The God Who Invites Us to Rest
Matthew 11:25-30
The first item on the list of provisions given to us by God our Shepherd is rest. It is easy to read right past this truth every time we encounter this psalm. The reality is that sheep, much like many humans, do not easily rest. If left to themselves they tend to wander aimlessly. They will not lie down unless they have a readily available supply of food. And, because they are defenseless and vulnerable, once they do lie down, they tend to be quite skittish. A small sound or movement can send them running.
But a good shepherd knows all this about his sheep. And so, he finds rich pastures and leads them there. And he directs them to stop and rest. He also stays with them to calm and reassure them.
GROUP DISCUSSION. What images come to mind when you think about resting?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. Describe a time when you experienced emotional and spiritual rest.
Read Psalm 23:2-3.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul."
1. These verses tell us about a God who causes us to lie down in green pastures, who leads us beside quiet waters and who restores our soul. Take a minute of quiet to reflect on these images. What thoughts and feelings do you have in response to these images?
2. Read Matthew 11:25-30.
Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Mat 11:26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
This text begins with Jesus praying. In his prayer, Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual humility (being little children). What is the relationship between spiritual humility and being able to respond to an invitation to rest?
3. What does Jesus invite us to do in the text from Matthew?
4. What promises does Jesus make?
5. How do these promises compare with your expectations of what Jesus wants to offer you or expects from you?
6. What words would you use to paraphrase the way Jesus describes himself in the text from Matthew?
7. What about this description of Jesus might make it easier to rest in Jesus' presence?
8. Psalm 23:3 says that the rest God provides "restores my soul." In Matthew 11:29 Jesus promises "rest for your souls." What do you think these phrases mean?
9. What experiences have you had of your soul needing rest?
10. The text in Matthew is addressed to people who are weary and burdened. What is causing you to feel weary and burdened at this time in your life?
11. What makes it difficult for you to rest physically, emotionally, spiritually?
12. What helps you to rest physically, emotionally and spiritually?
13. Take a few minutes of quiet and picture yourself in a green meadow, beside quiet waters with Jesus. Jesus has invited you to come to him and to rest with him. You have accepted the invitation. As you rest quietly with Jesus, he reminds you that you are safe with him because he is gentle and humble in heart.
Write about your experience during this time of reflection.
Respond honestly to Jesus' invitation to rest. Share your fears, your hesitations, your longings, your gratitude, your need for help in resting, your need for rest or whatever honest responses you have.
Now or Later
This week reread Matthew 11:28-30. Revisit question 13, writing each day about your experience as you respond to Jesus'invitation to rest.
posted by Christinewjc @ 4:13 PM
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GROUP DISCUSSION. What images come to mind when you think about resting?
Laying in bed for a brief nap on a warm summer afternoon with the ceiling fan gently whirling around to cool the room.
Laying on a lounge chair at the pool or on a beach towel at the shore with the sun warming my skin and the cool, ocean breezes cooling my face.
Snuggling on the couch or bed with my husband watching a movie!
PERSONAL REFLECTION. Describe a time when you experienced emotional and spiritual rest.
After a big Thanksgiving meal, the family is all around me resting after such a large and delicious feast! It's so calming a time that we take a nap!
Read Psalm 23:2-3.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul."
1. These verses tell us about a God who causes us to lie down in green pastures, who leads us beside quiet waters and who restores our soul. Take a minute of quiet to reflect on these images. What thoughts and feelings do you have in response to these images?
Contentment in the moment. Knowing that my life is in his hands no matter what turmoil is going on in the world. In the moments I just rest, pray, and then rest again, are the moments that the Lord speaks to me in a quiet whisper. Sometimes it's just before I wake, and He will bring to mind a Scripture verse that I can share with a needy soul; or a verse that I need to start my day off right.
2. Read Matthew 11:25-30.
Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Mat 11:26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
This text begins with Jesus praying. In his prayer, Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual humility (being little children). What is the relationship between spiritual humility and being able to respond to an invitation to rest?
Everyone carries a burden of some sort in this life. But when we give our burdens over to Jesus, they can become lighter. Trying to do all things in our own strength can exhaust us. Keeping God's Word in front of us can get us through even the most difficult & heavy burden times in our lives.
Jamieson, Fausett & Brown Commentary:
"That rest which the soul experiences when once safe under Christ's wing makes all yokes easy, all burdens light."
3. What does Jesus invite us to do in the text from Matthew?
Take his yoke upon us for his yoke is easy and his burden light.
4. What promises does Jesus make?
He will give us rest. When we "Take my [His]yoke upon you [us], and learn of me [Him]; for I [He] am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." We find this rest because his yoke is easy and the burden light.
5. How do these promises compare with your expectations of what Jesus wants to offer you or expects from you?
We all have responsibility burdens in this life. Can't avoid them. But in the midst of all this, Jesus promises the blessing of rest:
Matthew Henry commentary:
"[3.] The blessing promised to those that do come: I will give you rest. Christ is our Noah, whose name signifies rest, for this same shall give us rest. Gen. 5:29; 8:9. Truly rest is good (Gen. 49:15), especially to those that labour and are heavy laden, Eccl. 5:12. Note, Jesus Christ will give assured rest to those weary souls, that by a lively faith come to him for it; rest from the terror of sin, in a well-grounded peace of conscience; rest from the power of sin, in a regular order of the soul, and its due government of itself; a rest in God, and a complacency of soul, in his love. Ps. 11:6, 7. This is that rest which remains for the people of God (Heb. 4:9), begun in grace, and perfected in glory."
6. What words would you use to paraphrase the way Jesus describes himself in the text from Matthew?
First, He is meek, and can have compassion on the ignorant, whom others would be in a passion with. Many able teachers are hot and hasty, which is a great discouragement to those who are dull and slow; but Christ knows how to bear with such, and to open their understandings.
Jesus is saying it is a light burden to do the will of God.
It is easier to please God than man.
7. What about this description of Jesus might make it easier to rest in Jesus' presence?
Living for, and in Christ, is easier than living for self or other men. We can rest in His presence no matter what is happening in the world because He ultimately is the lover and savior of our souls. What happens here is temporary, where Christ resides lasts for eternity!
8. Psalm 23:3 says that the rest God provides "restores my soul." In Matthew 11:29 Jesus promises "rest for your souls." What do you think these phrases mean?
Matthew Henry commentary:
[2.] You shall find rest to your souls. This promise is borrowed from Jer. 6:16, for Christ delighted to express himself in the language of the prophets, to show the harmony between the two Testaments. Note, First, Rest for the soul is the most desirable rest; to have the soul to dwell at ease. Secondly, The only way, and a sure way to find rest for our souls is, to sit at Christ’s feet and hear his word. The way of duty is the way of rest. The understanding finds rest in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, and is there abundantly satisfied, finding that wisdom in the gospel which has been sought for in vain throughout the whole creation, Job 28:12. The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. The affections find rest in the love of God and Jesus Christ, and meet with that in them which gives them an abundant satisfaction; quietness and assurance for ever. And those satisfactions will be perfected and perpetuated in heaven, where we shall see and enjoy God immediately, shall see him as he is, and enjoy him as he is ours. This rest is to be had with Christ for all those who learn of him.
9. What experiences have you had of your soul needing rest?
Many! I find that reading and studying Scripture provides a needed respite from all the bombardment of information coming at us in the news and on the internet! The days that I don't seek prayer or His Word, are often not as good for my soul. I need that daily dose!
10. The text in Matthew is addressed to people who are weary and burdened. What is causing you to feel weary and burdened at this time in your life?
The many demands on my time, lately. A lot is happening at once and it saps my energy sometimes.
11. What makes it difficult for you to rest physically, emotionally, spiritually?
Physically - Taking cough medicine that makes me sleepy with a cough that wakes me up at night! I don't sleep through the night so I don't get the rest I should. Emotionally - when things go wrong for people I love and I worry about them. Spiritually - when I don't pray enough and ask for God's will in my life.
12. What helps you to rest physically, emotionally and spiritually?
Praying and meditating on God's Word! There is nothing else on earth that can do more for me.
13. Take a few minutes of quiet and picture yourself in a green meadow, beside quiet waters with Jesus. Jesus has invited you to come to him and to rest with him. You have accepted the invitation. As you rest quietly with Jesus, he reminds you that you are safe with him because he is gentle and humble in heart.
Write about your experience during this time of reflection.
Respond honestly to Jesus' invitation to rest. Share your fears, your hesitations, your longings, your gratitude, your need for help in resting, your need for rest or whatever honest responses you have.
Now or Later
This week reread Matthew 11:28-30. Revisit question 13, writing each day about your experience as you respond to Jesus'invitation to rest.
Note (1.) The great things of the everlasting gospel have been and are hid from many that were wise and prudent, that were eminent for learning and worldly policy; some of the greatest scholars and the greatest statesmen have been the greatest strangers to gospel mysteries. The world by wisdom knew not God, 1 Co. 1:21. Nay, there is an opposition given to the gospel, by a science falsely so called, 1 Tim. 6:20. Those who are most expert in things sensible and secular, are commonly least experienced in spiritual things. Men may dive deeply into the mysteries of nature and into the mysteries of state, and yet be ignorant of, and mistake about, the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, for want of an experience of the power of them.
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