THE LORD’S INVITATION

Matthew 11:28-30

Victor M. Eskew

INTRODUCTION

 

A.                  The Lord issued an invitation to Noah and his family to enter into the ark (Gen. 7:1).

 

And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

 

B.                  Because they accepted the invitation, they were saved from the waters of the flood (Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20).

 

C.                  In the New Testament, Jesus offers an invitation in Matthew 11:28-30.  This is an invitation to rest, rest for one’s soul.

 

I.                    THE CALL: “Come unto me…” (Matt. 11:28)

 

A.      Most of us like to receive invitations to various things:  birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, retirement parties, special events, etc.).

 

B.      NOTE:  The person issuing the invitation often is one of the key factors as to whether we will accept the invitation or not (Ex., grandchild vs a mean neighbor).

 

C.      This is not an invitation that should be discarded lightly.

 

D.      This is an invitation from the Son of God (Luke 1:35; Rom. 1:4).

It is an invitation from the King of kings and Lord of Lords (1 Tim. 6:15).

This is an invitation from the Creator of all things (Col. 1:16-17).

This is an invitation from the Savior (Luke 2:11).

It is an invitation from a dear Friend (John 15:13).

 

II.                 THE COMPANY: “…all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” (Matt. 11:28)

 

A.      The weight of sin is heavy.  Those who carry it often labor diligently in this life as they live their lives.

 

B.      All men struggle under the weight of sin

1.      Romans 3:23

 

For all have sinned; and come short of the glory of God.

 

2.      Addiction, guilt, rejection, physical harm, loneliness, hopelessness, sleeplessness.

3.      The prodigal son

a.       Joined himself to a citizen of a strange country (Luke 15:15).

b.      Fed the pigs (Luke 15:15)

c.       Filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat (Luke 15:16).

d.      No man gave to him (Luke 15:16)

e.       “I perish with hunger” (Luke 15:17).

 

C.      Thus, they should desire an invitation for rest.

1.      Some seem to enjoy their sinful burdens.

2.      Others just do not believe the promise.

3.      Still others may have never heard that there is a place of rest.

 

III.              THE COMFORT: “…and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

 

A.      When a person is physically exhausted, he certainly desires rest.

 

B.      The individual who is struggling under the burden of sin and the difficulties of life should also desire rest.

1.      I want to quit fighting for my life.

2.      I want to be out from under the bondage of my cruel task master.

3.      I no longer want to be defined by my sin.

4.      I want to recover as many of the things as possible that I have lost.

5.      I want to be able to sleep at night.

6.      I no longer want to be worried about death and the judgment.

 

C.      This is not a false promise.  This comes from a being whose very nature is truth.

1.      John 14:6

 

Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

2.      The very nature of Jesus Christ is truth.  “I am the truth.”

3.      It is impossible for Jesus Christ to lie.

4.      If Jesus told just one “white lie,” the whole Christian economy would come tumbling to the ground.

 

IV.               THE CONDITION: “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…” (Matt. 11:29)

 

A.      There is a condition to obtaining this rest.

 

B.      A person must make a decision to take off the yoke of sin and put upon himself the Lord’s yoke.

1.      This is a rational decision based upon knowledge: 

a.       “Learn of me.”

b.      The curriculum of learning is the Word of God

1)     John 8:32

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

2)     Romans 8:2

 

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

 

3)     1 Timothy 2:4

 

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

2.      This is a conscious decision made by the individual.

3.      This is a voluntary decision made by the individual.

 

C.      Some might see this as nothing more than trading one yoke for another.

 

D.      The difference is that the Lord’s yoke is a double-yoke.

1.      No longer are we bearing the burdens alone.

2.      Jesus is helping us to pull the weight.

 

V.                  THE CHRIST: “…for I am meek and lowly in heart…” (Matt. 11:29).

 

A.      When one learns about the Christ, he is pleasantly surprised to find a meek and lowly companion.

1.      Jesus loves (John 15:12, 13).

2.      Jesus cares (1 Pet. 5:7).

3.      Jesus is compassionate (Matt. 15:32).

4.      Jesus is longsuffering (2 Pet. 3:9).

5.      Jesus wants what is best for those who come to Him (John 10:10).

 

B.      He is opposite in nature of our previous taskmaster. 

1.      He is a liar.

2.      He hates.

3.      He relishes pain.

4.      He is a murderer.

5.      He seeks to destroy.

6.      Keep his names in mind:  devil (false accuser, slanderer), Satan (adversary), evil one, tempter, liar, murderer, Beelzebub

 

VI.               THE CONCLUSION: “…and ye shall find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:29).

 

A.      The promise of rest is affirmed again.

 

B.      The rest is a spiritual rest.

1.      Lazarus (Luke 15:25)

2.      Hebrews. 4:9

 

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

 

C.      It is a rest that deals with something that is lasting in nature, that is, the souls of men in eternity.

 

VII.            THE COMMITMENT: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30)

 

A.      Man often believes making spiritual decisions is very difficult.

1.      He vacillates wondering whether he should come to Jesus or not.

2.      He wavers one whether He to do the will of God or not.

 

B.      Jesus makes a promise to all. He affirms that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

1.      There is no more transgression.

2.      There is no more guilty conscience.

3.      There is no more worry about eternity.

4.      What we are called upon to do brings great reward.

 

C.      This should make the choice very simple for all.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.      When we study Noah, we understand that he was very fortunate to be invited into the ark. Salvation came to only him and his family (1 Pet. 3:20).

 

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few that is eight souls were saved by water.

 

B.      We, too, are fortunate to have a divine invitation extended to us. This invitation also involves salvation.

 

C.      No one who has come to the Christ understanding what Jesus is truly offering has regretted it.