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Matthew 11

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

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.

But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

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.

But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

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.

Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

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.

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.

What does Matthew 11:30 mean?

Explanation

The verse "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." from Matthew 11:30 concludes a comforting message that Jesus Christ gives to those who are weary and burdened.

The imagery of a "yoke" is a reference to a wooden beam used to join a pair of oxen so that they can work together to pull a load.

In a figurative sense, a yoke stands for any form of bondage, servitude, or onerous responsibility.

Jesus contrasts the heavy and restrictive yoke of legalistic religious systems and life's burdens with the yoke of following Him, which is "easy" (or better translated as "kind" or "good") and light.

The deeper meaning here suggests a life guided by Jesus is not burdensome but rather leads to spiritual rest and peace.

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Historical Context

Matthew 11:30 is part of a larger discourse in which Jesus is addressing the crowds in Galilee. At the time, the Jewish people were subject to the religious laws of the Pharisees, which were often complex and difficult to follow.

Many found these laws burdensome and felt crushed under the weight of trying to please God through their own efforts. Into this context, Jesus offers a new way, one that promises relief and underscores His role as a compassionate and understanding savior.

Theological Insights

Theological perspectives of this passage focus on the grace-oriented approach of Jesus Christ as opposed to the law-based religiosity of the Pharisees.

The "easy" yoke symbolizes the gospel of grace, where the weight of sin has been lifted through the sacrificial act of Jesus and his teachings offer guidance and comfort.

Calvinist theology might emphasize the irresistible grace of God that liberates believers from the toils of sin, while Arminian theology might highlight the choice of accepting the easy yoke of Jesus through free will.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers to approach life's challenges and spiritual obligations with the understanding that Jesus is a source of strength and solace.

It suggests casting off the burdens that lead to spiritual exhaustion and instead, embracing a walk with Christ as one that simplifies and enhances life.

This can manifest in practices such as finding rest in prayer, engaging in community worship that lifts spirits rather than weighs them down, and offering grace to oneself and others.

Cross-References

Matthew 11:28-29: "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."

Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
2 Corinthians 12:9: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Language Study

The key words in this verse in the original Greek are "χρηστός" (chrēstos), which is often translated as "easy" but conveys the sense of "kind," "useful," or "good", and "ἐλαφρός" (elaphros), meaning "light" or "not heavy." These word choices highlight the nature of the burden Jesus offers as being manageable and intended for our good.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient myths and religions, great burdens were often associated with penance or trial, such as the labors of Heracles in Greek mythology.

Jesus' teaching offers a stark contrast, proposing a path of devotion that is marked by kindness and ease instead of hardship and struggling, which deviates from the thematic narrative of burdens as means to earn favor with the gods or achieve enlightenment.

Scientific Perspectives

From a psychological standpoint, this verse may resonate with the concept of perceived burden and the impact of stress on mental health.

The contrast between a heavy burden and a light one could be likened to the modern understanding of coping mechanisms and the importance of support systems.

Jesus' offer can be viewed as a psychological relief to those experiencing the weight of life pressures.

Commentaries

Commentators have expressed various views on this verse.

Some emphasize the contrast between the heavy burdens of the law and the lightness of grace in Jesus.

Others focus on the personal aspect of following Christ, noting that Jesus meets individuals at their point of need and offers a personal relationship that is enriching and freeing.

Notably, many agree that this passage underscores Jesus' role as a comforter, who extends an invitation to a life that is marked by his sustaining presence rather than an arduous spiritual journey.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11

What does Matthew 11:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 11:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?