Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden

Article for July 5, 2026

Matthew 11:25–26 25At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Seems like Jesus has a problem with the wise people of the Israelites.  Or is Jesus being facetious.  Those who were thought of as wise among the Israelites were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Scribes.  We of course are talking about their Jewish leaders.  They should probably be wise if these religious leaders truly understand and abide by the word of God.  Surely, they knew the Holy Scriptures and through study and proper interpretation they should know who Jesus is.

 Jesus had just denounced some of the cities that He performed miracles of healing in and preached the word of repentance and forgiveness.  These cities were being denounced because they refused to repent.  Jesus says it will be worse for them than it was for Sodom who we know suffered great destruction and death.  Jesus was not happy with their choice of non-repentance.  The choice they made was to think they had nothing to repent for as many now do.

It is when we think we are wiser than God or wise enough that we think we do not need God, which should lead us to fear God all the more.  This is where our world is and this is where those churches who have turned themselves into cults are.  They should rethink their positions on the word of God and fear God all the more.  Many have fallen to the side of evil and don’t realize Satan applauds them.  They should know Satan does not care for them or cares that they care for him.  Understanding this, the unbeliever has chosen not to go to heaven.  That is the only choice one has about salvation; it is not that you can choose salvation but that you can refuse it.

Not that you or I or anyone can choose to go to heaven, but that anyone and everyone can choose to go to hell.  Not a good choice, but truth be told, the choice to send you to heaven has already been made for you and I and all who truly believe.  Jesus made that choice for us on the cross, in the grave, and in His resurrection.  All we have to do is be a believer and even that is due to the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us.

Matthew 11:27 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Of course, Jesus knows the Father and the Father knows the Son; as confusing as it sounds, they are one in the same.  It stands to reason that the perfect Father would hand over all things to the perfect Son.  This means the person of the Father trusts the person of the Son to carry out the will of God of which they are God and the will of God. 

God’s will, which is to fulfill His plan of salvation to all who love Him, that is all who believe.  To love God is to know Him through the Son who enlightens us of the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Why does God favor salvation?  Because God is life and life is salvation and salvation is the love of God for His creations.  Our salvation is not earned it is part of knowing our God who is the creator of life. 

The evil one is the only influencer to death.  And death is something you can earn if you wish.  But be careful what you wish for.  Death is an eternal life in hell’s fire and bottomless pit.  Death is not a good choice so let it be and let Jesus’ salvation surrender you to Him.

That we have Christian and Jewish churches is that Jesus has revealed to us the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Though the Jews may not know Jesus, yet, we pray for them that one day they will know Jesus before it is too late.  Sad to say but some Jews will chose death while others will be evangelized through Christ Jesus’ salvation of all believers.

Matthew 11:28–30 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Now here is the meat of our situations.  Our labor and our heavy laden is all those things that weigh us down and is used by the evil one to try and turn us from our God and creator.  The evil one cares that he has convinced you that there is no God or that God is the bad guy.  Again, the evil one does not care if you believe in him.  The goal of the evil one is to defeat God by any means.  And the crucks of it all is that the evil one has already lost.  Satan is swimming in denial, and that’s not the river of life but the river that leads to the bottomless pit.  You can only swim upstream for so long before you are taken by the downward flow.

Put your faith in Christ and He will give us rest.  Though at times it seems like we are given more than we can bear, realize Jesus is always with us.  Look up from your grief and put your eyes on Jesus.  Jesus waits with open arms to hold us up and carry us to Him.  And in the firm comfort of His arms Jesus gives us calm, care, and rest from all that tried to keep us from Him.

You see by knowing our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is to know of the sacrifice Jesus chose to suffer for our salvation.  He suffered real pain, real humility, and real sadness for our sake.  But the completion of God’s will, was through redemption brought on through Christ’s resurrection.  For He is the only God now and forever more who loves His creation, which is you, me, and all believers.  Amen

Written by Pastor Curtis A. May