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Gospel of Matthew Chapter 11 Pray of Praise

by Paul George  
6/13/2008 / Bible Studies

Matthew 11:25-27

In Jesus' pray of praise there are words of encouragement. In His prayer Jesus also points out something the disciples need to know and we need to know. There are hidden things in God's plan of salvation and the course of history that the wise and intelligent people of this world can never understand. In His pray, Jesus said the hidden things are revealed to infants, here is a reference to the spiritually new born followers of Jesus.

The rejection of Jesus is due to spiritual blindness and unresponsiveness. However, those who have had the blinders removed from their eyes and have accepted Jesus as the Christ who is to come realize their knowledge is not due to what they have accomplished in themselves but is to the revealing of the Creator of the heavens and earth. Here is the good news, when we honestly seek the truth and do not put our confidence in ourselves and put our trust in God He will reveal the hidden things that belong to God.

Some people may stumble over what Jesus has said concerning the Father hiding the things Jesus has said to the disciples and the crowds from the wise and intelligent. The problem is not the Father hiding these things the problem is the barriers the wise and intelligent build that can only come down through faith and trusting in the Word of God.

Note what Jesus said to the disciples and the crowds, "All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him" (Matthew 11:27 WEB) explains how sinful man can come to know God.

The phrase, "No one knows the Son, except the Father" implies there is more involved in knowing the Son," than titles, such as Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, Lord, King, Master, Prophet, Teacher. This also implies as long as we dwell in this tent of clay we will not fully appreciate what the Son has done for us. Only the Father can fully understand the nature of the Son and this is because the nature of the Son is the same as the Father.

The phrase, "neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son." What Jesus is saying to the disciples and crowds the prophets in the Old Testament spoke of the Father and the religious leaders of the people in Jesus' day claimed they knew the Father, but Jesus is here saying that none of them really understood His being and essence, for that was only known to the Son.

The phrase, "to whom the Son desires to reveal him." What Jesus is telling the disciples, the crowds, the church, those who truly want to know the Father must have a true relationship with the Him.

Before moving on we need to understand what Jesus is doing when He said, "All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him" (Matthew 11:27 WEB). This is a verse in the Bible where many have stumbled because they do not understand the titles Father and Son are used to reveal a divine relationship. Jesus is using a father, son relationship in a way that does not apply to the Godhead.

There are many things about an earthly father and son relationship that are not the same as the relationship between the first and second Persons of the Godhead. However, there are things in an earthly father, son relationship that are the same in the relationship between the first and second Person of the Godhead. In an earthly father, son relationship the father and son share the same nature; God the Father and God the Son share the same nature. The difference the sharing of the same nature between an earthly father and son has a beginning; the birth of the son. However, the relationship between God the Father and God the Son has no beginning. This is why when referring to the Son we say the Son is "eternally begotten." What we are saying by this is that they have shared the same Nature and Being from all eternity. Since eternity has no beginning the relationship that exists in the Godhead has no beginning and will have no ending.

Jesus ends His discourse with the disciples and the crowds with an invitation (Matthew 11:28-30).

There is good news in the invitation; in this troubled world there is a place of rest.

Note what Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 WEB).

The word "labor" refers to strenuous activity that involves difficulty and effort and usually affords no pleasure; the exerting of one's powers of mind or body especially with painful or strenuous effort. The word "burdened" refers to the laying of a heavy load on or lie like a heavy load on a person or thing.

When Jesus saw the crowds that came to Him for healing what did He see? He saw something more than people laboring under the effects of sickness and diseases; He saw people laboring under the Law imposed upon them by the Scribes and Pharisees; He saw a people seeking rest from the burden they were carrying. What did Jesus tell them to do? He told them to come to Him. He told them to bring the burden of the Law to Him and He would give them rest.

How do you find the rest Jesus promises to all who labor and are heavily burdened, first you come to Him with your burden, second you take on His yoke. A yoke is defined as a state of subjection to an owner or master; a uniting or binding element or force; to attach as a means of motive power; to bring or come together into some manner or union.

The coming to Jesus is not the problem for most people. The problem is taking on Jesus' yoke. Note Jesus did not say He would put His yoke on those who would come to Him, He said take on "My yoke." Taking on Jesus' yoke involves coming into a state of submission. It involves submitting to His will. When you submit to the will of Jesus, your submission becomes a uniting or binding element in your relationship with Jesus. We can compare this to a yoke used to join two animals together that enables them to work together to pull a heavy load.

When we take on Jesus' yoke His will becomes a motivation power; the motivation is to do His will because we have entered into a love relationship with Him.

When we take Jesus' yoke He walks with us through whatever situation comes our way.

When we take on Jesus' yoke what do we find? We find what we have seeking, rest for our soul.

Why do we find rest for our soul? We find rest for our soul because Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden light.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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