Have you ever read a familiar Bible verse and then see something you never saw before? I imagine that if you read the Scriptures regularly, this happens to you on occasion. I know it has happened to me.
My wife has often reminded me that one of the things the Holy Spirit does is help us understand God’s Word. As we grow in grace, He may highlight new truths for us, based on where we need help to get us through what we are experiencing at the time. He provides deeper insight at just the right moment so that we can press through the trial. We didn’t see that particular truth earlier, even though we may have read it 100 times before because we weren’t ready to receive it.
I had one of those moments not too long ago. The verse I saw posted on social media was Matt. 11:28. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (ESV). Jesus invites all of us who work hard and have become weary to come to Him so that He can share our burdens.
Let me break it down phrase by phrase and share some insights and applications.
Come to me
Jesus is clearly giving an invitation to a wide audience. He addressed all who were physically there when He said it, and He is still addressing us today. He graciously invites all believers to come to Him in faith.
When I was 17 years old, I was weary of trying to make myself a better person with few results to show for my efforts. When I heard that Jesus invited me to have a relationship with Him and that He would change me from the inside out, giving me a new purpose and direction for my life, I eagerly accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord and became a new creature. Since then, I have found true rest.
All who labor
As I read this part of verse, I sensed something new. It seemed obvious to me that everyone who does any kind of work will be heavy laden. No one is exempt from the curse God pronounced on work after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:16-19). This is true for believers and unbelievers.
Based on their agrarian culture, Jesus was most likely referring to what we call blue-collar work. It could also apply to those who do mental work, such as teachers or rulers. All kinds of work wears people down in one way or another: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
However, there may be some who read the verse above and wondered about the translation. A few versions say all who “are weary” instead of all who “labor.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words sheds some light on the Greek word used. The word translated “labor” in most versions is kopiao. This word has “two different meanings (a) growing weary, (b) toiling.” It points to several other verses where it is translated as “labor”, “work”, or various forms of those words, which includes John 4:38, Acts 20:35, Rom. 16:12, 1 Cor. 4:12, 15:10, and 16:16, Eph. 4:28, Phil 2:16, Col. 1:29, 1 Thes. 5:12, 1 Tim 4:10 and 5:17, 2 Tim 2:6, and Rev. 2:2. The word is translated “weary” in John 4:6 and Rev. 2:3.
Based on this analysis, I conclude that Jesus was addressing those who work, not merely those who were worn out from life. This labor applies to all those who have a paid job, volunteer, or work at home. Wherever time and effort are expended, weariness will naturally follow.
And are heavy laden
Although some jobs might not be as burdensome as others, every kind of work will produce burdens (AKA thorns and thistles) that make it unnecessarily painful. In addition to the sin of Adam, our own sins and the sins of those we work for, work with, and serve will also contribute to the effects of the Fall on work. This curse on work will continue every day until Jesus returns (see Rev. 22:3).
Every job has various thorns and thistles that are common to all fields of work; i.e. bad bosses, disgruntled customers, unreasonable deadlines, or equipment breakdowns. Also, each job has its own unique challenges.
I will give you rest
Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the series, “The Chosen” reflected on this verse in a Netflix documentary called “Jonathan and Jesus.” Several months before he was given this defining role, he was at his lowest point. One day, he found himself with only $20 in his pocket, was $100 overdrawn in his bank account. and had only enough food for just that day. Reflecting on this verse, he gave himself in surrender to God, asking Him to give him relief from these burdens he was carrying. Later that same day, four checks arrived in the mail. God provided $1,100 to get him through that day and many days after.
In the next verse, we see that rest comes with conditions. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). We have to do something to receive it. We must humbly submit to the Lordship of Christ and yield control to Him.
However, even when we do surrender, I don’t think Jesus meant physical rest. Jesus said, “you will find rest for your souls.” Moms, farmers, and teachers will always be tired, but Jesus offers a deeper rest. There may be other factors as well. We may be in a season of heavy responsibilities or trials, such as raising small children, dealing with a serious illness, or recovering from an injury. We live in a fallen world. Many stressors of life continue to come at us much of the time.
Also, there is something the Apostle Paul described as “the peace that passes all understanding” (Phil 4:7). This too is conditional. It starts with rejoicing in the Lord always (Phil 4:4), which is done by faith, even before our situations are resolved. Then, we are taught to not be anxious about anything, but to pray with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6). Only then will we be able to experience this unfathomable peace.
Parting thoughts
This powerful promise from the mouth of Jesus is extended to a wide audience. All of us work in one fashion or another. This work is burdensome in this life, under the sun (Eccl. 1:9). But when we come to Jesus in faith and ask Him to lessen the load, He comes alongside us in a way that may be difficult to explain and helps us to get through each trial in His strength. Under the Son is where we find true rest.
I encourage you to give this a test the next time you sense that the burdens of responsibility that you carry on your shoulders is too much. Take Jesus up on His gracious invitation to be present with you in your work and be His coworker. Practice His presence with you everywhere you are.
About the author:
Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 43 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He received a Master of Arts in biblical studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is passionate about helping his brothers and sisters in Christ with ordinary jobs understand that their work matters to God and that they can experience His presence at work every day. He has written more than 350 articles on a variety of faith and work and other topics; 160 of them have been published or posted over 300 times on Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and the Christian Grandfather Magazine.
Reflections on Theological Topics of Interest 