Mathew 11:28-30
“Come to me all who labor and bear burdens and I will give you rest. Bear My yoke upon you and learn from Me. That I am tranquil and I am meek and in My heart you will find tranquility for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Many believe that YESHUA has done all the work for us and that there is nothing left for the believer to do, they believe that all we must do is rest in YESHUA and His finished work on the execution stake and that He set us free from the Torah. Also, they believe the Shabbat is not a literal rest but resting spiritually in YESHUA what many called a “Spiritual Shabbat.” Let’s take a look at these verses and see what YESHUA is really saying!
Come to Me all who labor and bear burdens and I will give you rest:
The word burden in the Strong’s concordance is #G5412 which means to load up (properly as a vessel or animal) that is (figuratively) to OVERBURDEN WITH CEREMONY (or spiritual anxiety).
YESHUA is making a reference to farming to make His point by using what they could understand. Farming was something many did in their daily lives whether to have food for themselves or to sell to others. YESHUA used the word burdens to make His connection to the message He wanted them to receive, which carries a physical and spiritual meaning:
In the “peshat” the literal meaning of scripture we see that men would load burdens onto donkeys to carry:
Nehemiah 13:15
“In those days I saw in Judah highways filled with traffic on the Shabbat, and men bringing BURDENS LOADED ON DONKEYS; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all manner of BURDENS which they brought into Jerusalem on the Shabbat day; and I testified against them that they might not sell game.”
In the “remez” sense, the hint to a deeper spiritual meaning: The burdens that YESHUA is speaking of is the burden of the Oral Torah of the Pharisees that they placed upon the sons of men. A set of man-made rules and doctrines that were heaven burdens that no man could carry and they went against the written Torah.
Mathew 15:1-9
“Then the scribes and the Pharisees who were from Jerusalem drew near to YESHUA and said, “Why do your disciples TRANSGRESS THE TRADTIONS OF THE ELDERS (Oral Torah) and do not wash their hands when they eat bread? Then YESHUA answered and said to them, “Why also do you TRANGRESS THE COMMANDMENTS OF ELOHIM because of your TRADITIONS? For ELOHIM said, ‘Honor you dad and mother, and anyone who reviles his dad and his mother let him be put to death. But you say anyone who says to a dad or a mother, ‘My offering is whatever you have gained by me, (Korban)’ then he does not need to honor his dad or mother. And you nullify the Word of ELOHIM because of your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophecy concerning you and said, ‘This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is very far from Me. And they worship Me in vain, while they teach the doctrines of the commandments of the sons of MEN.”
Their TRADITION broke the written Torah because they would do what is called “korban” which is to dedicate a gift to YAHWEH! This was a loophole used by the Pharisees that prevented the gift or resources from being taken and used for another purpose, yet at the same time gave them access to for their continued usage. And in doing so they would not have to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12) and avoid the responsibility.
Mathew 23:1-4
“YESHUA then spoke with the crowds and with His disciples, and he said to them “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the throne of Moses. Therefore, everything that they say to you that you should keep and do, but not according to their deeds, for they talk, but do not. And they BIND HEAVY BURDENS and place them upon the shoulders of the sons of men, but they do not desire to touch them with their fingers.”
Now you can see the imagery, the same way men place burdens upon the shoulders of donkey’s is the same way the Pharisees placed heavy burdens of the Oral Torah upon the sons of men.
Acts 15:10
“And now, why do you test ELOHIM so as to place a YOKE upon the necks of the disciples that which not even our forefathers nor us were able to carry?”
The yoke that Peter is referring to is the Oral Torah of circumcision that I outlined in the “Defending Apostle Paul” message. This whole topic at the Jerusalem Council surrounded this topic as the Pharisees were pressuring the gentiles into getting circumcised according to their “misuse of circumcision” so that the gentiles would receive their “Jewish Status”! They had yearlong ritual that a gentile would have to go through which ended with circumcision, and they believed the blood of their circumcision saved when we know it’s the blood of YESHUA that saves. The topic was don’t pressure the gentiles while they are needing the milk and not the meat, let them learn Torah and then be circumcised. So, these are the burdens that YESHUA spoke of that He was setting us free from.
Another example of this is found in Luke 6:
Luke 6:1-2
“Now it happened on the Shabbat while YESHUA was walking in the fields that His disciples were PLUCKING heads of grain and rubbing them in their hands and eating. And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do the thing that is not Lawful to do on the Shabbat?”
The Pharisees considered the disciples plucking the heads of grain to be “harvesting” and them rubbing the grain in their hands to be “threshing” which they considered work on the Shabbat according to their Oral Torah which is not found in the written Torah. Rather, it shows them obeying the Torah:
Deuteronomy 23:25
“When you come into the standing wheat of your neighbor, you may PLUCK the ears with your HAND; but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.”
As we can see that is exactly what the disciples did, they plucked the grain and did not use a sickle, so it no way were they working/harvesting grain and they were accused of breaking the Pharisees version of the Shabbat not the true Shabbat.
Bear My Yoke upon you and learn from Me:
The etymology for the word yoke is #G2218 which means to join especially with a yoke; a coupling that is figuratively SERVITUDE (A LAW OR OBLIGATION). So, the Yoke that YESHUA is referring to is the Torah and our obligation to be obedient to it.
2 Baruch 41:3
“Because, see, I see many of your people who have withdrawn from your statutes and have cast from them the YOKE OF YOUR TORAH.”
YESHUA was explaining the yoke of the Torah in a way they could understand it by using farming imagery as I explained previously.
Deuteronomy 22:10
“You shall not plow with an ox and and donkey together.”
Do not yoke an ox with a donkey because they are unequally yoked. The people understood that two oxen most be yoked together to plow a field. As Jeff Benner puts it, the custom was to take an older experienced ox and yoke him with a younger inexperienced ox, and the younger inexperienced ox would LEARN from the older experienced ox. So, with this application YESHUA is saying that He is the older experienced ox and that we are the younger inexperienced ox and need to learn the truth from Him.
The first letter in the Otiot is Aleph which is a picture of an OX head. It represents YAHWEH, the number 1, being YOKED to headship and being taught by Headship. So, YESHUA spoke the words of His Father YAHWEH and we are YOKED to Him by the truth of His words that He taught; and we are to sit at His feet like Mary the sister of Martha did and learn the truth from Him.
Deuteronomy 18:18-19
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak to them all that I shall COMMAND HIM. Whosoever will not hearken to MY WORDS which HE shall speak in My Name, I will require it of him.”
John 12:49
“For I have not spoken from My soul, but the Father who sent Me, He gave a COMMANDMENT to Me what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His commands are eternal life. Therefore, these things that I speak just as My Father told Me, thus I speak.”
John 3:35-36
“The Father loves the Son and all things He has given into His hands. He who believes in the Son has life that is eternal, and he who does not OBEY the Son will not see life, rather the wrath of ELOHIM will rise up against Him.”
John the Baptist is confirming the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18 and YESHUA’s own words that anybody who does not listen to YESHUA will not have eternal life because He is speaking the words of His Father YAHWEH.
John 5:24
“Ahmein, Ahmein I say to you that whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has life that is eternal and does not come into judgment but has passed from death into life.”
John 6:45
“For it is written in the prophets (Isaiah 54:13) that all of them will be taught of ELOHIM. Everyone who hears therefore and learns from the Father comes to Me.”
Let us sit as His feet and listen to the living words that YAHWEH gave to Him to speak:
Luke 10:39-42
“And she (Martha) had a sister whose name was Mary. And she came and seated herself at the feet of our Master and was LISTENING TO HIS WORDS. And Martha was occupied with many chores and came saying to Him, “My Master, you do not seem to care that my sister has left me by myself to chore. Tell her to help me.” But YESHUA answered and said to her, “Martha! Martha! You are anxious and troubled by many things! But there is one thing that is important, and Mary has chosen the good part for herself. That will not be taken from her.’
Let us learn from YESHUA and eat the spiritual food that Mary chose and not be so concerned about the physical food that Martha was worried about. YESHUA said there was only one thing that was important and that was to hear (shema) the word of YAHWEH!
John 6:67-69
“And YESHUA said to His twelve, “Why do you also desire to go? Simon Peter answered and said, “My Master, to whom should we go? You have the words of Life that is eternal. And we believe and know that you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living ELOHIM!”
You will find tranquility in your souls:
The Cambridge dictionary defines tranquility as a peaceful, calm state, without noise, violence, or worry. This sounds a lot like eternal life, doesn’t it? Strong’s #G372 says intermission; by implication RECREATION, which also sounds like eternal life because all things will be made NEW, and our souls will live for eternity in the new heaven and earth where there is no more sin, death, violence or worry, but rather a place of peace and joy!
Revelation 21:1-5
“And I saw new heavens and a new earth: for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away: and the sea was no more. And I saw the Holy city, the New Jerusalem, descending from ELOHIM out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from heaven, which said: “Behold, the tabernacle of ELOHIM is with men; and He dwells with them: they will be His people; and ELOHIM will be with them, an ELOHIM to them. And every tear will be wiped from their eyes; and there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor wailing; nor will pain be any more; because the FORMER things have passed away.” And He who sat on the throne, said: “Behold, I will make ALL THINGS NEW.” And He said “Write; because these are the faithful and true words of ELOHIM.”
YESHUA saying we will find tranquility/rest for our souls was a quote from:
Jeremiah 6:16
“Thus says YAHWEH, stand in the ways and see, and ask for the OLD PATHS and see where is the good way, and walk in it and find REST for your souls…”
YESHUA will give us rest by the leading of the RUACH HA’KODESH the Holy Spirit teaching and showing us the ancient paths of worship! Which is the truth of the written Torah, the way YAHWEH intended for the Torah to be kept from the very beginning, and to correct the false doctrine of the Oral Torah. YESHUA showed us how to walk out the Torah in obedience as He is our example to follow (1 John 2:6). With the truth of the Torah which is YESHUA who is the written Word that became Living Flesh, His blood atonement and being led by the RUACH HA’KODESH we will find eternal rest for our souls in Paradise, just like we currently find a physical and literal rest on the weekly Shabbat as YESHUA is also the Master of the Shabbat.
John 11:25
“YESHUA said to her, “I am the resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts His trust in Me: will live, even if he dies; and everyone living and trusting in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
2 Baruch 30:1-2
“And after these, when the time of the advent (the coming) of the Messiah will be fulfilled and He will return in esteem, then all those who have fallen asleep in hope of Him will rise. At that time, those reservoirs will be opened in which the number of the souls of the righteous have been preserved, and they will come out, and the abundance of the souls will appear together in ONE assembly, of one mind. The first will rejoice, and the last will not be saddened, for they know that the time has arrived of which it is said that it is the consummation of times.”
Notice how at the resurrection that the righteous will rise up to eternal life? This goes to everything that YESHUA is saying that is required to have rest for our souls which is walking in the ancient paths of the Torah.
1 John 2:29
“If you know that He (YESHUA) is righteous, you also know that whoever DOES righteousness is from Him.”
Deuteronomy 6:25
“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe and do all these commandments before YAHWEH our ELOHIM, as He has commanded us.”
For My Yoke is pleasant and My burden is Light:
The Yoke/Torah is pleasant and a joy
Psalms 1:1-2
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the way of the unrighteous, nor abides by the counsel of the sinners, nor sits in the company of mockers; but his DELIGHT IS IN THE TORAH OF YAHWEH, and on His TORAH does He meditate day and night.”
Psalms 19:7-8
“The Torah of YAHWEH is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of YAHWEH is trustworthy, making wise the young men. The statutes of YAHWEH are right, REJOICING THE HEART; the commandment of YAHWEH is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
Jeremiah 15:16
“Your commandments have I kept and carried out, Your word was to me A DELIGHT AND THE JOY OF MY HEART; for I am called by Your Name.”
His burden is light:
The Torah it is not hard to do, you just must give your life to YESHUA and be led by the RUACH HA’KODESH and you see that is a joy as David, Jeremiah and our ancestors said. Observing the Torah is not a burden:
1 John 5:3
“For this is the love of ELOHIM, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not BURDENSOME.”
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
“If you will obey the voice of YAHWEH your ELOHIM, and keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Torah, and if you turn to YAHWEH your ELOHIM with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment which I command you this day is not HIDDEN from you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it down to us, that we may hear it and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, who shall go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? But the word is very NEAR you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you MAY DO IT.”
Our Father YAHWEH did not give us a Torah that we could not do. Rather it’s the hardness of men’s hearts to obey it, so He sent His Son YESHUA to die for our sins because we broke His Torah, then YESHUA ascends to heaven and gives us the RUACH HA’KODESH who leads us into all truth which is defined as the Torah (Psalms 119:142). It’s not burdensome, it is freedom from sin and death.
James 1:25
“But everyone that looks upon the perfect Torah of LIBERTY/FREEDOM and lives fully in it, is not a hearer of something to be forgotten, but a DOER of the things; and he will be blessed in his work.”
YESHUA delivered a very powerful message to us in very few words! The people whom He was talking to understood His message and I pray that you to understand it as they did. As always, may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!