Easy, when once it is an accustomed service; though hard to beginners, it is easy to progressors; the further we walk, the sweeter is our way. Yes, most assuredly; but it is easy only to them who, having heard His voice, have come unto Him at His call, and who have thus received the will, the grace, the strength to take it upon them, and to bear it. These are some of the lights and shadows of the Redeemer's life on earth; and what a reality do they impart to the Evangelical Narrative-what resistless attraction, what heavenly sanctity! The Saviour was indeed there a few days; he worked a few miracles; but they had not, as we have, all his instructions; they had not Sunday schools, and Bible classes, and the stated preaching of the gospel, nor was the world blessed then, as now, with extensive and powerful revivals of religion. II. Yet freely invites all to him. Though true faith and obedience be two things, yet they are inseparable; Show me thy faith (saith James) by thy works; and the rest of the text is not promised to either of them severally, but to both jointly. In Matthew 11:12 there is a very difficult saying, "The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force." That none could know the Father but by and in him; closes his discourse with an invitation of persons to him. When is the day of God's holy destruction to begin?" It is not stupidity which admits; it is humility. The yoke was then roughed out, and the ox wigs brought back to have the yoke tried on. 3. We do not condemn a child for that for which we would condemn an adult; we would not condemn a savage for conduct which we would condemn in a civilized man; we do not expect the person brought up in the handicaps of a city slum to live the life of a person brought up in a good and comfortable home. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+18%3A18). 5. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in … 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Christ does not mean to allege that the cross which we are to take up is not a real cross, or that the self-renunciation to which He calls us is but a nominal thing. The heavy-laden invited. Not a satisfactory rendering. He Accent Of Heartbroken Condemnation (Matthew 11:20-24), 11:20-24 Then he began to reproach the cities in which the most numerous of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. They fell on Sodom, Tyre, Sidon, and Capernaum. He is holding out his hands in appeal to the crowds, and they are drifting past without a second look; only one girl, a nurse, gives him any response. Upon him depends all the hope that man has of happiness beyond the grave. The rejected King now turns from the rejecting nation and offers, not the kingdom, but rest and service to such in the nation as are conscious of the need. 2. Matthew 12:1-14. They do not even try to be consistent in their criticisms; they will criticize the same person, and the same institution, from quite opposite grounds. There is no greater slavery than a subjection to our lusts, that if a drunkard saith "Come," we must come, if an harlot saith "Go," we must go. More resources, better tools and easier navigation Test drive it and tell us about your experience. (E. The original text was written in Koine Greek. Easy, Christ’s yoke easy to the subjects of His kingdom. No one could call John's message a gospel, good news; it was basically a threat of destruction. Is not He the Burden-bearer, and the Care-bearer, no less than the Sin-bearer of all His people? If anyone begins to argue with us about Jesus, and to question his supremacy, the best of all answers is not to counter argument with argument, but to say, "Give your life to him; and see what he can do with it." Touch a match to the powder, and if it ignited it was proof that it was good … Herod Antipas of Galilee had paid a visit to his brother in Rome. And if they of ancient days suffered thus; if more tremendous judgments fell on them than even on guilty Sodom, what shall be the doom of those who go down to hell from this day of light? In comparison with the yoke which self-righteousness imposes on mankind. Upon him depends all the hope that man has of happiness beyond the grave. (6) As the source of all unrest is estrangement from God, so the secret of true and abiding repose is that of the prodigal, who, when at length he came to say, "I will arise and go to my Father," straightway "arose and went." Easy, as it is a spiritual service: delightful to a spiritual mind. 11 1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. In Palestine ox-yokes were made of wood; the ox was brought, and the measurements were taken. Christ indeed demands a righteousness exceeding that of the Scribes and Pharisees, and teaches us that there is a depth of meaning in the law, which our consciences did not perceive; yet. (25) Answered and said. Study This × Bible Gateway Plus. Home > Study Desk. Our Price: $29.99 Save: $20.00 (40%) The ‘yoke’ answers to those ‘laboring;’ the ‘burden’ to those ‘heavy laden.’ Christ does not promise freedom from labor and burdens, but promises that we shall be so changed as to find them ‘wholesome’ and light. Matthew 11:20-30. It would be well if we were to stop judging people and churches by our own prejudices and perversities; and if we were to begin to give thanks for any person and any church who can bring people nearer to God, even if their methods are not the methods which suit us. John was neither as ordinary as a shaken reed, nor as spineless as the reed which sways with every breeze. For no human lips ever ventured to come within any measurable approach to such language. This is a short reflection or commentary on Matthew 11:28-30 about taking on Jesus' yoke, partnering with him, and finding spiritual rest and refreshment. The new message of Jesus. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Because of the prospect before him in heaven. (3) It teaches us that there are degrees of rest in the experience of the Christian disciple. See on Mark 8:34; (note). The old proverb has it that you can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. His tent the wild Arab pitches there. ESV Large Print Personal Size Bible--soft leather-look, chestnut. Do not monopolise your sorrows. When we remember the love of God, when we know that our burden is to love God and to love men, then the burden becomes a song. Our Lord having before showed; 2. For the orthodox Jew religion was a thing of burdens. He says, "Come unto me all you who are weighted down beneath your burdens."