THE LORDS YOKE.
HHM Sept. 29, 2002 Pastor Jim Parisi
MAT 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
>>A very unique part of our text is that it seems to be an all-inclusive invitation, immediately following a revelation that God determines the recipients of salvation through the sovereign will of the Son.
MAT 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
>>This is parallel with JOH 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; [which shows God’s will in choosing, and then follows with,] and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
FOR OUR FIRST POINT, let’s see the harmony between God’s sovereignty in election, and His open invitation to come to Christ.
FOR OUR SECOND POINT, let’s consider how that self love and the love of temporal things is that which hinders coming to Christ, more than the lack of ability.
FOR OUR THIRD POINT, let’s consider that the invitation which is open to all men, is an invitation to serve, i.e., a YOKE OF REST.
>>FIRST, let’s see the harmony between God’s sovereignty in election, and His open invitation to come to Christ.
>>God is sovereign in His election, so how do we reconcile this with the open invitation?
>>Men do not come to Christ because they will not, not because they cannot.
>>It was not because the Jews could not come to Christ, but because of their rejection of the gospel that the apostle Paul turned to the Gentiles.
ACT 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
>>It was those in whom God had made place for the gospel who believed and came to Christ.
ACT 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
>>In the verses preceding our text, Jesus shows that the revelation of Christ is an essential element of salvation.
MAT 11:25-26 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
The only ones who receive this personal knowledge of the Father and the Son are those who are sovereignly chosen, and who’s hearts God has prepared to feel their need of Christ.
>>Our text says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
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>This word "Labour" in the Greek is "Kopiao (kop-ee-ah’-o). It means "To feel fatigue, by implication to work hard: to bestow labour, toil, to become wearied." It signifies labouring to the point of sweat and exhaustion.
>>Jesus’ reference to labour in our text teaches how He brings His chosen ones to see the futility of attempting to please God in their own human efforts.
>>Jesus’ description in our text of "...all ye that labour and are heavy laden," describes those who are weary in their search for truth--one who has despaired of trying to earn salvation.
>>The term "Heavy laden" brings to mind the heavy burdens imposed under the law by the Pharisees.
MAT 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
>>The internal call of the gospel comes to those who are desperately in need of relief from the crushing load of a sin-laden, guilt-ridden conscience.
>>Although the word repentance is not specifically used here, that is what our Lord is calling for here. "Come unto Me" demands a complete turn around, a complete change of mind.
>>This invitation is for those who feel they are overpowered and burdened with sin, they have failed any entrance into the kingdom by their own works. They are lost!
>>This invitation applies only to those who are at the end of their resources--desperate to turn from self and sin unto their Savior.
>>This is not an invitation to those who have only a legal repentance, those who are only fleeing the consequences of sin, but still love sin.
>>Jesus gave the invitation in our text to those who are weary of sin and their own self-righteousness, just after He had revealed His indignation against those who refused to repent in the previous verses.
MAT 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
MAT 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
FOR OUR SECOND POINT, let’s consider how that self love and the love of temporal things is that which hinders coming to Christ, more than the lack of ability.
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>The Rich Young Ruler refused Christ’s invitation in MAR 10:21 because he saw no beauty in the way of the cross.
MAR 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
>>This man had the right motive. He knew he lacked eternal life, and he was seeking it. He certainly knew eternal life was of much more value than all his possessions, that was why we read in MAR 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."
>>He obviously perceived the need to walk in the way of the cross, but could not make the sacrifice.
>>This man had a right attitude toward eternal life. He not only realized he missed it, but he desired it. He felt the urgency of his need!
>>He came running to Jesus and, "...and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" MAR 10:17.
>>This young man knelt at Jesus feet, in a position of humility. He risked the scorn of those about him, and showed anxiety over his condition, asking "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"
MAT 19:20.
>>This young man came to the right source, he came to the very source of eternal life. He called Him "Good Master," and so He was; for Jesus answered him, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments," MAT 19:17.
>>This young man asked the right question, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" MAT 19:16.
>>This is not, as some say, a mere trap to have Jesus condone self-righteousness, but it is an echo of the question the multitude asked Jesus in JOH 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
>>The answer Jesus gave reveals the impossibility for fallen man to keep the law, not only because of actual sin, but because of original sin as the psalmist complained of in
PSA 51:4-7 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
>>Jesus’ answer revealed this man’s total ignorance of his own sinfulness, and that he had only a legal repentance.
>>When the Holy Spirit prepares the heart for Christ, He brings them under a deep conviction of the sinfulness of sin.
JOH 16:8-11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
>>This rich young man would not confess his guilt. He said, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" MAT 19:20.
>>Last, but not least, this young man refused to submit to the authority of The Word. "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me," MAR 10:21.
>>Repentance and obedience are the fruit of God’s grace in the soul, and cannot be separated from saving faith
FOR OUR THIRD POINT, let’s consider that the invitation which is open to all men, is an invitation to serve, i.e., a YOKE OF REST.
>>Our text says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
>>Jesus’ invitation did not end there. It was not our twentieth century appeal in all its variations, i.e., "Accept Christ" or "Ask Jesus into your heart," or "Make a decision for Christ."
>>It was a call to surrender to the Lordship of Christ! He went on to say, "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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
>>Jesus’ hearers well understood that the yoke was a symbol of submission and service. Those who are unwilling to take on His yoke cannot enter into the saving rest He offers.
>>This yoke perfectly illustrates salvation! Jesus said in JOH 16:8-11 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
>>This invitation of Jesus disproves any thought of carnal christianity, i.e., the philosophy that one can accept Jesus as Saviour, but not as Lord.
>>The evidence of salvation is EPH 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
>>When the Holy Spirit works the work of regeneration, sin becomes abominable, and the yoke of Christ becomes our greatest delight as we see in
PSA 119:4-6 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
>>The yoke of submission to Christ is easy because it is true Spiritual liberty. Liberty from the yoke of Satan and sin, i.e., finding true "...rest unto your souls."
>>Our text is an echo of what Jeremiah said in JER 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
>>The response of the heart discerns, ’...between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not,’ MAL 3:18]
>>The THE YOKE OF REST, is for those that "Come unto [Christ]," seeking rest from their heavy labour and load of sin, and delight to serve under the yoke of love and delight in the kingship of Christ.
AMEN
