30

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (12/09/01)

Introduction:   

ILLUS: I’ll offer you a choice of two jobs, one paying $50,00 the other $150,000.  Both require equal skill and labour.  Which would you like?

Now what I didn’t tell you is that the higher paid position requires you to be away 6 months out of 12, you pay your own travel expenses, you are in a higher tax bracket, there are no extra benefits (all provided in the $50,000 position), it is not permanent while the other is.

Now which will you prefer?

Sadly, we make the spiritual decisions of our life in a similar, haphazard and shallow way.

We will not surrender to Christ, but do gladly surrender to a harsher master (pleasure/possessions etc.) because the benefits seem to be front-end-loaded.

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Before us is one of the most comforting invitations in all of the Scripture.

It stands out in sharp contrast to the warnings of the previous verses (Vs.20-24)

The thrust of the invitation is to come to Christ, and to learn of Christ.

There are several outstanding features in these verses that demonstrate the wonderful profit and benefit in learning of Christ!

Do you have hardship, anxiety, a burdened life, swallowed up in misery, grief, unhappiness?

My friend, sin is too heavy for you to carry! The only place in the world to put that burden is at the Cross of Christ. He bore it for you, and He invites you to come and bring your burden of sin to Him.

Psalms 38:4  For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Isaiah 45:22  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

You must learn of Christ!!

I. Who is it that Christ Invites?

“all ye that labour and are heavy laden” vs.28

John 6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Those who are both active and passive in the bearing of burdens.

A. PASSIVE – Men labour under the burden of others.

1. Religion

Reference to the Jews, who groaned under the weight of their ceremonial laws, and the traditions of the elders.

Acts 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Matthew 23:4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

2. The State

- Taxes (tax freedom day in July?)

- Some of you grew up under communistic or socialistic and oppressive governments.

3. Employment

They can be harsh and unfair.

1 Timothy 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

4. Pleasing Others

ILLUS: man, boy and donkey

B. Men labour under their own burden

This is the primary thrust of this invitation!

1. Sin

Proverbs 13:15  Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

Ephesians 4:17-18  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20  But ye have not so learned Christ;

2. Guilt of sin

Conscience is a common and unique element of humanity.

Men look to healing or appeasing that guilty conscience:  Just look at all the religion in the world today.

Islam / Jedi Knight!!??

3. Fear of retribution for their sin.

Hebrews 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

II. What is it that Christ Promises?

A. “I will give you rest” vs.28

REST from their sins; from the alarms of conscience; from the terrors of the law; and from the fears of eternal death.

Vs. 28 refers to the REST of Salvation.

Vs.29 refers to the practical sanctification of believers.

There is a rest which Jesus gives, and it is the rest of redemption. There is also a rest which the believer experiences, and it comes through commitment and consecration to Christ.

You don't have to worry about being recognized; you don't have to jockey for position.  You don’t have to be among those ambitious men trying to be chairman of something or trying to be president of something. If you are committed to Christ, you don't have to worry about that. He will put you exactly where He wants you when you are yoked up to Him.

B. “Ye shall find rest” vs.29

The rest of Christ is twofold - given and found. It is given in pardon and reconciliation. It is found under the yoke and the burden; in the development of Christian experience, as more and more the "strain passes over" from self to Christ.

There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God.

            A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God.

III. What does Christ’s Invitation Involve?

A. Take my yoke upon you

1. Definition of Yoke

The usual form was one that rested on the neck.  It was provided with straight "bars" projecting downward, against which the shoulders of the oxen pressed, and it was held in position by "bonds" or "bands"), fastened under the animals' throats.

This is a figure taken from the use of oxen; and hence signifying to labour for one, or in the service of any one.

The yoke is used in the Bible as an emblem

(1.) of bondage or slavery, Le 26:13 (God’s people in Egypt)

(2.) Of afflictions, La 3:27.

(3.) Of the punishment of sin, La 1:14.

“The yoke of my transgressions is bound by His hand”

(4.) Of the commandments of God, as in this place.

2. The alternative is not “No Yoke”

The contrast is not between "yoke" and "no yoke," but between "my teaching" (light yoke) and "the current scribal teaching'; (heavy yoke).

His yoke is easy.

2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

His burden is light.

Let any one compare them with the burdensome ceremonies of the Jews, or with the religious rites of the heathen everywhere, and he will see how true it is that his yoke is easy.

And let his laws and requirements be compared with the laws which sin imposes on its votaries--the laws of fashion, and honour, and sensuality--and he will feel that religion is "freedom,"

John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

It is easier to be a Christian than a sinner; and of all the yokes ever imposed on men, that of the Redeemer is the lightest.

1 John 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

John 13:17  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

B. Learn of Me

Many teachers in the world cry, and truly the best any man can say is “Learn FROM me”.

But only the eternal Son of God can say “Learn OF me”!!

Luke 10:39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Ephesians 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Why?

He is meek and lowly in heart.

Philippians 2:7-8  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Conclusion:     (Review)

There is a place of comfort sweet, Near to the heart of God.

A place where we our Saviour meet, Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release, Near to the heart of God.

A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest redeemer, Sent from the heart of God,

Hold us who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God.