Matthew 11:28

KJV

Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

KJV (with Strong's)

Come {G1205} unto {G4314} me {G3165}, all {G3956} ye that labour {G2872} and {G2532} are heavy laden {G5412}, and I {G2504} will give {G373} you {G5209} rest {G373}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Berean Standard Bible

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

American Standard Version

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 11:28 presents one of Jesus Christ's most tender and profound invitations, calling all who are burdened by the struggles of life, the weight of sin, or the oppressive demands of religious legalism to come to Him. This verse serves as a beacon of hope, promising genuine spiritual rest and relief to those who accept His gracious offer, highlighting His compassionate nature and unique authority as the ultimate source of peace.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This powerful invitation from Jesus follows a series of significant declarations and laments. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus has pronounced woes upon the unrepentant cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, which had witnessed His mighty works but remained hardened in their unbelief ([Matthew 11:20-24](/matthew/11-20-24 "Jesus' Denunciation of Unrepentant Cities")). This stark judgment is then contrasted with a profound prayer of thanksgiving to the Father for revealing spiritual truths to the humble, rather than the "wise and understanding" ([Matthew 11:25-26](/matthew/11-25-26 "Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving")). Crucially, Jesus then asserts His unique and exclusive relationship with the Father, declaring that "all 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" ([Matthew 11:27](/matthew/11-27 "Jesus' Unique Authority and Revelation")). It is in this context of divine authority and a lament over human rejection that the open, compassionate invitation of verse 28 rings out, offering an alternative to the spiritual blindness and weariness prevalent among the people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was marked by significant religious and societal burdens. The Jewish people lived under Roman occupation, which brought political oppression and economic hardship. Spiritually, they were often weighed down by the intricate and burdensome interpretations of the Mosaic Law imposed by the scribes and Pharisees. These religious leaders, while claiming to uphold God's law, often added countless traditions and stipulations that created an impossible standard of righteousness, leading to spiritual exhaustion and despair rather than true freedom and communion with God. Jesus's contemporary audience would have been intimately familiar with the concept of "yokes" – both literal yokes for oxen and metaphorical yokes of religious teaching or servitude. The Pharisees' "yoke" was heavy and oppressive, characterized by legalism and self-effort. Against this backdrop, Jesus's invitation to "come unto me" and find "rest" would have been revolutionary, offering a stark contrast to the prevailing religious climate and promising liberation from the crushing weight of external requirements.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 11:28 contributes significantly to several major themes within the Gospel of Matthew and broader biblical theology. One key theme is **Jesus's Divine Authority and Compassion**. Having just declared His unique relationship with the Father and His sole authority to reveal God ([Matthew 11:27](/matthew/11-27 "Jesus' Unique Authority")), Jesus extends an invitation that only one with divine authority could offer – the power to grant true rest for the soul. This highlights His compassionate heart for humanity, particularly for the marginalized and oppressed. Another theme is the **Contrast Between Legalism and Grace**. The "labour" and "heavy laden" state of the people directly contrasts with the burdensome legalism of the Pharisees, who "tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger" ([Matthew 23:4](/matthew/23-4 "Jesus' Rebuke of the Pharisees' Hypocrisy")). Jesus offers a different "yoke" – one that is "easy" and a "burden" that is "light" ([Matthew 11:29-30](/matthew/11-29-30 "Jesus' Invitation to Take His Yoke")). This underscores the theme of **True Rest Found in Christ Alone**, which is not merely physical repose but a profound spiritual peace, liberation from the striving of self-righteousness, and relief from the burden of sin.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Come (Greek, _deûte'_):** This is an imperative command, a direct and urgent call to action. It signifies a personal summons, inviting individuals to draw near to Jesus Himself, emphasizing a relational rather than merely intellectual or ritualistic response. It is an invitation to a new way of life, centered on Him.
* **labour (Greek, _kopiáō'_):** This verb describes intense, exhausting toil, often to the point of weariness or fatigue. It implies a struggle, a strenuous effort that drains one's strength. In this context, it refers not just to physical labor but to the spiritual and emotional exhaustion experienced by those striving under the law, battling sin, or carrying the weight of life's anxieties.
* **rest (Greek, _anapaúō'_):** This word denotes refreshment, cessation from labor, and tranquility. It is a comprehensive rest that impacts the entire being – body, mind, and spirit. It implies a sense of relief, renewal, and quietness, a deep peace that comes from being unburdened and finding true repose in Christ.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Come unto me, all ye that labour":** This is Jesus's gracious and universal invitation. "Come unto me" emphasizes the personal nature of the call – it is not to a system or a set of rules, but to a person, Jesus Himself. "All ye that labour" specifies the recipients: those who are toiling, expending great effort, and experiencing weariness, whether from physical exertion, the demands of the Law, or the burdens of life.
* **"and are heavy laden":** This phrase further describes the condition of those invited. "Heavy laden" (from _phortízō_) implies being weighed down, overburdened, or oppressed by a heavy load. This could refer to the burden of sin, guilt, anxiety, sorrow, or the oppressive legalistic requirements imposed by religious leaders of the day. They are not merely tired, but crushed by their burdens.
* **"and I will give you rest.":** This is Jesus's profound promise. The "I" is emphatic in the Greek, underscoring that Jesus Himself is the sole source of this promised rest. It is not something earned or achieved through effort, but a gift freely given by Him. This "rest" (_anapaúō_) is not merely physical repose but a deep, spiritual refreshment, a cessation from striving, and an inner peace that liberates the soul from its burdens.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 11:28 is rich in **Metaphor**. The concepts of "labour" and being "heavy laden" are metaphors for the spiritual, emotional, and even physical burdens that weigh people down, whether from sin, guilt, anxiety, or the oppressive demands of religious legalism. The "rest" Jesus offers is likewise a metaphor for spiritual peace, inner tranquility, and freedom from these burdens, a state of soul-deep repose. The verse also employs **Contrast**, setting the weariness and burden of humanity against the promised refreshment and ease offered by Jesus. This highlights the radical difference between the world's ways of coping and Christ's divine solution. Furthermore, the direct address "Come unto me" functions as a powerful **Invitation**, making the passage deeply personal and accessible to all who hear it.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 11:28 stands as a pivotal declaration of God's grace, revealing Jesus as the compassionate Savior who offers genuine relief from the burdens of sin and the futility of self-effort. It underscores the New Covenant's emphasis on relationship and grace over legalistic adherence, positioning Jesus as the ultimate source of spiritual peace and renewal. This invitation is a testament to the accessibility of God's kingdom and the boundless love of Christ for all humanity, especially those who are suffering and seeking solace. It prefigures the complete work of redemption on the cross, where Jesus truly bore the heaviest burden of all—the sin of the world—to provide ultimate rest and reconciliation.

* [Isaiah 55:1](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah's Invitation to the Thirsty")
* [John 7:37](/john/7-37 "Jesus' Invitation to the Thirsty")
* [Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9-10 "The Sabbath Rest for the People of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world that often demands endless striving, performance, and self-sufficiency, Jesus's invitation in Matthew 11:28 remains profoundly relevant. It speaks directly to the soul-weariness, anxiety, and spiritual exhaustion that characterize modern life, whether from the relentless pace of work, the pressure to achieve, the weight of personal failures, or the search for meaning in a chaotic world. This verse calls us to recognize our limitations and our need for a divine burden-bearer. True rest is not found in escaping reality or in temporary distractions, but in surrendering our burdens to Christ, trusting in His finished work on the cross, and embracing His easy yoke. It encourages us to cease our striving for self-justification and instead find our peace and identity in Him, allowing His grace to refresh our weary souls and provide a deep, abiding tranquility that the world cannot offer.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What burdens are you currently carrying that Jesus is inviting you to lay at His feet?**
* **In what ways have you sought "rest" in worldly solutions, and how have they proven insufficient?**
* **How does understanding Jesus as the source of true rest change your perspective on spiritual striving or religious duties?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to "come unto" Jesus with your specific burdens and receive His promised rest?**

### FAQ

**What does it mean to "labour and be heavy laden" in this context?**

Answer: To "labour" (Greek: _kopiáō_) refers to intense, exhausting toil, often to the point of weariness or fatigue. To be "heavy laden" (Greek: _phortízō_) means to be weighed down, overburdened, or oppressed by a heavy load. In the context of Matthew 11:28, these terms describe not just physical exhaustion but also the spiritual and emotional burdens of humanity. This includes the weight of sin, guilt, anxiety, sorrow, the pressures of life, and especially the oppressive legalistic demands imposed by the religious leaders of Jesus's day, who laid heavy burdens on people without offering true relief ([Matthew 23:4](/matthew/23-4 "Jesus' Rebuke of the Pharisees")). Jesus's invitation is to those who are spiritually and emotionally exhausted by trying to meet impossible standards or carry their own burdens.

**What kind of "rest" does Jesus offer? Is it just physical rest?**

Answer: The "rest" (Greek: _anapaúō_) Jesus offers is far more than mere physical repose. It is a deep, comprehensive spiritual refreshment and tranquility for the soul. This rest signifies cessation from the exhausting toil of trying to earn God's favor through works, freedom from the burden of sin and guilt, and relief from the anxieties and pressures of life. It is a profound inner peace that comes from surrendering to Christ's authority and trusting in His finished work. This spiritual rest is foundational to the Christian life, as further elaborated in the book of Hebrews, which speaks of a "Sabbath rest" that remains for the people of God, entered into by ceasing from one's own works as God did from His ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9-10 "The Sabbath Rest for the People of God")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 11:28 is a profound Christ-centered invitation, revealing Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of humanity's deepest need for rest and redemption. This verse directly foreshadows His atoning work on the cross, where He would bear the heaviest burden of all – the sin of the world – so that all who come to Him might find true rest. Just as the Old Testament prophets spoke of a coming Messiah who would bring comfort and deliverance, Jesus embodies this promise, offering a rest that transcends mere physical relief. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "Jesus, the Good Shepherd")), and His sacrifice on Calvary is the ultimate act of burden-bearing, providing reconciliation with God and eternal peace. The "rest" He gives is the peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus ([Philippians 4:7](/philippians/4-7 "The Peace of God")). His invitation to "come unto me" is the very essence of the Gospel, calling all to abandon their self-effort and find their complete sufficiency, peace, and eternal rest in Him alone, for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

John 7:37

¶ In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Isaiah 55:1

¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 55:3

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David.

Galatians 5:1

¶ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Revelation 22:17

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.