Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 11:28

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28 (ASV)

In the wake of v.27, the “me” of this verse is very important. Jesus invites to come to him, not “the wise and the learned” (v.25), but those who have become weary through heavy struggling and those who are overloaded like beasts of burden; and he (not the Father) will give them rest. There is an echo of Jer 31:25, where the Lord refreshes his people through the new covenant. It is impossible not to be reminded of the “heavy loads” the Pharisees put on people’s shoulders (23:4). The “rest” (GK 399) is eschatological (cf. Revelation 6:11; 14:13) but also a present reality—for the present world and the world to come.