mySundaySermons

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,  “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds….” At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;  yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.  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. Come to me, all 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.” [ESV]

Today we delve into the heart of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, verses 16 to 19, and 25 to 30. This portion of scripture reminds us of God’s wisdom and Christ’s invitation to relief from our burdens.

The passage starts with Jesus drawing a comparison of His generation to children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to each other, saying, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”

The imagery here is strong. Imagine being in a bustling marketplace, filled with the chatter of commerce, the laughter of children playing, and the melodies of the flute. Yet there’s a disconnect — there’s music, but no dancing, a mournful dirge, but no tears. This is the disconnect Jesus is highlighting. The Pharisees, the learned men of the law, could not understand the message of the Kingdom that Jesus was delivering, much like those who hear the flute but do not dance.

But God, in His wisdom, knows where to reveal His secrets. Jesus continues in verses 25 and 26, thanking the Father because He has hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. This is not a rebuke of wisdom or understanding, rather it emphasizes that worldly wisdom alone is not enough to comprehend the mystery of the kingdom of God. It takes a childlike faith and humility to truly receive God’s wisdom.

Imagine a small child at the seashore. The child, in her innocence, can only grasp a handful of sand. If you asked her to grasp all the sand on the shore, it would be impossible. That is us, trying to grasp the vast wisdom of God with our own understanding. Yet, if the ocean were to come in and surround the child, she would be in the midst of it all. This is us when we let go of our pretenses, humble ourselves, and let God’s wisdom surround us.

Jesus then gives the invitation that has comforted billions over the centuries. In verses 28 to 30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all 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.”

This invitation is not to a vacation away from all responsibilities, but to a new way of carrying life’s burdens. A yoke is a wooden beam used between a pair of oxen so they can pull together. By asking us to take His yoke, Jesus is saying He wants to share our burdens, to pull alongside us.

Think of a time when you tried to carry a heavy load on your own, maybe a piece of furniture or a big moving box. It’s difficult, strenuous, and you tire easily. But when someone else takes the other end, the load doesn’t feel so heavy. That’s what Jesus offers. He’s not saying life won’t have challenges, but He promises to carry them with us.

Beloved, the message today is one of humility, understanding, and shared burden. It is a call to set aside our worldly wisdom and approach God with the open, humble heart of a child. It is an invitation to dance to the tune of God’s wisdom, and mourn the sorrow of our sinful ways. Most importantly, it is a comforting promise that we are not alone in our struggles; we have a Savior who shares our yoke and lightens our burden.

As we go through this week, may we become like children, open to God’s wisdom. May we answer the call to dance and mourn, and may we lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus, who promises us rest.

Let us pray…