In the Fulness of Time/Part 76

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Christ’s Invitation to a Revelation of the Father Matthew 11:27b-30

The possibility of a revelation of the Father. Matthew 11:27b

Mt. 11:27b “and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father except the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

In both instances the knowing is expressed by epignosis, which means “to know fully.” In Luke 10:22 the shorter word ginosko “know” is used, along with the verb estin, “to be,” with the resultant translation, “No man knoweth who the Son is… and who the Father is.” These are two ways of expressing the same thing, namely, that a true, full knowledge of the Father comes only through the Son. In John 14 Jesus said it in still another way: “No man cometh unto the Father but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also… He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…. Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me?” (14:7-10). As a matter of record this was the witness of John the Baptist: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). The word “declared” is exegesato, which means “to exegete” or “to unfold in teaching.” Only Christ could possibly provide such a revelation of the Father.

The offer of a revelation of the Father. 11:28a

Mt. 11:28a “Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden.”This invitation is directed toward those Jews laboring under the heavy load of Pharisaism. The Pharisees rejected Him because they were taken up with their own traditions. Jesus will yet say of them: “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and they lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers“ (Matthew 23:4). Since Christ came as the revealer of the Father, so the invitation goes out to those “babes” who would respond to the offer. Certainly such an invitation continues today to any who are so burdened.

The results of a revelation of the Father. 11:28b-30

A lasting rest. 11:28b; 29c

Mt. 11:28c; 29b “and I will give you rest… ye shall find rest unto your souls.”Jesus not only promises to give rest, He also describes it; it is soul-rest, an eternal concept, not merely temporary relief from Pharisaic traditions, but eternal salvation! Hebrews 4:2 relates it to the gospel: “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them.” The generation of Jews wandering in the wilderness had a gospel preached unto them: “For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the LORD your God giveth you” (Deuteronomy 12:9). Here is the promised land, the place of your rest; Enter in! Sad to say, “They could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19). But in Hebrews 4:3, “For we who have believed do enter into rest.” Our Gospel is this: “The work of salvation is finished now; Enter in!” This salvation is the “rest unto your souls.”

A loosened yoke. 11:29a; 30a.

Mt. 11:29a; 30a “Take my yoke upon you…. For my yoke is easy.”Certain it is that the yoke of Christ is not the yoke of the Law! The Apostle Peter made the distinction regarding Gentile salvation: “Now therefore, why put God to the test, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10). In his Matthew Commentary, pp. 444-445 Lenski says:

This sounds like exchanging one load for another, for a yoke is placed upon an ox that it may be harnessed to a load. Indeed the Gospel and doctrine of faith are a yoke in that they are full of commands—all of them Gospel commands; however, commands to take, to trust, to feast, to inherit and the like. The rest and the yoke are two pictures of the same blessing… Indeed this is a yoke that rests its bearer… nor does the yoke mean the cross, suffering, etc…. These ideas lose the chief thing, the rest and the relief which Jesus offers us.

A learning about lowliness. 11:29b

Mt. 11:29b “and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.”Part of the yoke is a learning process, but it is specifically directed to the heart of Christ, concerning His meekness and lowliness. He could just as easily have said, “Learn of me for I am mighty, I am wise,” but His desire for the “babes” is to learn His servant attitude, which will be noted in the very next chapter (12:17-21). There were not only prophecies of His glory and might as King to be fulfilled, but of His work as the Servant of Jehovah as well. The Apostle Paul used this in Philippians 2:5-8 to remind the Philippians to have the mind of Christ; namely, that He took upon Himself the form of a servant, humbled Himself and became obedient unto death. A revelation of Who Christ is can only come to “babes” not to the “wise and prudent;” this is part of learning about the heart of Christ.

A light burden. 11:30b.

Mt. 11:30b “and my burden is light.”Since the heavily burdened are those under the harsh Pharisaical traditions, and since these are exchanged for “rest,” then this light burden must involve the support of His everlasting arms under them and the fulfillment of His promise of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within them, so that they might apply what they had learned of the meekness and lowliness of Christ. “In the fulness of time,” these things will have prepared them for eternity!

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