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Lesson 17 Matthew 2020
Verses | Matthew 11:1-30
Key verse | Matthew 11:28

I Will Give You Rest
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Today, there are many people suffering from depression and stress due to the limitation of meetings and activities due to coronavirus infections. Fortunately, the ban on church small gatherings was released from 6 p.m. the day before yesterday. We have done Lord’s work with faith, but I pray that we will work with greater joy. Jesus invites us in order to let us take the yoke He gave and learn from Him. I pray that we will enjoy a true rest while worshiping the Lord and live a life full of vitality with new strength.
After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah and sent his disciples. It has been a year since he was imprisoned, and what Jesus did were teaching words and treating. He thought that what Jesus did was different from what he had expected. "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" He was sure that Messiah would judge the injustice of the world when He came. While John the Baptist was in prison for condemning injustice and the sin of Herod, Jesus did not intend to rescue him, but continued to teach God’s words and heal people. Our hearts also get tired when the things that we were expecting from Jesus are not accomplished quickly. It's hard to wait until when.

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (4-6) This is the ministry of Messiah, which is preached by Isaiah the prophet. Jesus is doing the right thing as the Messiah promised in the Bible. The way for John the Baptist not to stumble is to hold tight to God’s words he first received. And he has to see the work God is doing now.

God called Abraham, saying, " “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. " For twenty-five years God has not given him land and offspring, but helped him remember the first words He gave whenever he was in trouble. In the end, Abraham saw the achievement of the promise when he endured it with faith until the end. We also must hold fast to the words we received from God when we had trouble and when God called us. Based on that word, you must be able to see how God is working now so that you can persevere in your wishes. God's call has no regrets.

What was Jesus' assessment of John? John the Baptist got swayed by doubts about Jesus. But he is not such person like a reed. He did not get swayed by the glory of the world or by the attention of the people. He did not get swayed in front of religious leaders and the world's authorities and delivered a message of repentance. He stood firm like a rock and carried out his mission. John the Baptist was a man of God with a firm heart. He was more than a prophet. Baptist John is a forerunner of Messiah. Jesus declares that among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. But Jesus said that whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Because John the Baptist prepared the path of Messiah, but in the New Testament, the people of God saw the birth of Messiah and listened to His words. They witnessed Messiah’s hardships, death of the cross, and resurrection. In addition, they also had an amazing experience of the Holy Spirit among each person. They joined the kingdom of God through Jesus' ministry. John the Baptist belongs to a time before heaven began. All the prophets and the law prophesied are until John.

See verse 12. "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it." “Subjected to violence” means ‘to invade’ or ‘hijack’. In the Old Testament, they wanted to be saved by keeping the law. But now Jesus came. Whoever believes in Jesus is saved. A criminal who was crucified with Jesus said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Then Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." He invaded heaven by faith. Those who do not deserve anything are now invading heaven with faith in Jesus.
Jesus says that this generation is numb. They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “‘We played the pipe for you,    and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ You have to hit the palm together to make a sound.
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ They didn't think why Baptist John fasted. He couldn't enjoy eating when he thought of the generation who would be judged for their sins. Jesus came as the groom, and it is right to eat, drink and enjoy in his marriage. But they didn't think who Jesus was.

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. See verses 21-24. "21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”” The people of Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida heard and saw many miracles and words Jesus had done.  But they did not repent. Jesus was angry when He saw them. He reproaches them for their arrogance that has risen up till the sky. Is it the power of Jesus lacking? Do the words lack wisdom and emotion? Their numb, solid, and arrogant hearts did not accept the words and did not bear fruit.

Then again, they are really poor people. They are people who will live with the burden of sin and perish forever. See verses 25 and 26. "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 learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do." Those who are humble and eager to learn, like children, accept the words and be saved. God gave everything to Jesus. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Those who know God and Jesus get eternal life.

What kind of people does Jesus invite? See verse 28. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The word "weary" refers to the state of being exhausted from work without rest. Those “who are burdened” is the one who is overwhelmed by the heavy burden of life. This is how David confesses in Psalm 38:4. "My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear." After David had sinned with Bathsheba, he felt the pain of his bones falling. He couldn't even pray. His spirit was blocked. He cried hard as his tears wet his bed. But it wasn't satisfying. This is how he confesses when he deeply repented and was forgiven for his sins. “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” (Rom 4:7, 8)
Those who do not receive the Word of God live apart from the origin of grace and life. The Word is God's ordained channel of grace, the means of grace. God's Word revives our souls. “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28). Jesus feels pity for those who hear God's Word but do not realize it and are about to perish. When we come to the Lord and receive the Word, our sins are forgiven and our hearts are rested. Jesus came to the earth to put down the burden of our heavy sins.

‘To rest’ means to stop. It is to stop weariness and stop anxiety and worries. I can rest by knowing my limitation and leaving the burdens to Lord. Psalm 68:19 says. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (Selah).” That's right. The Lord carries my burden every day. We must leave our anxieties and burdens to the Lord in prayer. We must put it down before the Lord and take a rest. I cannot take infinite responsibility. Wisdom is to know my limitations and humbly leave them to the Lord. Only then can I live and continue to handle the ministry.

The Sabbath is a day off from work. Even when I stop doing my work and rest, God fills me with more than I worked. Those who do not believe in this God work without rest on the Sabbath. But we must rest on the Sabbath with faith. May we rest in Jesus, who gives us true rest. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

See verses 29 and 30. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” People who are weary and burdened are contrasted from Jesus who is gentle and humble. Jesus is a gentle person who gently embraces even the weak people. He gives new power to the discouraged through words of comfort. Jesus doesn't easily get excited or upset by anyone who attacks him. He does not try to defend his rights or claim his rights. Rather, with soft words and warm words He calms those people full of anger and resentment. So, in Greek, the word ‘gentle’ is also used to refer to ointments that heal wounds and soothe pain. Jesus carries the heavy burden of life, the yoke and burden of the law. He does not condemn even those who have sin and guilt. He puts down the burden of the law and keeps us away from the guilt and judgment of death and the rule of sin by giving us rest.

Jesus tells us to stop the weariness and put down the heavy burden and asks to wear Jesus' yoke. 'Yoke' is a tool to do work, but also a tool to make things easier. Here, ‘Jesus' yoke’ is easy and light. The easy yoke of Jesus means that it fits perfectly into my body. It is very comfortable when the clothes fit just right to you. Jesus knows my abilities, gifts, and circumstances, and lets me carry the yoke which fits to me. Also, Jesus carries the yoke with us. So it is a pleasure and joy to work and carry the yoke with the Lord. Life is overflowing.

Jesus' yoke leads us to the path of life and truth. When we live a life learning to carry the yoke of Jesus and his teachings, we bear the fruit of goodness and righteousness. In John 8:31,32, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Only by carrying the yoke of Jesus and following him we can truly rest and live a free life. There is life in Jesus and the Word. Jesus came to give us true rest.

I pray that we will rest in the Lord and live a blessed life. I hope we will study the Word deeply and see and learn from the Lord who works in our life. I pray that those who accompany with the Lord will be filled with true rest and happiness.