The Father's Revelation and Rest for the Weary
Matthew 11:25-30
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
Revelation
Matt.11.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εν: PREP
- εκεινω: DEM,d,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- καιρω: NOUN,d,sg,m
- αποκριθεις: PART,aor,pass,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Εξομολογουμαι: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg+VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- πατερ: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- κυριε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- εκρυψας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,neut
- απο: PREP
- σοφων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- συνετων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- απεκαλυψας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- αυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- νηπιοις·: NOUN,d,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 10:21 (verbal): Nearly identical thanksgiving: Jesus praises the Father and says God has hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to infants — close verbal parallel in the Lucan account.
- Isaiah 29:14 (allusion): Speaks of God overturning the wisdom of the wise and hiding understanding from the prudent — an Old Testament precedent for divine hiding/revealing that Matthew echoes.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19-21, 1:26-29 (thematic): Paul contrasts God's wisdom with human wisdom and emphasizes God’s choice of the lowly rather than the wise, echoing the theme that revelation comes to the humble, not the self-sufficient.
- Matthew 18:3 (thematic): Jesus teaches that one must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven — thematically linked to revelation given to 'babes' rather than the wise.
Alternative generated candidates
- At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to the little ones.
- At that time he answered and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and have revealed them to little children.”
Matt.11.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ναι: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ουτως: ADV
- ευδοκια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- εμπροσθεν: PREP,gen
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
Parallels
- Matt.11.25 (structural): Immediate context: verse 25 begins the thanksgiving address ('I thank you, Father... because you have hidden these things... and revealed them to babes'), of which 11:26 is the concluding affirmation ('for so it pleased you').
- Luke 10:21 (verbal): Parallel account of the same thanksgiving: Luke records Jesus rejoicing and thanking the Father for hiding things from the wise and revealing them to little children, and concludes with the same affirmation 'for all things are yours'/'for so it pleased you.'
- 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 (thematic): Paul contrasts divine wisdom and human wisdom—God 'has made foolish the wisdom of the world'—echoing Matthew's theme that God hides truth from the wise and reveals it to the humble. 11:26 affirms God's sovereign will in this reversal.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7-10 (thematic): Paul speaks of God's 'secret wisdom' revealed to believers by the Spirit, not to worldly wise men. This parallels Matthew's idea that revelation is granted by God's good pleasure to the 'babes.'
- James 2:5 (thematic): James states that God has chosen the poor/lowly of the world to be rich in faith, resonating with Matthew's motif that God reveals to the humble/babes rather than the proud or wise.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yes, Father, for so it pleased you.
- “Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Matt.11.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Παντα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- παρεδοθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- υπο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- επιγινωσκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουδε: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πατερα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,3
- επιγινωσκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ω: PRON,rel,dat,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- βουληται: VERB,pres,mid,subj,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- αποκαλυψαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Luke 10:22 (quotation): Virtually identical wording and context—Jesus declares all things given by the Father and that no one knows the Son except the Father, nor the Father anyone except the Son, and that the Son reveals the Father.
- John 1:18 (allusion): Speaks of the unique Son who is in the Father's bosom and has made the Father known—parallels the Matthean claim that the Son uniquely reveals and is known by the Father.
- John 14:7-9 (verbal): Jesus links knowing him with knowing the Father ('Whoever has seen me has seen the Father'), echoing Matt. 11:27's emphasis on the Son’s exclusive role in revealing the Father.
- Hebrews 1:3 (thematic): Describes the Son as the radiance and exact imprint of God's being who upholds and makes God known—theological parallel to the Son's unique revelatory function in Matthew 11:27.
Alternative generated candidates
- All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
- All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Matt.11.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Δευτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- προς: PREP
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- κοπιωντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πεφορτισμενοι: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- καγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- αναπαυσω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
Parallels
- Exodus 33:14 (verbal): God's promise 'I will give you rest' closely mirrors Jesus' offer of rest—same wording and divine assurance of rest.
- Psalm 55:22 (thematic): 'Cast your burden on the LORD...he will sustain you' parallels the invitation to bring burdens to Jesus and receive relief.
- Jeremiah 6:16 (allusion): Call to 'seek the ancient paths...and find rest for your souls' echoes the motif of coming to God to find rest.
- Hebrews 4:9-10 (thematic): NT development of the theme of entering God's rest—'there remains a Sabbath rest...whoever has entered God's rest has rested' resonates with Jesus' promise of rest.
- Matthew 11:29-30 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same saying: 'Take my yoke...and you will find rest for your souls,' expands and explains the offer in 11:28.
Alternative generated candidates
- Come to me, all who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
- “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt.11.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αρατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ζυγον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εφ᾽υμας: PREP+PRON,acc,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- μαθετε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- απ᾽εμου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- πραυς: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- και: CONJ
- ταπεινος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- καρδια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ευρησετε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- αναπαυσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ψυχαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- υμων·: PRON,gen,pl,2
Parallels
- Matt.11.28 (structural): Immediate context—same invitation to 'come to me' and promise of rest, forming the opening of the pericope that includes 11:29.
- Matt.11.30 (verbal): Continues the yoke imagery: 'for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,' directly tied to taking Jesus' yoke in 11:29.
- Matt.12:18-21 (quotation): Cites Isaiah’s Servant passages describing the servant as gentle/lowly (e.g., 'a bruised reed he will not break'), echoing Jesus’ self-description as gentle in 11:29.
- Acts 15:10 (thematic): Uses 'yoke' language regarding burdens placed on disciples—contrasts heavy, human-imposed yokes with Jesus’ gentle yoke in 11:29.
- Gal.5:1 (thematic): Paul contrasts freedom from the 'yoke' of slavery with being burdened again—echoes the NT motif of yoke as spiritual burden and Jesus’ offer of liberating rest in 11:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
Matt.11.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- ζυγος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- χρηστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- φορτιον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ελαφρον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 11:29 (verbal): Immediate context — Jesus invites listeners to 'take my yoke' and 'learn from me,' using the same yoke imagery and linking gentleness/teaching to the light burden.
- Matthew 23:4 (thematic): Contrasts Jesus' claim: the Pharisees 'bind heavy burdens' on others, whereas Jesus presents his own yoke as easy and his burden light.
- Acts 15:10 (allusion): At the Jerusalem Council Peter warns against placing a yoke on the disciples — echoes the yoke/burden motif and Jewish background of unbearable legal burdens.
- Galatians 5:1 (thematic): Paul contrasts Christian freedom with being 'entangled again in a yoke of bondage,' thematically opposing Christ's liberating/yoke imagery to oppressive legalism.
Alternative generated candidates
- For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, for such was your good pleasure.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
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.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.