Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jesus begins this verse: Come to Me.… – this is from the Greek word deute, a greeting that means come — come now! I am inviting you to come! This implies that Jesus’ invitation to come to Him is a special invitation directed to those who labour. The word labour in Greek is from the word kopiao, which describes a person who has become completely exhausted due to nonstop, continuous work.
Jesus also calls out to those who are heavy laden. These words are from the word phortidzo, depicting a person who is carrying a very heavy load on his back.
Jesus promises that He will give them rest. The word rest is the Greek word anapauo which means to refresh, to rejuvenate, to reinvigorate, or to revitalise.
The same scripture in the Message Bible reads: Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Psalm 37:7 (NKJV) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
The Hebrew word translated as rest, means to be at peace, to be still, to be quiet or calm. The place of rest is in the Lord.
Hebrews 4:1-3 (NLT) God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: They will never enter my place of rest,” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.
Mark 6:31 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
Notice, Jesus doesn’t say, ‘go rest,’ but instead, ‘come with me and get some rest’. Why should we spend to time with Jesus? Because He refreshes tired bodies and restores tired souls.
Jeremiah 31:25 (MSG) I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls.
Ruth 3:1 (ESV) Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
Today seek rest for your soul in the presence of the Lord.