(Joe Stehle)
Matthew 11:20-30 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgement for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgement for the land of Sodom than for you.”
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. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 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.”
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Today’s passage follows the section focused on John the Baptist with two very distinct new subjects. Verses 20–24 describe the hard-heartedness of cities who have witnessed miracles, and verses 25–30 talk about Jesus and his Father and end with a beautiful invitation.
When I first read verses 20–24, it almost sounded like Jesus was complaining (as I would have been) that those cities did not respond to the miracles. But I think he was simply noting their hard-heartedness, not complaining. The parallel passage in Luke 10 puts these comments in the context of Jesus sending out the 72 to preach and then coming back to report on that effort, so Jesus may have been responding to his disciples’ comments.
Verses 25–30 start with Jesus praying, thanking his Father, acknowledging his Lordship, and recognizing God’s sovereignty in hiding the truth from the wise and revealing it to little children. In this case, the truth is that no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal the Father. Such a clear statement of Jesus as the only way to know the Father is a rich blessing to us theologically. Verses 28–30 are very well known and a source of great comfort, but as such, it can be easy for us to breeze past them. Take a deep breath, pause, and then read slowly – Come to me, all who labor – I will give you rest. Most of us do not feel the immediate survival need of “daily bread” – but we do acutely feel the pressures of modern life and the need for calm rest. Jesus invites us to learn from him, specifically as he is gentle and lowly of heart. Let’s pray for each other, that we can take up his yoke, adopting his gentle and lowly heart, and find rest for our souls.
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An audio version of each devotion will be posted on our church podcast “Life Together at CRPC,” which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.