THE BOOK OF MATTHEW
(Rest for the weary - October 24, 2021)
Series Big Idea: "Stand alone sermon"
Sermon Big Idea: "The offer for rest and peace in God is available to ALL who admit their sin"
Key Scripture (Matthew 11:25-30)
Oswald Chambers, a very well-known Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher who lived during the late 1800 and early 1900's and is famous for the devotional "My upmost for His highest," is quoted as saying "Our Lord's words are not, 'Do this, or don’t do that,' but - 'Come to Me.'" What a powerful statement of truth that aligns with Scripture and is not just true for yesterday but for all time and for all people.
I remember a movie from 1986 called The Mission, staring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons. The plot consisted of a mercenary slave trader who's job it was to kidnap natives from small South American communities and sell them to plantations. In the movie, Robert De Niro's character murders his brother in a fit of angry passion and soon is overcome by depression. A priest, played by Jeremy Irons, who had been ministering to these communities, challenged De Niro to take on penance for his actions by carrying a large net full of heavy armor and weapons up a steep cliff situated alongside a waterfall in the jungle. De Niro obviously struggled to complete the task.
In the one of the most pivotal scenes, other people try to help him remove his burden along the way, but in the end the only ones who could offer him release were the people he had sinned against. So, finally when he reached the top of the cliff he was met by the same group of people who he had made slaves. They cut the heavy net loose and pushed it into the river below. His repentance and their forgiveness lead to true transformation and rest. Jesus offers rest to ALL those who will follow Him.
(Matthew 11:25-30)
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. 27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him. 28 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
I want us to focus on what Jesus said in verse 28. One commentary writer insists that this verse is a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus. In the verses surrounding this verse He had been scolding the Jews for their actions rejecting Him, but now He is offering rest to ALL who see their need for salvation. Jesus says He will give rest (peace with God) to these people. This is the rest of salvation (Romans 5:1). And that's not all, because in His service they will continually find rest (the Peace of God) (Philippians 4:7). People who choose to follow or (be yoked) to Him in His burdens, will be lifted OUT of their burdens.
Jesus says "Come to Me." So, ALL who hear have the invitation to respond to His offer to relieve them from their burdens. These are the spiritually bankrupt and carry the weight of trying to save themselves by works. Religion had become a "labor" to the Jews because of the many Pharisee rules and regulations. Jesus was encouraging the true disciples who can see, to come to Him for rest from these heavy burdens that no one would ever be able to get out from under.
CONCLUSION
Follower's of Jesus will find refreshment and a renewed relationship with Christ, freedom from the guilt of sin, deliverance from fear and despair, and the promise of the continued help and guidance from the Holy Spirit. People who are weary are weary because of their ongoing burdens (burdens of sin and its consequences). Without God intervening in our life through the Holy Spirit we will never see our sin and the depth of our spiritual bankruptcy. It is the sovereign work of Christ and Christ alone (Matthew 11:27).
What burdens are you going to give to Christ today?
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Hughes, Robert B. and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Revised edition of New Bible Companion.
Brooks, Keith. Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
Stein, Robert H. “Differences in the Gospels.” CSB Study Bible: Notes. Ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017. 1519. Print.
Barton, Bruce et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001. Print.
Barbieri, Louis A., Jr. “Matthew.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 44–45. Print.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992. Print.
Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
Weber, Stuart K. Matthew. Vol. 1. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.
Brown, Jeannine K. Matthew. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.
Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003. Print.
Wilkins, Michael J. Matthew. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.
Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary.
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