IT DOES NOT MATTER WHOSE FAULT IT IS!
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.”
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.”
One of the great passages in the
entire Bible is this passage. However, verse 28 is one of the most
misunderstood verses in the Bible in my opinion. Let me give you a little word
study first. The word “rest” does not mean “rest” from your burden but “rest”
in your burden. God never promises He will take any ones’ burden away. The
truth is He said, “Let every man bear his own burden.”
entire Bible is this passage. However, verse 28 is one of the most
misunderstood verses in the Bible in my opinion. Let me give you a little word
study first. The word “rest” does not mean “rest” from your burden but “rest”
in your burden. God never promises He will take any ones’ burden away. The
truth is He said, “Let every man bear his own burden.”
Sometimes people would ask me,
“Oh, preacher pray that God will lift this burden?” If I did it would not do
any good! The reason is that God is not going to take your burden away.
“Oh, preacher pray that God will lift this burden?” If I did it would not do
any good! The reason is that God is not going to take your burden away.
The word “rest” means not rest
from your burden but rest in your burden. The difference between the unsaved
world and those Christians who walk with God is not the fact of no burdens
rather the difference is God’s people have rest in their burdens. God does not
deliver from heartache but He does give strength in ones heartache. He helps
His children bear the burden that exists.
from your burden but rest in your burden. The difference between the unsaved
world and those Christians who walk with God is not the fact of no burdens
rather the difference is God’s people have rest in their burdens. God does not
deliver from heartache but He does give strength in ones heartache. He helps
His children bear the burden that exists.
God does not take away our burdens.
We sing about it in our Hymn Books of God taking away our burdens but the truth
is there is a difference between songs and Scriptures. God gave us a song to
sing as we bear our burdens. God never said in these Scriptures that we would
get rest from our burdens but rather He did say we would get rest in our
burdens.
We sing about it in our Hymn Books of God taking away our burdens but the truth
is there is a difference between songs and Scriptures. God gave us a song to
sing as we bear our burdens. God never said in these Scriptures that we would
get rest from our burdens but rather He did say we would get rest in our
burdens.
It does not say here that God
will lift our burdens. It does not say He would lighten our burdens for God
simply gives us a yoke. God is saying come to me and we will change not the burden
but the harness will be given to carry the burden. God is saying we will have
the same burden but He will add a yoke to help us bear the burden that will not
go away.
will lift our burdens. It does not say He would lighten our burdens for God
simply gives us a yoke. God is saying come to me and we will change not the burden
but the harness will be given to carry the burden. God is saying we will have
the same burden but He will add a yoke to help us bear the burden that will not
go away.
Note verse 30! This verse is not
two statements for it is one statement. He is saying, “My yoke is easy so my
burden is light.” An example would be, “I ate lunch and I am full” or “I am
full because I ate lunch.” Another example would be, “I have my coat on and I
am warm” or “I am warm because I have my coat on.” Thus Jesus is saying, “My
yoke is easy so my burden is light” or “My yoke is easy and my burden is
light.”
two statements for it is one statement. He is saying, “My yoke is easy so my
burden is light.” An example would be, “I ate lunch and I am full” or “I am
full because I ate lunch.” Another example would be, “I have my coat on and I
am warm” or “I am warm because I have my coat on.” Thus Jesus is saying, “My
yoke is easy so my burden is light” or “My yoke is easy and my burden is
light.”
Every single person reading this
chapter needs a burden or heartache. Jesus said, “I will not lift your
heartache. I will not take it away but you come to me. I will give you a
harness that will make the same load you had easier for you to bear.”
chapter needs a burden or heartache. Jesus said, “I will not lift your
heartache. I will not take it away but you come to me. I will give you a
harness that will make the same load you had easier for you to bear.”
The word “yoke” means there are
two in it! It is defined as “a frame that harnesses a pair.” Jesus is saying,
“I am not going to touch your burden but if you will yoke up with me I will be
in there with you helping you. I will help pull. I will not take away your
burden. I will not make the burden lighter but I will help you pull.”
two in it! It is defined as “a frame that harnesses a pair.” Jesus is saying,
“I am not going to touch your burden but if you will yoke up with me I will be
in there with you helping you. I will help pull. I will not take away your
burden. I will not make the burden lighter but I will help you pull.”
So we are to come to Jesus with
our burden, get into a harness, yoke up with Jesus, carrying the same burden,
and then add Jesus’ burden to ours. When we do that two things will happen; one
is we will learn of Him and two is He will give us rest in the burden not from
the burden.
our burden, get into a harness, yoke up with Jesus, carrying the same burden,
and then add Jesus’ burden to ours. When we do that two things will happen; one
is we will learn of Him and two is He will give us rest in the burden not from
the burden.
We all need burdens and a load to
carry. That is one of the problems with this nation of ours: no responsibility,
no character, and no integrity. The book of Lamentations says, “it is good for
one to bear his yoke in his youth.” That is why college students ought to work
their way through college in my opinion.
carry. That is one of the problems with this nation of ours: no responsibility,
no character, and no integrity. The book of Lamentations says, “it is good for
one to bear his yoke in his youth.” That is why college students ought to work
their way through college in my opinion.
We pay grown men millions of
dollars to bounce a ball on a hardwood floor like a little boy. They run up an
down that hardwood floor in their underwear and put the little round ball in a
metal hoop and are paid millions to do it! These are the ones our young people
look up to as “heroes.” No the truth is the real “heroes” are those dying on
foreign soil so that our nation will have freedom!
dollars to bounce a ball on a hardwood floor like a little boy. They run up an
down that hardwood floor in their underwear and put the little round ball in a
metal hoop and are paid millions to do it! These are the ones our young people
look up to as “heroes.” No the truth is the real “heroes” are those dying on
foreign soil so that our nation will have freedom!
TWO GROUPS IN THESE SCRIPTURES
There is not just one group here
in our Scripture. There are two groups in our Scripture. First those that labor
and second those that are heavy laden. The ones that labor cause their own
burden. The ones that are heavy laden are those that did not cause their
burden. It all came about because of someone else.
in our Scripture. There are two groups in our Scripture. First those that labor
and second those that are heavy laden. The ones that labor cause their own
burden. The ones that are heavy laden are those that did not cause their
burden. It all came about because of someone else.
Jesus is saying if you get
yourself into trouble come unto me and I will give you rest or if someone else
caused you to be in this trouble come unto me! WOW! That means God is just as
interested in giving you rest if you caused your own trouble and are a
scoundrel who hurts. He is saying come to Jesus!
yourself into trouble come unto me and I will give you rest or if someone else
caused you to be in this trouble come unto me! WOW! That means God is just as
interested in giving you rest if you caused your own trouble and are a
scoundrel who hurts. He is saying come to Jesus!
God is interested in those that
hurt not how you became hurt! God is interested in those that have burdens not
in how you came to have those burdens. If you labor He is saying come unto me
and I will give you rest. If someone thrust this burden on you come unto me and
I will give you rest.
hurt not how you became hurt! God is interested in those that have burdens not
in how you came to have those burdens. If you labor He is saying come unto me
and I will give you rest. If someone thrust this burden on you come unto me and
I will give you rest.
A young lady gets herself in
trouble. She is pregnant and not married. Please read this carefully! Though
that girl got herself into trouble God still loves her! God still says come
unto me and I will give you rest. You put the burden on yourself!
trouble. She is pregnant and not married. Please read this carefully! Though
that girl got herself into trouble God still loves her! God still says come
unto me and I will give you rest. You put the burden on yourself!
Follow my thought! There are also
two sets of parents involved. These parents did not have anything to do with
this. There hearts are heavy and they are heavy laden. Jesus said you
parents who have this heartache, you never dreamed it would happen to you, you
have a heavy heart, and are crushed. Jesus is saying to them come unto me and I
will give you rest! This same Jesus goes to the little girl who is pregnant out
of wedlock who in essence did this to herself and says to her you come to me
too and I will also give you rest!
two sets of parents involved. These parents did not have anything to do with
this. There hearts are heavy and they are heavy laden. Jesus said you
parents who have this heartache, you never dreamed it would happen to you, you
have a heavy heart, and are crushed. Jesus is saying to them come unto me and I
will give you rest! This same Jesus goes to the little girl who is pregnant out
of wedlock who in essence did this to herself and says to her you come to me
too and I will also give you rest!
I had the godliest mother that
ever walked on planet earth. I had a dad who drank and caroused before he got
right with God. Wait a minute! Everything that happened to my dad he caused it
himself. However, my mother did not do anything wrong yet she suffered. She was
heavy laden. Some of the family suffered. Some of the family was heavy laden.
ever walked on planet earth. I had a dad who drank and caroused before he got
right with God. Wait a minute! Everything that happened to my dad he caused it
himself. However, my mother did not do anything wrong yet she suffered. She was
heavy laden. Some of the family suffered. Some of the family was heavy laden.
Jesus said to my dad who labored
and caused his troubles come unto me and I will give you rest. Thank God my dad
did return to Jesus and he was given rest. Hold it! Mama who was heavy laden,
did not cause the heartaches, the burdens, and the suffering was also told my
Jesus come unto me and I will give you rest.
and caused his troubles come unto me and I will give you rest. Thank God my dad
did return to Jesus and he was given rest. Hold it! Mama who was heavy laden,
did not cause the heartaches, the burdens, and the suffering was also told my
Jesus come unto me and I will give you rest.
My mother was a praying mother
and my daddy gave her plenty to pray about in the early days. My dad labored
and my mother was heavy laden. Jesus came to Mary Gray and said you have been
loaded down with burdens, which were not of your making. Jesus came to my dad
and said you have loaded yourself down with burdens of your own making. Jesus
offers a harness to my mother because she is heavy laden. Jesus offers a
harness to my dad because he is laboring under burdens of his own making. Jesus
is saying to both if you come to me and take my harness I will give you rest
for I will be the difference.
and my daddy gave her plenty to pray about in the early days. My dad labored
and my mother was heavy laden. Jesus came to Mary Gray and said you have been
loaded down with burdens, which were not of your making. Jesus came to my dad
and said you have loaded yourself down with burdens of your own making. Jesus
offers a harness to my mother because she is heavy laden. Jesus offers a
harness to my dad because he is laboring under burdens of his own making. Jesus
is saying to both if you come to me and take my harness I will give you rest
for I will be the difference.
The Saviour is not interested in
how you got there for He is just interested in the fact you are there. It
simply means there are two types of people here reading this chapter who are
burdened the one who is heavy laden and the other who is burdened.
how you got there for He is just interested in the fact you are there. It
simply means there are two types of people here reading this chapter who are
burdened the one who is heavy laden and the other who is burdened.
The one who is heavy laden would
be like a wayward child who was taught, taken to church, loved, and disciplined
but someone else has loaded you up with burdens. You did not put one single
burden on your back but you are heaven laden. Some have been deserted by a
husband or a wife and the truth is these people did not labor they were heavy
laden. These godless wives and godless husbands placed a load on the backs of
their mates. Jesus says to you
forsaken wives come unto me and to the forsaken husbands come unto me. Jesus is
saying your mate is still gone but come unto me and I will give you an easier
harness and I will help you.
be like a wayward child who was taught, taken to church, loved, and disciplined
but someone else has loaded you up with burdens. You did not put one single
burden on your back but you are heaven laden. Some have been deserted by a
husband or a wife and the truth is these people did not labor they were heavy
laden. These godless wives and godless husbands placed a load on the backs of
their mates. Jesus says to you
forsaken wives come unto me and to the forsaken husbands come unto me. Jesus is
saying your mate is still gone but come unto me and I will give you an easier
harness and I will help you.
You may have a serious illness.
You did not on purpose cause this sickness and you do not even know what caused
it. You find yourself heavy laden. Some of you may have a loved one who has
passed away and you did not ask for this! It is not your fault! You have been
heavy laden! You did not load your own truck somebody else loaded the bricks on
you truck and you are heavy laden. Maybe someone has betrayed you, or you have
been unjustly criticized, or maybe even god caused it by deciding it was best
of you to have a burden. You did not choose to do anything to cause your
burden. Yet, Jesus says come unto me and I will give you rest!
You did not on purpose cause this sickness and you do not even know what caused
it. You find yourself heavy laden. Some of you may have a loved one who has
passed away and you did not ask for this! It is not your fault! You have been
heavy laden! You did not load your own truck somebody else loaded the bricks on
you truck and you are heavy laden. Maybe someone has betrayed you, or you have
been unjustly criticized, or maybe even god caused it by deciding it was best
of you to have a burden. You did not choose to do anything to cause your
burden. Yet, Jesus says come unto me and I will give you rest!
To those of you who caused your
own heartaches, burdens, and heartbreaks by selling your birthright through
picking up a bottle of liquor causing you to have to bear a yoke caused by sin
Jesus says come unto me and I will give you rest! You chose to lie, to steal,
to drink, to gamble, sell your future, and sell your joy for a few moments of
pleasure for you placed the load on your own shoulders and the burden on
yourself. Yet, Jesus says I have some good news for the same Jesus that comes
to the one who has the load placed upon him also comes to you who placed your
own load upon yourself and says come unto me and I’ll give you rest.
own heartaches, burdens, and heartbreaks by selling your birthright through
picking up a bottle of liquor causing you to have to bear a yoke caused by sin
Jesus says come unto me and I will give you rest! You chose to lie, to steal,
to drink, to gamble, sell your future, and sell your joy for a few moments of
pleasure for you placed the load on your own shoulders and the burden on
yourself. Yet, Jesus says I have some good news for the same Jesus that comes
to the one who has the load placed upon him also comes to you who placed your
own load upon yourself and says come unto me and I’ll give you rest.
GOD GIVES THE SAME INVITATION TO BOTH
The one who did load his or her
own burden and the one who had nothing to do with the burden that he or she
bears are both given the same invitation by Christ.
own burden and the one who had nothing to do with the burden that he or she
bears are both given the same invitation by Christ.
Come unto me disheartened wife,
dad, mom, and lonely one diseased with a sickness unto death, one with ill
health, young widow, or senior saint. Come unto me mission man who caused his
own troubles.
dad, mom, and lonely one diseased with a sickness unto death, one with ill
health, young widow, or senior saint. Come unto me mission man who caused his
own troubles.
The same invitation is to you as
well as the little widow, forsaken wife, or sick one. The same invitation that
is to the sinned against is to the sinner! The same invitation is to the stricken
and the striker, the smitten and the smiter, the hurting and the hurter, as
well as the forsaken and the forsaker. It is not what caused you to hurt that
moves God it is that you hurt that moves God.
well as the little widow, forsaken wife, or sick one. The same invitation that
is to the sinned against is to the sinner! The same invitation is to the stricken
and the striker, the smitten and the smiter, the hurting and the hurter, as
well as the forsaken and the forsaker. It is not what caused you to hurt that
moves God it is that you hurt that moves God.
May I address you Pharisees for a
moment? God does not look down and check to see how the people arrive where
they are in life. God looks and sees where they are in life. He then offers
both an invitation to come unto Him. However, man is not that way. We will have
compassion on a widow but if we would be like Jesus we would welcome every one
the opportunity to come back to Jesus.
moment? God does not look down and check to see how the people arrive where
they are in life. God looks and sees where they are in life. He then offers
both an invitation to come unto Him. However, man is not that way. We will have
compassion on a widow but if we would be like Jesus we would welcome every one
the opportunity to come back to Jesus.
It does not matter to Jesus
whether you are heavy laden or if you labored to cause you to be where you are.
It does not make any difference whether you pick up a 100 pounds or a 100
pounds is pout on you. It is still 100 pounds! Jesus said come unto me all that
are heavy laden and you who labor. Jesus promises “rest” to both.
whether you are heavy laden or if you labored to cause you to be where you are.
It does not make any difference whether you pick up a 100 pounds or a 100
pounds is pout on you. It is still 100 pounds! Jesus said come unto me all that
are heavy laden and you who labor. Jesus promises “rest” to both.
THE SAME COMPASSION TO BOTH
Jesus hurts, as much for those of
you that caused your hurt as for those of you that did not cause your hurt.
Jesus is saying I love those of you that caused your trouble just as much as
those that did not cause your trouble. The fact is Jesus sees your hurt and he
does not want you hurt! So those of you who have heartache not of your own
doing and those of you who have heartache caused by your along He pleads for
both to come to Him and He offers rest to both!
you that caused your hurt as for those of you that did not cause your hurt.
Jesus is saying I love those of you that caused your trouble just as much as
those that did not cause your trouble. The fact is Jesus sees your hurt and he
does not want you hurt! So those of you who have heartache not of your own
doing and those of you who have heartache caused by your along He pleads for
both to come to Him and He offers rest to both!
THE SAME LOVE TO BOTH
Jesus looked upon the multitudes
and was moved with compassion. Jesus did not care what kind of multitudes they
were. He did not check to see why they were in the mess they were in. He just
said to them ALL come unto me and I will give you rest! He said the same to
both those who chose it and those who did not choose it!
and was moved with compassion. Jesus did not care what kind of multitudes they
were. He did not check to see why they were in the mess they were in. He just
said to them ALL come unto me and I will give you rest! He said the same to
both those who chose it and those who did not choose it!
THE SAME REWARD TO BOTH
Some of you are so burdened and
have such heartache you do not know how you can take it. Then some of you
reading this chapter have been a scoundrel. You played the fool! You listened
to the devil like Eve did! You made your own bed! Jesus comes to you and says I
will give you the same reward as the one whose bed someone else made.
have such heartache you do not know how you can take it. Then some of you
reading this chapter have been a scoundrel. You played the fool! You listened
to the devil like Eve did! You made your own bed! Jesus comes to you and says I
will give you the same reward as the one whose bed someone else made.
Every one
reading this article has, has had, or will have been heavy laden or laboring at
one time or another. I am speaking of people who have had things done to them
that they wish had never happened. I do not care how you arrived where you are
for there is a loving Heavenly Father who says come unto me and I will give you
rest.
reading this article has, has had, or will have been heavy laden or laboring at
one time or another. I am speaking of people who have had things done to them
that they wish had never happened. I do not care how you arrived where you are
for there is a loving Heavenly Father who says come unto me and I will give you
rest.
That is why we sing, “Come every
soul by sin oppressed. There’s mercy with the Lord!” Whether you caused it or
did not cause it! It is not how you arrived where you are that garners God’s
attention. It is you being where you are that attracts God’s attention.
soul by sin oppressed. There’s mercy with the Lord!” Whether you caused it or
did not cause it! It is not how you arrived where you are that garners God’s
attention. It is you being where you are that attracts God’s attention.