◄ What Does Matthew 11:28 Mean? ►

The heavy yoke of bondage to sin is a weighty burden we all have to carry on the treadmill of life, which causes physical weariness, spiritual fatigue, and emotional exhaustion. But Christ’s invitation: "Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden," brings rest to the weary, comfort for the hurting, solace to the heavily laden, and rest for the soul.

Although this gracious invitation to 'come' in the Gospel of Matthew, is offered to all people, it was initially given by Jesus to Israel. He was born of a Jewish virgin into the Jewish race, as foretold by Jewish prophets. He was the Jewish Messiah Who was born of the royal line of Israel's great king David. He came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel in fulfilment of Scripture, calling the entire nation to repent of their sin, return to the Lord, and trust Him as Saviour.

However, this offer was made to an unresponsive and unrepentant generation, who were more interested in their temporal needs being met than their spiritual needs. Jesus presented His faultless, Messianic credentials which were authenticated by His mighty signs and wonders, but His offer was refused. He was despised by men, hated by the Jewish leaders, and rejected by those He came to save.

Israel did not recognise the time of their visitation, and Jesus reached a point in His ministry when He transferred His attention from the nation as a whole, to individuals who believed in Him. They were called to separate themselves from national Israel and follow Him.

This is possibly the pivotal point when Christ's Messianic offer to the lost sheep of the whole house of Israel changed, to a call for individual believers to COME. This was the time Jesus stopped offering the kingdom to national Israel, began to teach in parables, and started to turn his undivided attention to believing individuals who laboured and were heavy laden, and invited them to come to Him for rest.

Jesus is the well-spring of Life and the Light that has come into the world to give hope to all who will trust on His name for salvation, and His invitation to 'COME' is for whosoever will. Christ alone is the One Who can heal the hurting, rescue the perishing, and save a sinner from eternal separation from our Heavenly Father; for there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved.

Jesus came to show us the Father, for He is the incarnate God, and the one who has seen the Son has seen the Father. Those who know the Son, know the Father. He shines forth the radiance of the glory of God, for He is the exact image of the essence of God and upholds all things by the word of His power. He is the visible representation of the glorious, eternal, invisible God, who has invited us all to COME.

The invitation to 'come' is from Jesus and contains no limitations or restrictions. He will turn no one away. There is no need to stand afar off because Christ calls ALL to draw close to Him. He alone can lift the heavy yoke of bondage to sin which weighs down the burdened heart. He alone can heal the broken-hearted, rescue those that are perishing, and set the captive free from the weighty burden of sin. And His invitation is open to ALL who will believe on His name.

'Come To Me' is an invitation for the broken-hearted soul and burdened sinner. Come, just as you are and I will give you rest. This promise of rest that Jesus offers is a rest that He freely gives to all who will come to Him for salvation. The rest that Christ gives, is an eternal rest beyond our understanding that can never be earned or purchased. The rest He offers, is freely available as God’s gift of grace to whosoever will COME. "Come to Me, ALL who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Dear Father, thank You that I can come close to You, knowing that the barrier of sin has been removed. Thank You that You give me true rest for my soul and perfect peace in my heart, and that in the midst of any storm, Your peace that passes human understanding remains. Look with mercy on those who have not yet come to you for salvation. Convict their hearts of their need to come to You and trust in Your redemptive blood for the forgiveness of sin. In Jesus' name, AMEN.