Matthew 11:28 - Exposition

Come ( δεῦτε ); Matthew 4:19 , note. There is less thought of the process of coming than in the very similar invitation in John 7:37 . Unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden . The toilers and burdened ( οἱκοπιῶντες καὶ πεφορτισμένοι ). Our Lord purposely did not define in what the toil and burden consisted; for he would include all, from whatever quarter their toil and burden came. But since the spiritual is the central part of man ( Matthew 5:3 , note), the more that the toil or burden is felt there so much the stronger would our Lord's reference to it be. He would therefore be inviting most especially those that toil in legal ways of righteousness ( Romans 10:2 , Romans 10:3 ), and are burdened under Pharisaic enactments ( Luke 11:46 ). And I. Emphatic ( κἀγώ ). However others may treat you. Will give you rest ( ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς ). Not to be identified with the phrase in John 7:29 (see there). As contrasted with παύω (see Bishop Lightfoot, on Philemon 1:7 and on Ignat., 'Ephesians,' § 2), ἀναπαύω refers to temporary rather than permanent cessation from work, and it thus especially connotes refreshment of body and soul obtained through such rest. In confortuity with this we find ἀνάπαυσις regularly used in the LXX . as a translation of sabbathon ("sabbath-keeping," e.g. Exodus 16:23 , for which σαββατισμός comes in Hebrews 4:9 as an equivalent). The thought, therefore, here is not that those who come to Christ will have no more work, but that Christ will give them at once such rest and refreshment of soul that they may be fit for work, should God have any in store for them.