Matthew 11:28

“Come unto me, etc.] Christ having signified, that the knowledge of God, and the mysteries of grace, are only to be come at through him; and that he has all things relating to the peace, comfort, happiness, and salvation of men in his hands, kindly invites and encourages souls to come unto him for the same: by which is meant, not a local coming, or a coming to hear him preach; for so his hearers, to whom he more immediately directed his speech, were come already; and many of them did, as multitudes may, and do, in this sense, come to Christ, who never knew him, nor receive any spiritual benefit by him: nor is it a bare coming under the ordinances of Christ, submission to baptism, or an…”

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest--Incomparable, ravishing sounds these--if ever such were heard in this weary, groaning world! What gentleness, what sweetness is there in the very style of the invitation--"Hither to Me"; and in the words, "All ye that toil and are burdened," the universal wretchedness of man is depicted, on both its sides--the active and the passive forms of it.”

“All ye that labour and are heavy laden - The Saviour here, perhaps, refers primarily to the Jews, who groaned under the weight of their ceremonial laws and the traditions of the elders, Acts 15:10. He tells them that by coming to him, and embracing the new system of religion, they would be freed from these burdensome rites and ceremonies. There can be no doubt, however, that he meant here chiefly to address the poor, lost, ruined sinner: the man “burdened” with a consciousness of his transgressions, trembling at his danger, and seeking deliverance. For such there is relief. Christ tells them to come to him, to believe in him, and to trust him, and him only, for salvation. Doing this, he will…”

“Come to me - Here he shows to whom he is pleased to reveal these things to the weary and heavy laden; ye that labour - After rest in God: and are heavy laden - With the guilt and power of sin: and I will give you rest - I alone (for none else can) will freely give you (what ye cannot purchase) rest from the guilt of sin by justification, and from the power of sin by sanctification. Matthew 11:29”

“11:28 The heavy burdens were likely caused by the legal requirements of the teachers of religious law and Pharisees (see 23:4). • rest: Spiritual refreshment in either a present or a future sense (cp. 1:21; Heb 4:8-11).”

“Come: Isa 45:22-25, Isa 53:2, Isa 53:3, Isa 55:1-3; Joh 6:37, Joh 7:37; Rev 22:17 all: Mat 23:4; Gen 3:17-19; Job 5:7, Job 14:1; Psa 32:4, Psa 38:4, Psa 90:7-10; Ecc 1:8, Ecc 1:14, Ecc 2:22, Ecc 2:23, Ecc 4:8; Isa 1:4, Isa 61:3, Isa 66:2; Mic 6:6-8; Act 15:10; Rom 7:22-25; Gal 5:1 and I: Mat 11:29; Psa 94:13, Psa 116:7; Isa 11:10, Isa 28:12, Isa 48:17, Isa 48:18; Jer 6:16; Th2 1:7; Heb 4:1 Matthew 11:29”