This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of the Jesus you never knew by looking at the words “I am meek and lowly” Jesus uses in Matt.11:29.

In the last two weeks we learned the initial rest in vs.28 is a result of a “coming unto Jesus” (Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden). We get an initial instantaneous rest at the moment of our salvation (1John 5:13). The initial rest was a rest for the Jews from the 613 Mosaic Laws, commands, 400+- additions to the law, the legalism of Judaism (Matt.23:4-5, 23-24), guilt laden works. Notice that the focus in vs.28 is Me and I (Jesus). In Exo.33:13-14 Moses asks God for grace and God said His presence will go with Moses resulting in “rest”. So, when Jesus said, in Matt.11:28, He would give rest, the Jews recognized that Jesus was telling them He was God and would give them “rest” by His presence in their lives, grace not works. The second “rest” Jesus mentions in vs.29 (ye shall find rest unto your souls). The word “rest” is translated from the Greek word “anapausis” which means a relaxation of a strained effort, a succession of or a letting go of, a release of; resulting in a spiritual nature of inward tranquility, a calmness, a quietness of heart mind and soul. This second rest is a deeper rest, an abiding rest, a result of being in yoked with Jesus. Notice in Matt.11:28-30 Jesus refers to Himself 7 times as the source of our rest. Jesus gives us what religion and legalism can not, He gives us rest. With Jesus we no longer have to rely on our own “labor” (works) for our salvation. The works that we do after we are saved all come from His power, not our own (Matt.23:4, 2Tim.1:12, Heb.3:10-12, 17-19, Heb.4:10-11). In Heb.3:10-12, 17-19 the “unbelief” the Hebrew writer is talking about is not that the Israelites didn’t believe in God, they experienced God parting the Red Sea and feeding them mana, they didn’t trust God’s provisions. Without trusting in God’s provisions for our every need there is no way we can enter into God’s rest.

Sometimes when we think of Jesus/God we tend to relate to Him like Isaiah in “Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” and John in “Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.”

But in Matt.11:29 Jesus describes Himself as “meek and lowly”. The word “meek” is translated from the Greek word “praos” which means meek, mild and gentle, approachable and accessible. The wod “lowly” is translated from the Greek word “tapeinos” which means a condition of the mind in which how you truly view yourself as lowly humble and modest which results in a servants mindset.

Jesus came to us to be our servant (Matt.20:25-28). Jesus didn’t come to us to condemn us, He came to save us (John 3:17). Jesus is nonjudgmental and noncondemning (John 8:1-11). In John 8:1-11 Jesus puts the Scribes and Pharisees on the same level as the accused adulterer. The Scribes and Pharisees had elevated themselves above the people not unlike a lot of Christian religions in the world today, which is not Scriptural. Notice that Jesus tells the adulterer that He doesn’t condemn her, but He then tells her to “go, and sin no more”.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Isa 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa 6:4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isa 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Psa 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
Psa 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Psa 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
Joh 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
Joh 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
Joh 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Joh 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
Joh 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Joh 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Joh 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Isa 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mat 20:29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Joh 13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Joh 13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Psa 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psa 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.