Matt. 11:28-30

Facts:

1.	Who is speaking? To whom?

A:	Jesus speaking, to the multitudes

2.	How is the multitude described?

A:	"all you who labor and are heavy laden"

The previous question is important to notice, but it leaves me wondering where to look for the second answer–in the context, in the verse? How could this be sharpened?

3.	What does Jesus promise them?

4.	What actions are required for them to receive this promised rest?

A:	Come to Me

B:	Take My yoke (What is a yoke? Tool placed on animals so they can pull together)

C:	Learn from Me

5.	Why should they learn from Jesus? (the word "for")

A:	He is gentle and lowly in heart

B:	His yoke is easy and burden light

Sort of a transition:

6.	How is this rest different than other forms of rest they might need?

A:	It's rest for our souls, as opposed to physical rest. It's a spiritual rest.

B:	it's a working rest – we are wearing a yoke

1.	An intermission, can be a fixed place of rest, abide, dwell, fixed habitation

2.	"Christ's 'rest' is not a 'rest' from work, but in work, 'not the rest of inactivity but of the harmonious working of all the faculties and affections – of will, heart, imagination, conscience – because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development" (Vine, 529).

Interpretation:

7.	From the context (earlier in the chapter), what might they have been burdened with that they could not find rest from?

A:	Possibility: v. 2,3, their longing for the Messiah, for their lives to change

B:	Possibility: v. 7-11, John's ministry that signaled something better, but not yet realized

C:	Possibility: v. 20, because they did not (have not) repent(ed)

D:	Possibility: v. 20-24, their Jewish leaders' unrepentance and unacceptance of Jesus

E:	Possibility: v. 27, God was not revealed fully to them

8.	So what was the specific rest that Jesus was promising?

9.	Jesus' advice was to "come" to Him, "take" his yoke, "learn" from Him. What would it look like when they carried out these things?

A:	Coming: opening their spirit to Jesus, desiring Him, being willing for Him to be involved in their life . . . (They had already physically come, suggesting that they were already defying the Jewish authorities, but there was more "coming" to do.) This could be a repentance that the cities (leaders) were not willing to do. (v.20)

B:	Taking: actively deciding to accept His leadership in their life

C:	Learning: more knowledge of God, coming closer and closer to God – v. 27, Jesus reveals the Father to people to those whom He chooses.

10.	Why did Jesus encourage them to take His yoke because He was meek and lowly? Or, What does this passage tell us about Jesus?

A:	Meek: ". . . the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power . . . the Lord was 'meek' because He had the infinite resources of God at His command." (Vine's) – He can take their insults and disbelief, their mistakes, and still be open and responsive to them.

B:	Lowly: "that which is low, and does not rise far from the ground" (Vine). Jesus does not lord over us, He won't treat us like a slaveholder or boss.

Application:

11.	What is an areas of your life that you are "laboring" with and feel burdened about? OR: In what ways are you like the multitude?

12.	What is the specific "rest" that Jesus is promising you right now and what will you do to obtain that "rest" this week?