The Lords Yoke.

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.