Matthew 11:29 Commentary and Bible Study

The Lord tells how to come to him, how to enter his service and find rest for our souls. He speaks to those who have felt the great need of their souls. The yoke was the bar placed on the neck of oxen and round the neck, which enabled them to pull or carry. Often two oxen were joined together. He uses it as a figure of speech which means to enter into his service. By enlisting in his service it doesn’t mean we have to earn his favour or earn salvation. I cannot contribute at all – I have earned only condemnation – but if I come to him he will give me free life. Nevertheless, Christ says that we must be ready to enter his service, otherwise we should not come. We must say, ‘Lord, if you save me, I will be your servant all the rest of the days of my life.’ You cannot come to Christ if you intend tomorrow to determine your own future. You cannot come it you intend just to clean up your life a little, but still continue as your own master. No, he must be our Lord now and forever.‘And learn of me’ – this is another condition. Perhaps condition is too strong a word. These are not hard conditions, but the easiest things in the world, and yet everyone who genuinely comes to Christ will come with a willingness to learn, a willingness put in them by God: I will become a learner. Are you ready to start learning about Christ? If someone offered to set you up for free and be your benefactor, wouldn’t you be interested? Is there someone who wants to be saved, but not to be a learner?‘I am meek and lowly in heart.’ This is extraordinary: the Lord of heaven and earth is meek and lowly. How different he is from the rulers of this world. They cannot obtain power without it changing them for the worse. The Lord is meek in spite of his almighty power. This helps us to understand what meekness is. It is not a denial of what we are, in our case, of what God has made us. Meekness can be possessed by the one who is given a name that is above every name. Being meek does not therefore require us to demean ourselves or to deny our status or gifts, for none of these things are true of Christ. He is meek at the same time that he receives the praise of heaven and earth. Meekness does not allow pride to enter in, but takes a very realistic view of self. Meekness does not feel threatened by any attempt to take away from its glory. It knows itself to be strong. Meekness is ready to associate with those who are small and despised in the eyes of others, without feeling any harm is incurred. Meekness is honest and does not do anything to hurt another, however lowly they are. Meekness is at peace with whatever circumstances God may send, and does not complain. It does not have sensitivities which easily become agitated. Meekness makes a kind and gentle master who will not take advantage of superior power. Although he will not give his glory to another, he is lowly, ready to come alongside sinners, and to be associated with them in order to save them. He will allow himself to be called the friend of sinners, the friend of you or me. Although he is the Lord of glory, he counts it no loss to be made in the likeness of sinful flesh. Although he knows it is right that all honour the Son just as they honour the Father, he is not anxious about the fact that, for a time, men and women deny him that glory, for this is necessary in order for his redemptive work to be completed.