Matthew 11

A Kind Yoke for a Gentle Humility, Matthew 11:25-30

Jesus tells us that he has an easy and kind yoke and is joyful that those who are children have heard his call. In a paradoxical way these two things go together. Only little children can receive Jesus, and only those who are weary can become children. This is because those are the kind of people who can put their trust in Jesus as they have not blinded themselves with their own selfishness.

Image: A woman in a large straw hat is tending two decorated oxen…, Steel engraving by C. Cousen after E. H. Landseer, licensed under: CC BY 4.0, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_woman_in_a_large_straw_hat_is_tending_two_decorated_oxen_w_Wellcome_V0020839.jpg

Storming the Gates of Heaven, Matthew 11:2-19

John the Baptist’s disciples come to meet with Jesus and ask him about his messiahship and Jesus simply points to his words and actions instead of giving a direct answer. Why does he do this? What does he mean when he goes on to say that the violent are laying hold of the kingdom? All of this goes together as we consider the. nature of repentance and who is repentant in most cases during Jesus’ ministry.

Image: Peasants Carrying Sticks, by Camille Pissarro, National Gallery of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons