What Makes Jesus' Yoke Light? (Matthew 11:1-30) Series

What makes Jesus' yoke light? (Matthew 11:1-30)

We were doing family devotions the other night, and I was so proud of two of them, and found their insights so helpful, that I thought I'd sidetrack for a week and just make a record of this for myself. And the best way I know to do that, is to teach on it. So this week we will work from Matthew 11:1-30. At some point, I have every intention of teaching a series on Matthew. I love Matthew; it's my favorite book in the Bible. But for now, this will be just one week.

Let's start by reading Matthew 11:1-2 (NIV no reason-- that's what biblegateway naturally loads first for me):

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]

2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

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"Preaching," as far as I know, always refers to proclaiming the good news about Jesus to outsiders in the NT. Peter didn't want to wait on tables because he was evangelizing (Acts 6), not because he was "preaching from the pulpit." So Jesus was "teaching," and "preaching/proclaiming."

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John has some doubts, about whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. He's in prison, which is unexpected, and maybe he's wondering if he threw his life away for the wrong person.

Jesus responds by giving his this encouragement, in Matthew 11:4-5 (NIV no reason):

4 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.

In the gospel of Matthew, at this point, Jesus has healed lots and lots of people, from lots and lots of weaknesses, and diseases. He's proclaimed the good news to the needy-- and part of that good news, is healing. There is life in God's kingdom. There is freedom from all of Satan's power (Matthew 10:1). [And Matthew set up chapters 8-9 to prepare us for Jesus' words here. Matthew systematically told stories of healing, for each of these things Jesus names.] So Jesus reassures John, that the miracles are proof that Jesus is Messiah.

In verse 6, Jesus says something that's maybe unexpected:

6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

Jesus is not the type of Messiah that people expected. There's something about him, that's surprising. John the Baptist is evidence of this. If John is unsure, lots of people are unsure. There's just something about Jesus, that makes it hard to commit to him as Davidic king. And so Jesus, knowing this, offers a blessing to "anyone who doesn't stumble on account of me." Jesus is maybe not what you expect, in some ways. But he is who you expect, in the big way. He is in fact the coming one. He is Messiah.

Now, what exactly is it about Jesus that causes stumbling, potentially? Jesus unpacks this, as we continue reading. Matthew 11:7-19:

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way before you.’[c]

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,

and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge,

and you did not mourn.’

18 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.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”