YOU’RE INVITED

TEXT: Matthew 11:28-30

INTRODUCTION: Here is an offer that is made to us and an invitation to accept it.  After so solemn a preface (25-27) we may well expect something great; and it is so, a faithful saying and well worthy of all acceptation words whereby we may be saved.  We are here invited to Christ as our priest, prince, and prophet; to be saved, to be under submission and to be taught by Him.

I.          YOU’RE INVITED TO REST (v.28)

A.        The character of the persons invited

1.      The description

a)      Those who are exhausted

(1)  Work; being overburdened with too much to do

(2)  Worldliness and carnality (fleshly pleasure)

(3)  Sin and guilt and the power of both

(4)  Money & material possessions and the unsatisfying spirit of both

(5)  Fame and the emptiness of it

(6)  Power and the loneliness of it

(7)  The rituals and traditions of religion

(8)  Rules and regulations

b)      All that labor and are heavy laden

c)      All those and only those are invited to rest in Christ who are sensible to sin as a burden and groan under it

d)      All those who are not only convinced of the evil of sin, but are contrite in soul for it

e)      All those that are really sick of their sins, weary of the service of the world and of the flesh

2.      The illustrations

a)      The prodigal and the publican who confessed their conditions Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

b)      Peter’s hearers who were pricked in their hearts

Acts 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

c)      The Philippi an jailor who trembled

Acts 16:29‑30 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

d)      This is necessary preparation for pardon and peace

e)      The Comforter must first convince and then He will deal

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

B.        The substance of the invitation

1.      The call given

a)      We must accept Him as our Physician and Advocate; freely willing to be saved by Him and in His own way and upon His own terms

b)      Come and cast thy burden on Him.  This is the gospel call

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

2.      The blessing promised “I will give you rest”

a)      Jesus Christ will give assured rest to those weary souls who by living faith come to Him for it

b)      Rest from the terror of sin

c)      Rest from the power of sin

d)      A rest in God and complacency of soul in His love

II.       YOU’RE INVITED TO SUBMISSION (v29)

A.        The significance of the yoke

1.      The “yoke” refers to oxen’s yoke. The yoke was a wooden collar-like instrument placed on the neck and shoulders of the oxen. It was used for tying the ropes of a plough to the oxen or for tying whatever load he had to pull. It was extremely important that the yoke be fitted for the shoulders of the oxen to prevent rubbing the flesh raw and causing sores. At first the oxen might have rebelled against the yoke, but he soon learned that it eased the burden of pulling. The yoke refers to a man’s life and task while on earth.

2.      It is Christ’s yoke

a)      The word “easy” can also mean well-fitting. Christ is saying that His yoke, His life and task, are fitted to a person. It is just what a person needs, and it is easy, the easiest life and task the person could live and undertake.

b)      We must come to Jesus Christ as our ruler and submit ourselves to him

c)      To call those who are weary and heavy laden to take a yoke upon them looks like adding affiliation to the afflicted; but the pertinence of it lies in the work “MY”

d)      You are under a yoke which makes you weary, shake that off and try mine, which will make you easy

3.      It suggests service and submission

a)      Servants and subjects are said to be under the yoke

b)      To take Christ’s yoke upon us is to put ourselves into the relation of servants and subjects to Him and then to conduct ourselves accordingly in a conscientious obedience to all His commands and a cheerful submission to all His disposals.

B.        The nature of the yoke and burden

1.      It is an easy yoke

a)      The yoke of Christ’s commands is an easy yoke, it is not only easy, but gracious; It is sweet and pleasant

b)      There is nothing in it to gall the yielding neck, nothing to hurt us but on the contrary much to refresh us

c)      It is a yoke lined with love

2.      It is a light burden

a)      The afflictions from Christ which befall us as men and especially, afflictions for Christ which befall us as Christians constitute the burden of Christ

b)      This burden in itself is not joyous but grievous; yet as it is Christ’s it is light

A teacher read to her class the text, “My yoke is easy.”“Who can tell me what a yoke is?” she asked. A boy said, “A yoke is something they put on the necks of animals.”Then the teacher asked, “What is the yoke God puts on us?”A little girl said, “It is God putting His arms around our necks.”

c)      God’s presence, Christ’s sympathy, and especially the Spirit’s aids and comforts make suffering for Christ light and easy

III.    YOU’RE INVITED TO LEARN (v29-30)

A.        The conditions to meet in order to learn

1.      We must will to learn

a)      We must come to Jesus Christ as our Teacher and set ourselves to learn of him

b)      We must heed His teaching

c)      We must daily heed the instructions he gives by his Word and Spirit

d)      We must converse much with what He said and have it ready to use upon all occasions

e)      We must conform to what He did and follow in His steps  

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

B.        The reasons given for learning

1.      Christ is worthy to teach “I am meek and lowly in heart”

a)      He is meek and can have compassion on the ignorant

b)      Many teachers are hot and hasty, which is a discouragement to those who are dull and slow; but Christ knows how to bear with such and to open their understandings

c)      He is lowly in heart; He condescends to tech poor scholars and novices.  He teaches the first principles and stoops to the most humble capacities

2.      The effect of Christ’s teaching

a)      Rest for the souls is the most desirable rest

b)      The only sure way of finding this rest is to sit at Christ’s feet and hear His word

c)      The way of duty is the way of rest. The understanding finds rest in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.  The affections find rest in the love of God and Jesus Christ

d)      This rest is to be had with Christ for all those who learn of Him

CONCLUSION: This is the sum and substance of the Gospel, the call and offer.  We are told, in a few words, what the Lord Jesus requires of us and it agrees with what God said of Him once and again; “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Hear ye Him.”