Thoughts on Matthew chapter 11:16-19 and 25-30

Matthew 11:16-19 and 25-30 address human stubbornness versus childlike faith. Jesus laments the cynical public who rejected both persons, John the Baptist develops his own special ministry. Jesus then praises God for revealing spiritual truths to the humble rather than the self-proclaimed wise and offers rest to the spiritually exhausted. The passage can be broken down into two distinct, interconnected lessons.

The Parable of the Children (vv. 16-19) Here Jesus compares the sceptical public to fussy children in the marketplace who cannot agree on a game. If the other kids play wedding (“we played the pipe”), they refuse to dance. If they play funeral (“we sang a dirge”), they refuse to mourn.

The game weddings and funerals, went something like this. One group of children played the flute and the others were supposed to dance, but the Jews didn’t dance. The second group of children then sang a dirge and the others were supposed to mourn, that is to cry out as people did at funerals, but the Jews also refused to mourn. The Jews were like fickle children who refused to play each other’s games.

People complained that John the Baptist was too strict and possessed by a demon because he fasted and lived in the wilderness. In contrast, they complained that Jesus was a “glutton and a drunkard” because He ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners.

No matter what approach God used, the cynical crowd found an excuse to reject it. They were more interested in maintaining their own rigid expectations than accepting God’s truth.

Now in the final section of our reading from Matthew. The Revelation to the “Infants” (vv. 25-27).

This refers to the religious elite (the Pharisees and scribes) who relied on their intellect, status, and man-made rules to understand God. Their pride effectively blinded them.

The Infants in our reading refers to the “little ones”—the outcasts, the poor in spirit, and the simple-hearted. They possess childlike humility and are open to God’s grace.

Divine truth is not reserved for the intellectual or the religiously privileged. It is revealed to those who come with a teachable, humble spirit.

The Invitation to Rest that’s verses 28-30.

Weary and Burdened describes people weighed down by the heavy, exhausting legalistic rules and rituals that the religious leaders demanded they follow to be right with God.

Jesus does promise rest to all who are weary and burdened who come to him. He will take away our burden of sin, for his rest is spiritual, it allows us to have inner peace. It is rest for our souls and this rest will last for ever.

In order to find this true rest and peace it is necessary to come to the one true giver of peace and that is Jesus Christ.

Now a yoke is mentioned in the text.

In Jesus’ time, a “yoke” was a wooden beam placed over the necks of animals to guide them. It was also used metaphorically by rabbis to describe and show their submission to the Law.

One of the special items of clothing a priest wears is a stole. This scarf-like band of material is placed around our necks and symbolises that at our ordination we responded to Christ’s call on our lives to fulfil a particular ministry among his people. We chose to submit ourselves to Christ’s just and gentle rule and to try to live-out the values of his Kingdom, calling others to share in the good news as we go. I can still recall the moment 13 years ago, the 4th of July to be precise when my stole was placed over my shoulders by Peter as my priestly ministry began. The stole represents the yoke – by which Christ directs us and steers us. And even makes us do things we otherwise wouldn’t dream of doing and we are told that this yoke is easy and light.

In contrast the Jews lived under the yoke of the law and this yoke for them was a heavy burden, they were obliged to obey hundreds of regulations, if they broke one of these regulations it was counted as if they had broken the whole law.

Jesus contrasts the oppressive rules of the religious elite of His day with His own way. He asks followers to take on His yoke—a way of life centred on love, grace, and rest, which is fulfilling and restores the soul.

The yoke that Jesus offers was a yoke of obedience, but not to any law but to Jesus himself. To obey Jesus is not a burden because he is our friend, our shepherd and our saviour.

Jesus is gentle and humble, He is not impatient with us when we are slow to learn and He is not harsh with us when we stumble. Jesus’ yoke is easy, but this doesn’t mean as followers we will have an easy life. The path for every Christian can be narrow and difficult but with Christ’s help we don’t have to labour under the yoke of law. Romans chapter eight verse two states; that ‘through Jesus Christ the law of the spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death’

We don’t have to carry the burden of sin, sorrow and worry. Jesus is there for us, He strengthens us and He gives us joy as we follow Him.

Amen. Rev Ian