At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
After Jesus denounced the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their unrepentance despite witnessing his mighty works, he praised the Father for revealing divine truths to the childlike and invited everyone to take his yoke upon themselves and learn from him.
Jesus expressed gratitude to the Father in a manner typical of Jewish blessings (Ps. 18:50; Jn, 11:41-42). In his prayer, Jesus addressed God as “Father” and praised Him for His divine revelation to the simple and humble who heard Jesus and believed his teaching, while the wise of this world did not understand divine truths and would not accept him (1 Cor. 1:18-19; Is. 19:12). This divine revelation to the humble and childlike is offered through Jesus Christ by God’s gracious will.
Jesus told his disciples that he had received authority from God the Father (divine kingship and lordship) over all aspects of creation and salvation history (Mt. 28:18; Jn. 3:35; Phil. 2:9-11), and he would reveal the Father to those who accepted him. Humility and openness are essential when receiving God’s message. Jesus revealed his unique relationship with the Father and the reciprocal relationship the Father had with him. The authority given to Jesus enables him to reveal the Father to his disciples according to their individual capacity to grasp this knowledge. They have been offered salvation through Jesus Christ by God’s gracious will.
Jesus extends an invitation to those who are weary and burdened, promising physical rest, relief, spiritual peace, and salvation. He asks them to be his disciples (take his yoke) and let him teach them how to be meek and humble (Sir. 51;23, 26) because it is borne out of love and leads to true freedom. In Jewish tradition, the yoke was often used metaphorically to represent subjection to a teacher's instruction or the Law (Torah). It could symbolize the heavy burden of legalistic observances and rituals imposed by the Mosaic Law as interpreted by the Pharisees and scribes (Mt. 23:4). In contrast, Jesus describes his yoke as "easy" because adhering to his teachings is not meant to be oppressive or exhausting like the heavy burden of the Law imposed by the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus promises a deep spiritual peace and fulfillment that comes from being in a right relationship with God.
Almighty God, we thank You for revealing Your truths to the humble and childlike, and for the gift of Your Son who invites us to find rest in Him. Help us to take his yoke upon us and learn from his gentle and humble heart so that we may we experience the peace and rest that only he can provide. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
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Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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