Matthew 11:28 Meaning of Come to Me All Who Are Weary

Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Explanation and Commentary of Matthew 11:28

These great words of our Lord have been a balm to millions of weary Christians. God does not promise a life devoid of hardship, but for those who have attempted to carry their own burdens and earn their own salvation, it is water to a man in a desert who is dying of thirst.

Jesus saw that humanity was harassed and helpless (Mt 9:36). The sheep of his pasture were thirsty for living water (Jn 4:10). He himself will lead us beside still waters for a peaceful drink.

“Weary and burdened” is a perfect way to describe the state of men and women on the earth, in today’s hurried society more than ever. The Savior beacons us to stop and look to him for rest. Isaiah 30:15 says, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” How hard it is for us in our flesh to do the one thing that would be easiest: that is to simply trust him, and lay our burdens on the Lord.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Matthew 11:28

#1 “Come to me,”
Jesus calls out to us, “Come, follow me” (Mt 4:19), “Come and be my disciple.” He is always inviting us along the path that he is traveling. He will continue to walk faithfully, we must decide whether we will answer and follow. His invitation is also an invitation to die to ourselves, to trade all that we have, and to be made new.

#2 “all you who are weary and burdened,”
Jesus invites us to put down our heavy load. His “yoke is easy, and his burden is light” (Mt 11:29). Some carry the yoke of religion, seeking to appease God by our own perfection. This will never work in a fallen world, in fallen flesh. In this way, we stand condemned. Others bear the heavy yoke of seeking justification through some achievement, or way of seeking the recognition of men and women. Some simply are worn down by the trials of life in a fallen world in a fallen body. Jesus is the answer to all of these.

#3 “and I will give you rest.”
Rest is our divine promise. Since the seventh day of creation, God has revealed his heart of resting in him and trusting in his work. It was rest that he promised his children in the wilderness. They failed to enter that rest because of their disobedience (Heb 3:19). While it is today and the invitation is open, we must come to Jesus and say, “Yes” to him.

Expert Overview of Matthew Ch. 1-13

Biblical Translations of Matthew 11:28

NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

NLT
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

ESV
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

KJV
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

NKJV
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”