Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 11].
11:28 {Come unto me} (\deute pros me\). Verses 28 to 30 are not
in Luke and are among the special treasures of Matthew's Gospel.
No sublimer words exist than this call of Jesus to the toiling
and the burdened (\pephortismenoi\, perfect passive participle,
state of weariness) to come to him. He towers above all men as he
challenges us. "I will refresh you" (\k'ago anapaus• h–mas\). Far
more than mere rest, rejuvenation. The English slang expression
"rest up" is close to the idea of the Greek compound \ana-pau•\.
It is causative active voice.
11:29 {Take my yoke upon you and learn of me} (\arate ton zugon
mou eph'humas kai mathete ap'emou\). The rabbis used yoke for
school as many pupils find it now a yoke. The English word
"school" is Greek for leisure (\schol•\). But Jesus offers
refreshment (\anapausin\) in his school and promises to make the
burden light, for he is a meek and humble teacher. Humility was
not a virtue among the ancients. It was ranked with servility.
Jesus has made a virtue of this vice. He has glorified this
attitude so that Paul urges it (Php 2:3), "in lowliness of mind
each counting other better than himself." In portions of Europe
today people place yokes on the shoulders to make the burden
easier to carry. Jesus promises that we shall find the yoke
kindly and the burden lightened by his help. "Easy" is a poor
translation of \chr•stos\. Moffatt puts it "kindly." That is the
meaning in the Septuagint for persons. We have no adjective that
quite carries the notion of kind and good. The yoke of Christ is
useful, good, and kindly. Cf. So 1:10.
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Matthew: Chapter 11)