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

Matthew 11:28-30(NIV)


The Invitation

  1. Who spoke these words?
    Our Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. What is the invitation our Lord gives?
    "Come to me."
  3. What kind of people are invited?
    "All who are weary and burdened."
  4. What is meant by the word "Come"?
    To follow Him (Matthew 4:19), to believe on Him (John 9:35) and to look to Him (John 3:14,15)
  5. To whom are we to come?
    To our Lord Jesus Christ.
  6. Why is it necessary to come to Him?
    Because He alone can give us rest.
  7. What does our Lord promise to those who come to Him?
    "I will give you rest"
  8. What rest does our Lord offer?
    "Rest for our souls"

The Invited

  1. Who are the people who need rest?
    All "who are weary and burdened"
  2. What is meant by those who are "weary"?
    Those who feel the burden and seek to get rid of it.
  3. What is meant by those who are "burdened"
    Those on whom the weight of sin presses as a load.
  4. How does our Lord say we can get rid of our weariness?
    By taking His yoke upon us.
  5. How does our Lord say we get rid of our burden?
    By learning of Him.
  6. What does this teach us about the rest He gives?
    That it is not idleness but joyful service that brings rest.
  7. What qualities does our Lord want us to learn?
    Gentleness and humbleness.
  8. How did He teach us "gentleness"?
    "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate." (1 Peter 2:23)
  9. How did He teach us "humbleness"
    "He left his glory and took our nature. (Philipians 2:7)
  10. What is meant by "take My yoke upon you"?
    Enter into My service (1 Kings 12:9-11, Jeremiah 2:20, Psalm 2:3)
  11. What is a yoke?
    The piece of wood laid upon the neck of oxen.
  12. How do we learn of our Lord Jesus Christ?
    By following His example and heeding His teaching.

The Result of Acceptance

  1. What does our Lord promise to those who are "weary and burdened"?
    "I will give you rest"
  2. How does our Lord give us rest?
    By asking us to stop struggling and by lifting our burden.
  3. When do we begin to struggle because of sin?
    When God shows us our wickedness in His sight.
  4. When do we feel the burden of our sin?
    When God's warnings reach our hearts.
  5. Who are they then, who respond to His invitation?
    Those whose hearts have been opened by God the Holy Spirit.
  6. When can we receive this gift of "rest"?
    When we are really weary of sin and long to be delivered.
  7. When the burden is lifted, what "rest" do we receive?
    The rest of pardon and acceptance with God.
  8. What are we invited to do?
    To take service with our Lord Jesus Christ.
  9. What is the difference between the burden of service and the burden of sin?
    The burden of service is light, the burden of sin is heavy.
  10. What kind of "rest" do we find in service?
    The freedom which comes from doing God's will.

Text Three

Adapted from:
"The one hundred texts of the society for Irish Church Missions."
T.C. Hammond, Dublin. 1939