What does Matthew 11:28 mean?
Jesus spoke this invitation to crowds weighed down by hard work, hard lives, and the heavy rules that religious leaders had piled on top of God's law. "Come unto me" is personal: the answer to weariness is not a program but a person. "All ye that labour and are heavy laden" includes anyone tired in body, mind, or soul, carrying burdens of worry, guilt, or grief. Jesus promises, "I will give you rest." In the next verses he explains that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Following him does not add another weight; it brings peace and rest for the soul.
Matthew 11:28 in the King James Version
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Context
27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Matthew 11:28 mean?
Jesus spoke this invitation to crowds weighed down by hard work, hard lives, and the heavy rules that religious leaders had piled on top of God's law. "Come unto me" is personal: the answer to weariness is not a program but a person. "All ye that labour and are heavy laden" includes anyone tired in body, mind, or soul, carrying burdens of worry, guilt, or grief. Jesus promises, "I will give you rest." In the next verses he explains that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Following him does not add another weight; it brings peace and rest for the soul.
What does Matthew 11:28 say in the KJV?
Matthew 11:28 (KJV) reads: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”