LAUNDRY LIST
CHAPTER 6
The Yolk of Christ
Matthew, Chapter 11:
28) 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.
"Is the yolk of Christ really easy and the burden light? Didn't Christ say that things would be really, really bad for us in the end times, and that we would have done to us all that was done to Him and more?"
This question was asked of me, and, honestly, I had to pause and think about it before I answered. I wanted to be sure to have correct Scriptural evidence to respond. Consider that in the Gospel of John, Christ says:
Chapter 11:20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
When one looks at the two Passages, it would seem that they are in conflict, right? That's what this person was asking me.
Actually, they are not in conflict, for they are speaking of two entirely different things. In Matthew Jesus is speaking of spiritual peace. One receiving peace in their soul. That is different from the persecution believers experience from the world. In fact, it is the "rest" from such persecution! When we are beset with all sorts of trials and/or tribulations, and attacks, it is Christ who is able to give us peace in our hearts, and rest for our souls.
However, we must follow Him. We must place all our faith and trust in Him, and walk in obedience to Him. He will never leave or forsake us, nor will He allow us to be tempted/tested beyond what we can bear. He will be our Defender, our Intecessor, and our Warrior! His yolk (Commandments) are Holy and Just, and not too heavy for us to bear.
Matthew Henry's Commentary has a wonderful explanation for this.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Matthew 11:25-30
It becomes children to be grateful. When we come to God as a Father, we must remember that he is Lord of heaven and earth, which obliges us to come to him with reverence as to the sovereign Lord of all; yet with confidence, as one able to defend us from evil, and to supply us with all good. Our blessed Lord added a remarkable declaration, that the Father had delivered into his hands all power, authority, and judgment. We are indebted to Christ for all the revelation we have of God the Father's will and love, ever since Adam sinned.
Our Saviour has invited all that labour and are heavy-laden, to come unto him. In some senses all men are so. Worldly men burden themselves with fruitless cares for wealth and honours; the gay and the sensual labour in pursuit of pleasures; the slave of Satan and his own lusts, is the merest drudge on earth. Those who labour to establish their own righteousness also labour in vain. The convinced sinner is heavy-laden with guilt and terror; and the tempted and afflicted believer has labours and burdens.
Christ invites all to come to him for rest to their souls. He alone gives this invitation; men come to him, when, feeling their guilt and misery, and believing his love and power to help, they seek him in fervent prayer. Thus it is the duty and interest of weary and heavy-laden sinners, to come to Jesus Christ. This is the gospel call; Whoever will, let him come. All who thus come will receive rest as Christ's gift, and obtain peace and comfort in their hearts. But in coming to him they must take his yoke, and submit to his authority. They must learn of him all things, as to their comfort and obedience. He accepts the willing servant, however imperfect the services. Here we may find rest for our souls, and here only. Nor need we fear his yoke.
His commandments are holy, just, and good. It requires self-denial, and exposes to difficulties, but this is abundantly repaid, even in this world, by inward peace and joy. It is a yoke that is lined with love. So powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness. The way of duty is the way of rest. The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. Such is the Redeemer's mercy; and why should the labouring and burdened sinner seek for rest from any other quarter? Let us come to him daily, for deliverance from wrath and guilt, from sin and Satan, from all our cares, fears, and sorrows. But forced obedience, far from being easy and light, is a heavy burden. In vain do we draw near to Jesus with our lips, while the heart is far from him. Then come to Jesus to find rest for your souls.
This powerful assurance is exactly what is required for us to be able to "endure" the comming Tribulations, and receive eternal salvation just as Christ stated....
Matthew, Chapter 24:
8) All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Remember; when the Apostles were faced with persecutions of the worst sort, they sang and praised God! In prison, in the face of sure death, in horrible sickness, their souls were at peace because they were in the "rest" of Christ Jesus. So must we seek to enter into His rest. Seeking to be "fully consecrated," our lives fully given to Him, forsaking ourselves and taking His yolk upon us willingly, lovingly, and completely.
God bless.......
CHAPTER 6
The Yolk of Christ
Matthew, Chapter 11:
28) 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.
"Is the yolk of Christ really easy and the burden light? Didn't Christ say that things would be really, really bad for us in the end times, and that we would have done to us all that was done to Him and more?"
This question was asked of me, and, honestly, I had to pause and think about it before I answered. I wanted to be sure to have correct Scriptural evidence to respond. Consider that in the Gospel of John, Christ says:
Chapter 11:20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
When one looks at the two Passages, it would seem that they are in conflict, right? That's what this person was asking me.
Actually, they are not in conflict, for they are speaking of two entirely different things. In Matthew Jesus is speaking of spiritual peace. One receiving peace in their soul. That is different from the persecution believers experience from the world. In fact, it is the "rest" from such persecution! When we are beset with all sorts of trials and/or tribulations, and attacks, it is Christ who is able to give us peace in our hearts, and rest for our souls.
However, we must follow Him. We must place all our faith and trust in Him, and walk in obedience to Him. He will never leave or forsake us, nor will He allow us to be tempted/tested beyond what we can bear. He will be our Defender, our Intecessor, and our Warrior! His yolk (Commandments) are Holy and Just, and not too heavy for us to bear.
Matthew Henry's Commentary has a wonderful explanation for this.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Matthew 11:25-30
It becomes children to be grateful. When we come to God as a Father, we must remember that he is Lord of heaven and earth, which obliges us to come to him with reverence as to the sovereign Lord of all; yet with confidence, as one able to defend us from evil, and to supply us with all good. Our blessed Lord added a remarkable declaration, that the Father had delivered into his hands all power, authority, and judgment. We are indebted to Christ for all the revelation we have of God the Father's will and love, ever since Adam sinned.
Our Saviour has invited all that labour and are heavy-laden, to come unto him. In some senses all men are so. Worldly men burden themselves with fruitless cares for wealth and honours; the gay and the sensual labour in pursuit of pleasures; the slave of Satan and his own lusts, is the merest drudge on earth. Those who labour to establish their own righteousness also labour in vain. The convinced sinner is heavy-laden with guilt and terror; and the tempted and afflicted believer has labours and burdens.
Christ invites all to come to him for rest to their souls. He alone gives this invitation; men come to him, when, feeling their guilt and misery, and believing his love and power to help, they seek him in fervent prayer. Thus it is the duty and interest of weary and heavy-laden sinners, to come to Jesus Christ. This is the gospel call; Whoever will, let him come. All who thus come will receive rest as Christ's gift, and obtain peace and comfort in their hearts. But in coming to him they must take his yoke, and submit to his authority. They must learn of him all things, as to their comfort and obedience. He accepts the willing servant, however imperfect the services. Here we may find rest for our souls, and here only. Nor need we fear his yoke.
His commandments are holy, just, and good. It requires self-denial, and exposes to difficulties, but this is abundantly repaid, even in this world, by inward peace and joy. It is a yoke that is lined with love. So powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness. The way of duty is the way of rest. The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. Such is the Redeemer's mercy; and why should the labouring and burdened sinner seek for rest from any other quarter? Let us come to him daily, for deliverance from wrath and guilt, from sin and Satan, from all our cares, fears, and sorrows. But forced obedience, far from being easy and light, is a heavy burden. In vain do we draw near to Jesus with our lips, while the heart is far from him. Then come to Jesus to find rest for your souls.
This powerful assurance is exactly what is required for us to be able to "endure" the comming Tribulations, and receive eternal salvation just as Christ stated....
Matthew, Chapter 24:
8) All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Remember; when the Apostles were faced with persecutions of the worst sort, they sang and praised God! In prison, in the face of sure death, in horrible sickness, their souls were at peace because they were in the "rest" of Christ Jesus. So must we seek to enter into His rest. Seeking to be "fully consecrated," our lives fully given to Him, forsaking ourselves and taking His yolk upon us willingly, lovingly, and completely.
God bless.......
