Matthew 11:29, commentary and pictures

Christ calls all who are weary and weighed down with sin, care and toil to come to him, take his yoke, learn from his meek and lowly heart, and find rest for their souls because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. The yoke is willing obedience and submission to God's will and law, found in the very act of taking it, with Christ himself bearing the weight and carrying the heavier end. Learning from him means daily entering his school in the Word under the Holy Spirit, beholding him until self dies and his mercy, tenderness and unselfish service are copied in the life. The promised rest is present peace, trust and healing of mind, body and spirit in Christ himself amid duty and struggle, certain to faith and conditional on complete cheerful obedience, not idleness but earnest active service. He can give it because as divine Creator and Teacher he humbled himself to wear the same yoke in humanity, meet temptation and bear the weight of sin on Calvary, making rest a free gift.

Words and Historical Setting

The invitation calls toiling, distressed and heart-burdened people whose hopes are blighted and who try to quiet the longing of the soul with earthly joys, bidding them take Christ's yoke upon them and learn from him because he is meek and lowly in heart, with the promise that they shall find rest unto their souls. Wearing his yoke means learning his lessons in a pure, holy life free from sin, a way of self-denial and service that makes possible the establishing of gospel medical missionary work in many places. The path of obedience to God's commands entered by accepting the invitation is marked by righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit, bringing gladness, so that what first feels like a cross becomes a crown through experience. Coming to him with a broken and contrite heart and praying for grace brings a living connection now, by which God's power subdues and tenderizes the heart and fills it with rest, peace and love.

The call to labor and be heavy laden to take his yoke and learn from him and find rest, for his yoke is easy and his burden light, was spoken after rebuke of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for not repenting though mighty works were done in them. Judgment was declared more tolerable for Tyre, Sidon and Sodom than for those unrepentant cities. The invitation followed thanks to the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the wise and prudent and revealing them to babes. It followed the declaration that all things were delivered to the Son, who reveals the Father.

The invitation stands in contrast to man-made rules and burdensome ceremonies imposed by the priests, which left people restless, obscured God's commandments, hid the true significance of the Sabbath and made it a burden. The law had been turned into a yoke of bondage through traditions and human commandments, though heart obedience would have produced a different character, in contrast to Christ who is meek and lowly. The Jews expected a Saviour and King who would come with worldly majesty, splendor, power and authority, displaying the greatness of worldly men and compelling the Gentiles to obey him. Because he came in humiliation and suffering in the form of a servant, his humble appearance was a reproof to pride and self-righteousness, and his own highly favored people, trusting in promises and sure salvation as God's peculiar treasure brought out of Egypt, rejected and would not acknowledge him as Saviour of the world, though they would have received and worshiped him had he appeared in splendor. His lowly coming was just as prophecy marked out for the coming of the Just One and the manner of his coming, giving sufficient grounds for faith to those who wished to believe, and his life and works revealed his divine character.

His yoke is easy and his burden light because he himself bore their weight on the cross of Calvary. Coming to Christ and submitting to him and learning his meekness and lowliness of heart gives rest to the soul, satisfies every want, cleanses the heart and renews the mind. The rest is salvation offered freely and without price because Christ gave his life, yet many turn from the offer with disdain and give eternal interests only a passing thought, and so fail to rightly estimate the value of the heavenly treasure. The verse means men cannot accomplish God's assigned work in their own strength but must learn from Christ how to do it, since he came to show how that work is done. Learning from Jesus by sitting at his feet and beholding his ways, works and self-denying life changes the learner, and his meekness and lowliness bring peace and rest, so that taking his yoke means serving with him as a learner who follows his direction, not as a dictator. His people can withstand every opposing influence when they turn from sin with humble, contrite hearts and claim God's promises in faith.

The gracious, kind, far-reaching invitation was given while he walked on earth and wherever he went scattering blessings, uplifting the weak, the halting, the suffering, and making glad the hearts of the desponding and discouraged. His heart was ever touched by human woe, with tender, pitying love that rebukes all selfishness and heartlessness, patience that never wearies and love never repressed, and with earnest, untiring labor he sought to gain admission to hearts and to reach both the most lowly and those in higher positions. He walked and worked in the streets of the cities teaching the weary, going about doing good in the temple, in the streets, in the field and by the wayside, speaking to souls about God, preaching the gospel and healing the sick, so that the light of the gospel shines to weary and oppressed souls and they find rest. His entire lowly life fulfills what Isaiah predicted, for he is ever touched with human woe and ready to relieve those suffering and in need, choosing solitude over the praise and honor of men, and learning of him means reflecting his image in deeper lines and representing his work of love, compassion and grace. For three years the disciples walked and talked with him day by day watching him cheer the weary and burdened with his words and help the sick and afflicted with his power, and having received his grace they were given power to do the work he had done and were sent to shed abroad the light of his gospel of love and healing. The invitation was one of every means he used to arrest the attention of the impenitent, showing how tender and considerate his dealings were with all, expressing his longing to break the spell of infatuation upon those deceived and deluded by satanic agencies and to give the sin-polluted soul pardon, peace and rest, and the rest he promises comes as his followers supply the necessities of others, for the more they impart the more they receive, and their own souls are refreshed and satisfied by his love.

The one who invites this learning is the greatest Teacher the world ever knew, the great Teacher come down from heaven, the greatest Author and standard Teacher who never mistakes, the great Fountain-head whence all wisdom flows, through whom is everlasting life, to whom all the treasures of heaven were committed to give to the diligent, persevering seeker. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the lofty trees, grass and shrubs, who set the stars in order and appointed the sun and moon to their work, so learning from him is drinking at the fountain of true knowledge, knowing God and the power of his grace. Taking his yoke means submitting to his teaching, entering his school and learning from his lips and from his Word as the lesson book the lesson of meekness and lowliness of heart that makes a person great in the eyes of the Lord. Learning of him means studying his lessons and the character of his teaching, its freedom from formalism and tradition, and its originality, authority, spirituality, tenderness, benevolence and practicability, and means more than reading, searching the Scriptures carefully and diligently by comparing one portion with another since Scripture unlocks Scripture, and reading and praying and studying with the Holy Spirit beside as divine Teacher enlightening the understanding to comprehend great truths, not going to infidel authors who look on his works yet say there is no God, nor to reputedly great authors and books containing suppositions, nor making boast of knowledge. Those who daily take his yoke and learn Christ's lessons and live under his discipline are converted every day and become fruit-bearing branches in connection with the Vine, bearing rich clusters of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, faith, temperance and godliness which are the fruits of his character, becoming imbued with his Spirit and by beholding changed into his likeness, teaching as disciples sitting at his feet and accustomed to learn of him, grounded and rooted in truth so that nothing moves the soul, and finding the promised rest unto souls which is true higher education.

Those Invited to Come

The invitation is open to every human being without exception, shutting no one out from care and love. It reaches high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, ignorant and educated, including those who do not feel their need. All are in fact weary and heavy laden with burdens only Christ can remove, whether they know it or not. His yoke is love rather than bondage, so even the weakest can grow strong by grace in bearing it.

It tenderly seeks toiling, distressed and heart-burdened people whose hopes are blighted and who try to quiet the soul's longing with earthly joys. It calls the oppressed and discouraged, the sorrowing, perplexed, anxious, and those burdened by work, care, trial and heavy responsibility to find comfort and rest by coming in faith. Trials reveal the need for divine help and draw them to Him, where fellowship with Him gives constant rest and peace amid counsel and perplexity. Taking His yoke by experience proves it easy and His burden light, while self-made yokes bring only difficulty.

The heaviest burden is sin and guilt, which would crush sinners left to bear it alone. The Sinless One took their place and bore their guilt and iniquity to lift the load from weary shoulders. He also bears care and sorrow, carrying His people on His heart and bidding them cast all care upon Him. Rest means pardon for past guilt, peace, refreshment like living water to the thirsty, and clothing in pure righteousness that no one can manufacture, with guilt seen, pardon spoken, sin taken, remorse removed, the weakened will strengthened, self-respect restored by His blood, and step-by-step leading for those who put their hand in His.

It calls sinful, erring, weak, unworthy, needy and helpless souls to come just as they are for rest, healing and everlasting life. Like bitten Israelites healed immediately by looking to the bronze serpent lifted on the pole, they are to take the Word exactly as bidden and look in faith to Jesus lifted on the cross, without reasoning how healing is possible or questioning where the power lies, for those who stop to reason die. The helpless sinner is to fall broken upon Him as the Rock, see self truly, plead with God, recognize defects of character as the enemy's spirit killing the soul, draw near with assurance God will draw near, and trust His defense when tempted. No one comes on his own, for the Holy Spirit draws the sinner by convicting of sin while attracting by Christ's love and holiness, and coming does not require first producing repentance or waiting until sorrow feels deep or excited enough to merit forgiveness. The sinner must come in order to be enabled to repent, contemplating the love shown in giving His life for the unworthy until the hard heart breaks, softened by beholding that love into sincere repentance strengthened by virtue from Jesus to turn from sin and cleave to truth, for Christ exalted as Prince and Saviour gives both repentance and forgiveness, to be claimed by asking and believing unto salvation of the soul.

It is addressed first to teachers and leaders, to men in business and high positions of trust, to men of large inventive faculties and scientific insight, to men of genius, and to gospel teachers whose minds have not grasped special present truth. It calls the wealthy and high in rank to submit and learn meekness and lowliness of heart, especially the rich who trust in riches and feel not their danger, awakening them to responsibility as stewards of heaven's gifts who must give account to Him who shall judge living and dead, and turning the mind from perishing riches to enduring value and to goodness of greater worth than wealth. Many in high social position are heart-sore, sick of vanity, hungering and thirsting for salvation and longing for a peace they have not, and learning of Him gives the peace and help they seek. Rulers of nations, judges, lawyers, senators and all in responsibility are invited as subjects of the supreme Ruler to place themselves under His control, learn His humble gentle character, become His representatives, keep reason and self-control, set a right example, shun intoxicating liquor so as never to be found off guard, and acknowledge obligation to God as the condition of true success, for no one ignoring that obligation has succeeded or can succeed, while God's messengers and leading men with grave responsibility find rest by becoming conscientious humble minutemen in His likeness as Redeemer and example for citizens of the city of God. Workers in the moral vineyard must likewise be trained to meekness and lowliness while reaching the highest standard, becoming fit to carry responsibilities, fill important trusts, meet men of higher class and reason from Scripture, so the work is not retarded when responsibilities pass to new hands.

It reaches laboring and burdened students, bidding them acknowledge Him in all ways so He directs their paths, heed His knocking at the heart's door and pause studies to listen when the Spirit moves, with angels present and unseen influence felt even without special human effort. It calls those engaged in canvassing to give themselves wholly and unreservedly to God in taking His yoke. Children are to be taught to accept His yoke and learn of Him, guided with patience, sympathy and love by parents and ministers amid temptation and difficulty. A mother is called just now to humble her heart, bring burdens and perplexities to Him, guard every step against alliance with worldly elements, realize accountability for the sacred trust of her children and awaken to solemn responsibility for their salvation, lest Satan manage her and through her manage them and separate them from blessings He yearns to give. Newly converted souls, though weak and unpracticed, are called to take up His service at once, for taking the yoke is the science of soul saving: laboring for perishing souls by presenting converting truth, then speaking from a heart softened by grace rather than studied science, living in newness of life, studying Christ continually, reaching many by earnest experience, songs of joy and honest recital of grace, with voices tuned to triumphs of grace, coming into His likeness and fullness of joy with power attending testimony.

Meaning of the Yoke

The yoke is obedience itself, willing submission to the divine will and law, not binding or galling but bringing rest in spirit in the very act of taking it, a rest found in experience. It is not an oppressive burden devised by human minds but obedience shared with Christ in complete obedience, learned from his meek and lowly heart. Laying aside the self-made yoke and accepting his brings his peace, which is the rest of faith, confidence and perfect trust, with peace, grace and assurance. Restlessness, self-pleasing and desire for amusement instead of doing God's will are contrary to wearing it, and professing faith while following one's own impulses dishonors the truth.

Taking it means giving up doing as one pleases and surrendering will, ways, plans and pleasures to God, to whom humanity belongs by creation and redemption. It is accepting restraint from self-exaltation, evil practices and evil, and from self when God's requirements oppose human will, purposes, inclinations and cherished desires, denying self, giving up darling desires and following in Christ's footprints. That full surrender is the same thing as taking up the cross, which cuts away self so a person can bear Christ's burdens, and separating from him in this leads to rebellion, fretting and complaint when the will is crossed, while submitting is the course for present and eternal good. Humility and diligent learning in his school cause meekness, lowliness, peace and rest to abide in the soul, with rest in daily life and continued growth in grace.

Taking his yoke means doing only the work he specifies and refusing to gather burdens that have no special relation to God's work, so that true Christianity is represented in everything undertaken and the work everywhere is ordered in a way well pleasing to God. Learning is to be from him alone and from no one else, because he is gentle and humble, and brings blessed rest in the assurance of working in his lines as a sanctified people set apart for his service. Carrying self-imposed responsibilities and heavy burdens the Lord did not place is wearing and exhausting and brings constant perplexity and trial of mind, while his yoke is easy and his burden light. Putting off those self-imposed burdens and coming trustingly as children come to parents brings a personal experience of Jesus as helper, leaving unbelief, doubt, questioning and dark talk, refusing unbelieving talk, learning from faults seen in others without repeating them, refusing to plant unhappiness in any mind, holding the tongue in check and doing missionary work.

When yoked with him he carries the weight of the burden, indeed the heavier end, lifting together with the worker, so life's needful burdens joined with him in duty are carried lightly and joyfully, while without him they are heavy. This rest through serving him is learned by experience and by the assurance of trying to please the Lord, even when diffident in a new country and work, because God is the same everywhere and works with every willing person through the Holy Spirit in rich measure. In his school the yoke is not crushing, for he carries the load for those who bring him into their lives, and wearing it with submission means learning his meekness and lowliness, submitting the entire being to his control and obeying God's law. In proportion to that willing obedience comes rest of spirit with clear judgment and steadfast character through faith, and meekness and humility mark all who obey, bringing peace in God's service as transforming grace makes fallen sinners complete in him.

Taking the yoke is entering a living sacred union, yoking up closely with him, walking humbly beside him and becoming laborers together with God in seeking and saving the lost, not remaining idle or indifferent while souls perish. It is cooperation between divine power and human effort in which God pledges himself to come under obligation to mankind with abundant promises of love and grace, with a father's pity, love and yearning toward those striving for the overcomer's reward. The yoke requires agreement, for two cannot walk together unless agreed, drawing together in sympathy and imparting his own individuality, and those who entrust their souls to him are kept by God's power. It is the work of perfect obedience, coming back to loyalty in keeping the holy law, a great honor requiring no apology to friends, relations or the world but only glad rejoicing, since he gave his precious life to make it possible to leave the side of the great apostate and stand by truth, growing in grace and knowledge and becoming partakers of the divine nature as he partook of human nature to escape corruption through lust.

That obedience means submission, restraint and service under his direction, learning from his meek and lowly character, giving the whole person — mind, heart, soul and physical strength — in God's service and faithfully doing the duties revealed in his Word. Giving way to anger is not wearing it, and taking it means taking obedience to all the commandments and restraint from being a channel of sin and a wrong example that perpetuates sin, keeping from walking in sparks of one's own kindling while devising and planning for self. Heeding the invitation is the way to keep God's law, and wearing that yoke gives rest and peace. Together yoke and burden mean obedience and service, and his yoke is easy and his burden light.

The yoke that binds to service is the law of God, the great law of love revealed in Eden, proclaimed at Sinai and in the new covenant written on the heart, binding the worker to the divine will throughout life. As cattle are yoked for labor that they may labor effectually, so the call is to service as long as life lasts as co-laborers with him, patiently and wisely taking up the duties of service. God's will so revealed is high, noble and elevating, not degrading restraint, keeping people from following inclinations that would lead into Satan's service and snare and make them possessors of his attributes, guiding instead toward what is noble and uplifting. He himself bore this yoke in humanity, delighting to do God's will, governed by love for God, zeal for his glory and love for fallen humanity, and his followers are to adopt that same principle. Misapprehending God as hard and exacting, watching to denounce and unwilling to help the sinner while there is legal excuse, leads to viewing that law as a burdensome yoke whose precepts cannot be obeyed and whose penalties are arbitrary, whereas it is meant for happiness and rest. One truly born of God, purchased by Christ's blood and bound to glorify God in body and spirit, has love of sin and self subdued, daily seeks to know and do the Lord's will in gratitude, never finds the yoke galling but counts the service truest freedom, delights in the law and strives to rise to its perfection rather than lowering it to fit deficiency.

Wearing it means entering his service in the decisive struggle against sin and evil, first taking heed to self and to doctrine and watching for souls as those who must give an account. It is the path of discipleship, self-denial and service in saving souls, carried forward without worldly display or oppressive demands in the self-sacrificing way he marked out, and the way to obtain the kingdom and crown. It means becoming a co-worker with him in salvation, accepting his work and its burdens in cooperation with him, sharing his trials, humiliation, burden-bearing and reproach instead of staying at home in self-pleasing, engaging all powers in active vineyard labor, going forth in faith and hope and refusing to weaken burden-bearers by inconsistent conduct. Learning meekness and lowliness in this service means self-denial, a genuine burden for souls, and growing step by step through study and prayer to become skillful in the Scriptures, laying hold of God for the Holy Spirit to mold and make wise to win souls, harmonizing with him by ceasing to sin and accepting the everlasting righteousness he provides through his merits.

The yoke must be placed by Jesus himself and taken directly from him, not fashioned by men to fit their own necks nor imposed by human authority, control or dictation. It is not a yoke of human manufacture, and taking it does not mean going to a far country or town or to the ends of the earth to ask human leaders what duty is, but coming directly to him, living as in God's presence, spreading the case before the Lord and bringing all burdens, anxieties, trials and cares public and private to him as Helper who knows best and will overrule all things. Bringing everything to Jesus, making him the dependence and trust, telling him failings and needs and receiving instruction from his words brings rest instead of seeking light through any human agent, for there is but one Mediator, the Lamb of God who takes away sin, in whom is all sufficiency. Taking all temporal concerns to him in prayer expresses confidence as a child trusts earthly parents, acknowledging God as Father, laying down all burdens at Jesus' feet and committing oneself without reserve into his care as one bought with a price, trusting his infallible wisdom, omnipotent power and infinite knowledge to give wisdom, brace the spirit for endurance and open the way out of embarrassment and difficulty. Accepting his invitation so commits the soul to God as faithful Creator, and those who accept find rest and learn by experience that his service is blessed.

There is but one yoke for all, Christ's, which is easy with light burdens, requiring dying to self, giving up one's own ways, will and customs, following God's will and ways instead and respecting the judgment of others so that Christ in one responds to Christ in another. It is to be taken and kept in the work the Lord gives, never unyoking from him, remaining under his direction continually and obeying his commands even in smallest matters, walking with God in all humility and trusting him who is true and faithful. It means not gauging actions by what others think or say but working faithfully with a single eye to God's glory in the work given to each, not turning to human broken cisterns that hold no water, with the result of being found of him, receiving his Spirit and being made strong. As soon as a person submits so, he finds by experience the yoke easy and the burden light, while manufacturing a yoke of one's own by following one's own will and ways proves heavy, grievous and galling.

Learning Meekness and Lowliness

Learning means entering his school and submitting to his teaching, studying the Word carefully as bread eaten and digested, comparing Scripture with Scripture with the Holy Spirit beside as divine teacher to enlighten understanding. It requires laying aside cultivated fancies and tastes to walk and work with discretion as a co-laborer with him, so that his attributes are unmistakably revealed in followers. It is more than reading, demanding diligent searching and prayerful study where Scripture unlocks Scripture and imparts the lessons every soul needs. It is not learned from infidel authors who deny God or from boasting of knowledge, nor from reputedly great authors and their suppositions, but from his lips as Creator of heavens and earth, trees, grass, stars, sun and moon, drinking at the fountain of true knowledge. Looking always to Jesus, studying his life and practicing his virtues, beholding his spotless purity, wearing submission and obeying as a soldier obeys his commander, is what following him as a true Christian requires. By that beholding the old disobedient self dies, Christ lives in the heart, the person is born again with a new nature, grasps what God is, holds truth as real truth after glimpsing his glory, and finds the light softened and tempered to suit his condition.

This learning is lifelong, beginning after conversion and continuing step by step in obedience, relying on his strength and grace and abiding in him to bear fruit and find rest. It is daily work, asking every morning what the Lord wants done, sending prayer for light, going to him for orders, and gaining precious lessons each day in earnest struggle to control established habits, inclinations, inherited tendencies, keeping Jesus prominent and self out of sight. Like the training given to Moses it never reaches graduation in this life, never puffs up or exalts in self-opinion, but the more one learns the more one advances in meekness and lowliness, puts talents to best use for immortality, and keeps learning with Christ and redemption as the eternal theme even into eternity.

His meek and humble heart makes him a gentle, patient, loving and safe teacher in whom to confide, center thoughts and affections, seek counsel and help, and find true wisdom for present and everlasting good worth more than earthly riches. Learning from him in submission and obedience brings rest, and his loving presence is continually near as present help rather than far away, giving strength to overcome temptation and grace to the afflicted and distressed who bring cares and perplexities to him as the great Burden-bearer. Those who seek his help humbly receive strength, comfort, and rest for their souls under his easy yoke and light burden.

He wore the same yoke of submission he invites others to take, constantly wearing it while living and working on earth in human nature, meeting the difficulties and bearing the trials human beings must meet. Though divine he humbled himself and came in humanity with a meek and lowly heart, and taking his yoke means entering his school to learn from his character, looking to Jesus until self-seeking is subdued and the believer is changed into his likeness. Learning from his meekness and lowliness brings rest even when the enemy assaults with strong temptation as he assaulted Christ, because for everyone there is a way of escape, and he knows each person's temptations and strengthens those who walk with him rather than joining the enemy. His yoke is marked by patience, gentleness and longsuffering, and learning is personal work no one else can do, placing oneself in his hands to be shown possibilities and directed to seek help from God rather than erring human beings, learning to love one another and refusing to criticize and condemn.

Though Prince of the heavenly host and Commander, he emptied himself, subordinated everything to his Father's will, served rather than demanded honor, lived simply and poorly, was tempted without sin, and gave himself even to death on the cross, calling learners to deny self and dethrone it from the soul. Taking his yoke and learning of him means living very near the Lord, talking with him in prayer, feeling need of him as wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, placing entire daily dependence on the Saviour for spiritual power and advancement in his work. Bearing his yoke and lifting his burdens fills life with consciousness of his presence, makes doubts vanish, keeps from mistakes, and brings rest in present service, not only after heaven, by looking to Jesus to know how to act, seeking wisdom to know his will, and committing thoughts and soul-keeping to him for safe leading. Taking all temporal concerns to him in prayer expresses confidence as a child trusts earthly parents, acknowledging God as Father, laying burdens at Jesus' feet, committing oneself without reserve to his care as one bought with a price, trusting his infallible wisdom, omnipotent power and infinite knowledge to give wisdom, brace the spirit for endurance, and open the way from embarrassment and difficulty. Ministers who learn thus unite cheerfully, hopefully and trustfully with fellow ministers, talk little about self, cast cares on Jesus as faithful Creator and great burden-bearer, work temperately with calm self-control husbanding vital forces and calm nerves for candid reflection and forcible vindication of truth, instead of feeling the whole weight rests on them or wasting strength in protracted labor to the unreasonable limit.

His meekness returned good for evil when wrongfully treated, meeting mistreatment without retaliation, threats, railing accusation or combative spirit, even dealing with the powers of darkness without bringing a railing accusation against Satan though having every chance and material, and entrusting judgment to God. Even when mocked, struck and cruelly treated he did not seek to crush or condemn his enemies, but came to save, heal, uplift and bless. Learning in his school lays aside sharp debating, love of controversy and striving for mastery, and instead presents heavenly light with new and forcible points, unites as far as possible, lives out truth in his Spirit, draws souls to him, and produces sanctified tongues and pens that lead to repentance, are a savor of life unto life, and need not be repented of. It requires being daily subdued, softened and refined by the Holy Spirit, with thoughts brought into captivity to him, sitting like Mary at his feet to learn humility, keeping from opening the way for the enemy.

Learning copies his character of mercy, tenderness, compassion and unselfish service, doing good, comforting the sorrowing, helping the needy, lifting the bowed down, keeping his Father's commandments patiently and cheerfully amid trials and transgression. It means accepting his law of service to promote temporal and spiritual interests of fellow men, connecting man to God and to fellow men as laborers together with God, following his example especially among the common people who heard him gladly, teaching in temple, streets and wayside, healing the sick, comforting mourners, bringing hope to the hopeless, healing scars of sin, going about doing good with sympathies drawn out for the oppressed even with no time for repose. To learn of him is to learn his self-forgetful life of benefiting others, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the downcast, letting none in need go without sympathy in word and deed, never thinking of himself or seeking his own interests, living as unwearied servant of man's necessity, smiling at gratitude for relief, finding joy in lifting burdens and being blessed in relieving others as his heart of love flows as a fountain of blessing. His way is marked by kindness and care for every class, showing God loves them as children and calls them to become like him, while the rest he promises stands beside his own exhausted human nature crying for rest and sleep in a fisherman's boat after ceaseless toil.

Beholding him changes learners into his likeness through the Spirit, as keeping eyes fixed on Jesus and contemplating his character, thinking much about his lovely meekness and lowliness, purifies the soul by obeying truth and reflects his divine image to those around. Taking his yoke requires emptying the heart of self and presenting it to heaven to be molded after the divine pattern, keeping connection with the living channel of light and enduring as seeing him who is invisible. His grace never makes proud or lifted up, but makes meek and lowly as it made Moses the meekest man, and learning this lesson takes long discipline as Moses spent forty years tending sheep learning to care for the weak, guide the wayward and seek the wandering, fitting him to lead Israel and picturing the follower watching for souls, nourishing the weak, instructing the wayward, bringing back the lost and helping others grow to full stature. Those who insist on their own way and refuse his yoke fail to find rest, while those who come learn meekness and lowliness and are changed into his image, showing a determined right life that helps others and shines as a bright light.

True higher education is learning from him as the great Teacher come down from heaven, the greatest Author, Fountain-head of wisdom and standard Teacher who never mistakes, to whom all treasures of heaven were committed to give to diligent persevering seekers. Learning under his restraining discipline his meekness and lowliness rivets learners to the eternal Rock and gives promised rest, plain and simple yet beyond what human knowledge alone can supply, the alpha of education needed to constitute teachers and laborers together with God especially amid last-day perils. Entering his school requires willingness to be instructed as a little child, submitting heart and mind wholly to God, studying his lessons and the character of his teaching in freedom from formalism and tradition, originality, authority, spirituality, tenderness, benevolence and practicability, digging for treasures of truth in the Word. Those who do this become imbued with his Spirit, changed by beholding into his likeness, taught as disciples at his feet, fitted to understand the essence of science, to sow seed of truth, to prepare students for the higher grade, and to daily fit themselves by cultivating heavenly graces to do the Lord's work intelligently, becoming molded after the divine similitude meek and lowly, pure and holy. Without it even years of study leave teachers unprepared, imperfect, weighed in the sanctuary balances and found wanting, unqualified to instruct youth and hindering their called work.

Humility is the first great principle of true religion, and until it is learned people are unfit to teach the truth, since Jesus came to serve rather than seek honor and his self-giving life shows what this lowly spirit means. Christ's meekness and lowliness are precious Christian qualities more valuable than genius, wealth or anything created by human talent or intellect, and his peace cannot be bought or secured by talent but is God's gift. Power lies in meekness and lowliness learned by daily wearing his yoke, keeping workers trusting the Master's wisdom and able to bear responsibilities, giving true greatness and rest to the soul. Those who take him as pattern practice his enjoined self-denial and self-sacrifice, make God their dependence, stand as faithful servants, and God works with them by his Spirit, while lifting up self, conforming to the world, aping others in dress and display, and assuming wealthy appearance for influence dishonor God, lessen power and produce the opposite effect.

Nature of Promised Rest

The rest promised is found now in present service and daily experience, not only after reaching heaven, renewing mind and even body and spirit day by day. Taking the yoke and learning obedience brings that rest in the very act of wearing it, through living very near the Lord, talking with Him in prayer, and feeling need of Him as wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. It comes by having the mind rearranged and reconstructed and molded after the divine likeness in humility and gentleness, serving with the whole heart, advancing in His work, and growing in knowledge of God through the means of grace. The Holy Spirit fills the heart with peace and hope, strengthens faith and trust, fills life with consciousness of His presence, makes doubts vanish, and makes growth in Christlikeness evident. Learning means looking to Jesus to know how to act under similar circumstances, seeking wisdom from God to know His will, committing the keeping of the soul to Him for safe leading, and placing entire daily dependence on the Saviour for spiritual power instead of turning to erring human beings. Those who receive Him show longsuffering, patience, meekness and forbearance, link with one another despite defects and prejudices, live the law in harmony, labor together with God, put away strife for supremacy and secret working, and are prepared to refresh and uplift others.

It is rest in faith and confidence and trust, with peace and grace and assurance, grounded in restraint, humility and entire obedience shared with Him rather than oppressive burdens people devise. It is Christ's prescription for healing all mental and physical and spiritual ills, because He is the mighty Healer, and receiving power from Him to reveal His characteristics brings greater soundness to medical work. Surrendering will and way to God gives calm confidence and stability that changing circumstances cannot undermine, even the peace that passes all understanding received in the heart by complying with His conditions. This learning is wearing the yoke and learning meekness and lowliness from Him whose heart is meek and lowly, given as gift to those who seek Him in sincerity and truth.

The promise is certain, not a matter of possibility or doubt, because His meek and lowly heart gives assurance. Those who accept it consciously find relief from doubt, deliverance from constant uncertainty and perplexity, comfort in His promises, and strengthened hope of eternal life. It is sure and may be relied on as assurance of His care, not dependent on changing feelings or emotions. It is to be accepted by faith rather than judged by feeling, and after receiving it believers are to reject unbelief, speak in faith, and maintain daily communion with Him.

Rest comes in two steps, first coming to Christ and then taking His yoke and learning from Him alone and from no one else. Taking the yoke means doing only the work He specifies and refusing to gather burdens that have no special relation to God's work, so that principles of true Christianity are represented in everything undertaken and work in every place is ordered well-pleasing to God. Learning from Him because He is gentle and humble brings blessed rest in the assurance of working in His lines, as a sanctified people set apart for His service following His devoted unselfish labor for salvation. Finding it requires coming with teachable contrite heart, obeying His direction, for those who belong to Him are His servants purchased with His precious blood.

It is conditional on yoking up with Him in willing obedience to God's requirements, and in proportion to that obedience comes rest of spirit with clear judgment and steadfast character through faith. Accepting His terms and cheerfully obeying God's will, denying self, lifting the cross He appoints, counting the cost, gladly consenting to be led, yielding everything wrong and removing stumbling blocks from others' path, brings the rest longed for. The yoke helps bear every needful burden because Christ at the side bears the heaviest part, so burdens joined with Him in duty are carried lightly, while without Him they are heavy. Meekness and humility mark all who wear it with submission and submit the entire being to His control, bringing peace in God's service, and then transforming grace works on heart and character to make fallen sinful beings complete in Him. Full submission with whole heart and entire affections requires thorough work for the judgment, getting guilt from the conscience and forever abandoning favorite sinful pleasures for higher pleasure in serving the Redeemer, and then the yoke gives sweet happiness surpassing every indulgence.

It is not inactivity, inattention or idleness, but rest and stability and confidence in Christ, yielding the human will until it becomes God's will. Wearing the yoke gives His peace and stops the conscience from condemning for failure to commit to God's will, making loving obedience sweet enjoyment in exercising all powers actively on the Lord's side. The heart that rests most fully upon Him will be most earnest and active in His service, letting the mind receive healthy tone by dwelling on heavenly things and taking up assigned work, as in a mother sharing household labor and bringing up children in nurture and admonition rather than remaining inactive to recover.

It is found in Christ Himself, not as a gift apart from Him, by coming believing He has power to fulfill His word, looking always to Jesus, studying His life and practicing His virtues. Taking the yoke is wearing submission and obeying as a soldier obeys his commander, surrendering own will and wisdom, admitting weakness, letting God mold after His likeness, and turning from human plans driven by self-importance to carry forward His work. He supplies strength and gladness even for heavy spiritual work, making the yoke easy, and His meekness and lowliness must replace selfishness and harshness. Finding rest means receiving His meek and quiet spirit and the vital knowledge of God by drinking from the fountain of living water, knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, living by love to God and neighbor, being satisfied to be like the Master, and revealing God in life to make Him known to others. Its promise belongs to coming to Christ rather than seeking help or approval from human beings.

It satisfies every want, cleanses the heart and renews the mind, giving peace and rest of conscience and salvation offered freely without price because He gave His life. This living water refreshes the thirsty in a way wealth, drink, rank, learning, power and worldly pleasure cannot, and leads to everlasting life. It is God's great promise bringing salvation within reach as the pearl of great price, yet many turn from it with disdain, give eternal interests only passing thought, and fail to rightly estimate the heavenly treasure.

It includes bodily rest and responsible care of health, because keeping the body in health enables more effective service to God. The invitation is to be heeded with childlike simplicity, learning to rely on the Lord as efficiency, thanking and praising Him more, and keeping praying, believing and trusting while learning desired lessons. His compassionate presence gives rest of mind essential to recovery, with quietude to those who patiently wait for Him accompanying recovery and strength. A heart that learns of Him and believes is healthy, and this spiritual health supports a healthy body and may often help bring physical health.

It begins heaven here and begins eternal life, opening into everlasting life through walking with Him in this life and receiving His love and presence. Walking with Jesus brings satisfaction in His love, and through Christ believers draw nearer to God with ever-closer approach through Christ. Knowing Him more deeply brings greater happiness, with knowledge of God and happiness in Him continuing to deepen as foretaste of fuller joy and glory. The happiness and glory received now are limited by what human nature can bear, but in the life to come His presence and glory will be revealed without end in ever-increasing joy.

Coming and Receiving Rest

Coming begins with a broken and contrite heart that prays for grace and surrenders fully, for struggling to keep one's own way brings no rest or peace, while divine power subdues and tenderizes the heart and fills it with rest, peace and love. Learning meekness and lowliness means putting self aside so Christ may dwell within and be represented, and the more of Him is seen the less good is seen in self. It means ceasing to labor in self and being emptied of selfish planning and every defilement to make room for the Holy Spirit, since no one can convert his own heart and workers who labor in self take a different yoke Christ will not share. Coming in a teachable, contrite spirit accepts His guidance and direction, obeys His requirements, and finds precious rest because His yoke and burden are easy and light under His guiding care.

Come directly to Him with every burden, difficulty, perplexity, trial and temptation for counsel and help, rather than unloading upon people who are themselves burdened and whose help is feeble. He is the great Burden Bearer able to carry both the person and all burdens, giving strength and rest to the soul, and He never misleads those who come, for divine power is infallible. Instead of wearing out brethren and leaders or depending wholly on another's thoughts, plans and judgment, each is to love and respect them yet ask wisdom of God in faith, use the mind and conscience God has given, and act as God moves, individually accountable to God with freedom of action and choice under the Spirit's direction rather than living as an echo and shadow of another. Relief and rest are found in Him alone, and learning of Him means counseling with God, seeking the Spirit's guidance, uniting in prayer in Jesus' name with unwavering faith mingled with praise and thanksgiving, humbling the soul and presenting petitions to a divine audience that confers honor. Studying the Bible and prayerfully reading His earthly life, imitating it and going to Jesus for oneself rather than letting others be conscience, gives an experience founded in God that stands amid last-day perils and is purified through affliction preparatory to immortality.

Do the work He leaves to do and then leave the result wholly with the Lord, without taking the burden back to plan and execute everything alone, groaning under overload, living in constant restless activity, or worrying and fretting over what has been trusted to Him. Those who truly trust find the promised rest, prove His yoke easy and His burden light, and have peace, and through workers who rely wholly on Him He accomplishes a great work. Mothers and others carrying care, sorrow and perplexity may bring burdens in prayer, trusting He understands even anguish that cannot be put into words, and leave them with Him rather than resuming them through worry, so anguish gives way to rejoicing and reflection on His love. Trusting Him to carry burdens brings rest, while taking them back and relying on self leaves the heart unsettled. Stop trusting own efficiency and making flesh an arm, even leaning on the best of men who are not wise or strong enough to uphold another, and instead lean the whole weight upon Him who is strong, upholds, and will not sink.

Take Him at His word with simple childlike faith, hanging the helpless soul upon Him, with no remarkable demonstration and without waiting for feeling, counting the promise owned because God said it. Faith reaches within the veil where Jesus is and grasps what He promised, possessing the blessing the moment faith grasps it, and the rest and peace and freedom of forgiveness then felt is assurance, not mere faith. The outstretched hand nailed to the cross saves, hears confession, receives requests, forgives sins, makes the sinner a member of the royal family, and gives hope to cheer under every circumstance and grace to bear every temptation. After confessing sins, believe they are pardoned instead of measuring pardoning love by feeling, carry the burden of sin no longer but roll it upon the Saviour, trust oneself with Him, and learn His character, for those who meet the conditions receive rest while those who will not come manufacture grievous burdens and go without life. Even the weakest, most struggling and desponding soul who asks in faith will not be left to perish but may live, surrendering soul to His keeping and life to His ordering, finding peace, quietude, hope and sufficiency, with grace imparted so that midnight becomes as bright as noonday.

Learn by sitting at His feet, keeping attention fixed on Him as model with nothing allowed between soul and Him, looking to Jesus rather than dwelling on self and weakness or speaking unbelief. Speak of mercy and love, entrust heavy burdens to Him, seek His guidance, and put away reviling and hateful thoughts, for this accords with learning from Him and finding rest. Thinking much about His lovely character, especially meekness and lowliness, purifies the soul by obeying truth, reflects His divine image to others, and makes the life a help and bright light to the world. Keeping the Lord ever before in thanksgiving, praise and prayer as conversation with a friend brings personal communion, a sweet joyful sense of His presence, continual freshness, and visible simplicity, humility, gentleness and lowness proving the person has been with Jesus.

Rest is claimed by faith not in idleness but in yielding the will to Jesus until the human will becomes God's will, which quiets a conscience scourged by refusal to do God's will and gives the peace of Christ. Loving to do His requirements brings sweet enjoyment through exercising all powers on the Lord's side in work as a dutiful obedient child and soldier, making obedience glad service. It comes through surrendering self without reservation or self-indulgence and doing God's will from the heart as found in Scripture, not by agonizing prayer, tears or struggles for a special blessing, and those who act on it receive abundance of grace.

Come just as you are because sinful, needy and wholly dependent, acknowledging weakness, helplessness, sinfulness and emptiness, and entrust to Him burdens, trials, sorrows, wounds and all. Receive His sympathy, healing, strength and fullness, drink the waters of life flowing from the throne of God, and make Him a daily companion, freed from anxious self-protection and self-importance. True coming is known by a changed heart, a converted kind and courteous new heart and mind manifesting His peace in home, church and all life, no longer rising to harshness toward animals, children or household trials. Wearing His yoke and carrying His burdens reshapes responsibility and accountability, and learning His meek and lowly heart gives rest, comfort, strength and gracious reward to faithful burden-bearers, calling for praise and thanksgiving.

Seek the Lord individually until He is found and then continue to know the beauty of His character, gaining a correct estimation of personal duty. His humility is rare, and the one possessing it reveals His grace in word, spirit and action. His gentleness and grace soften the heart and refine the feelings, ruling out self-exaltation as His meek and lowly character is taken as pattern. Cooperate with God in close companionship, bringing all burdens to Jesus and proving Him a very present help in every need, with love kindled on the heart's altar, turning light and trifling work into solemn ministry bearing precious fruit. Yoke with Christ rather than depend on men, for men have no power to keep from falling; lean not on the arm of flesh nor trust in man nor let what men say misrepresent Christ as Leader, so the God-given commission is fulfilled in safety.

Humble confession of sin finds mercy, grace and assurance, for taking His yoke means learning from His meek and lowly heart and trusting His strength rather than one's own. Binding interests to Christ and submitting to His direction turns affections from the world toward close fellowship with God along the marked path of obedience, receiving His joy, peace and continual keeping power even in ordinary duties. Sinners who confess and forsake sins and accept promised pardon and Christ's righteousness are invited to come weary and burdened and find rest, for His yoke is easy and His burden light. Confess wrongdoing, make restitution and seek forgiveness, for with burdens comes the promise of rest to those who come to Christ.

Hindrances and False Yokes

Many miss the promised rest because they cling to sorrow and keep carrying their burdens alone instead of confiding every trouble to Christ in humble trust and practical obedience to His word. They make His way harder for themselves by holding to earthly cares, doubts, gloomy fears, customs and fashions, and by relying only on people who cannot help. Even distress and self-condemnation become self-imposed burdens, and hurt done by another becomes heavier when spread to others rather than taken to Jesus, whereas turning the mind from others' faults to remember God's love lets heaven's peace enter the soul. His yoke is a yoke of love rather than bondage, and the consolation of His Word with faith in Him removes the difficulties and trials that dwelling on burdens would bring.

Those who insist on their own way and refuse His yoke fail to find rest for their souls, for rest comes only to those who take His yoke and learn His meek, lowly character with eyes fixed on Jesus until transformed into His likeness by the Spirit. Refusing to come is refusing the life He offers, and those who meet His conditions may trust Him with the burden of sin instead of carrying it themselves, while those who will not will discover their loss too late. People also fashion grievous burdens for themselves that He never gave.

The heavy, galling yoke is self-made, an exchange that must be reversed by taking His easy yoke in place of worldly anxiety and care and His light burden in place of heavy worldly burdens. Pride, self-exaltation, self-love, reliance on one's own strength, unholy ambition, and a galling yoke of guilt keep the soul under difficulty, especially when the heart gives no room for Christ, while humility, dependence on God, accountability to God, and contentment to be like the Master make the yoke easy and the burden light. Learning of Him is more than reading, requiring diligent searching of Scripture by comparing Scripture with Scripture and praying with the Holy Spirit as Teacher beside to enlighten the understanding, and beholding His spotless purity changes the beholder until the old disobedient self dies, Christ lives within, spiritual perception grows clearer, and the light is tempered to suit the learner's condition.

No other yoke that hinders work for Him is to be accepted, for taking His yoke means breaking every other yoke and refusing to remain neutral in the conflict between the Prince of life and the prince of darkness. Especially to be rejected is the yoke a man places on the neck by strong controlling influence, human dictation, unsanctified kingly power, fixed routine, selfish outlining of the work, and duties framed by human agents, including contracts and arrangements that make people depend on people rather than heed Christ's voice. Those wearing a man's yoke must have it taken away before they can do their God-given part in proclaiming truth, and those who receive Christ take their stand for Christ and truth, freed from deceptive sophistries, following the plain course of duty without letting even dear earthly ties obstruct it. This calls for constant revival, reformation, awakening to individual responsibility, and advancing God's kingdom by His self-sacrificing example.

Teachers must live under His discipline as daily learners of the greatest Teacher and set a fitting example, not impose sharp, severe, exacting burdens on others that they themselves will not bear. They are forbidden to manufacture human yokes for their own necks or for God's people, for His yoke gives no license for looseness toward God or poor example but calls to a higher, holier pattern, with struggle directed not against natural claims but against sin to be met and repulsed at every step. Yokes people impose on others bind and gall those who bear them, and those who frame them must repent or come to understand their harm.

Ambition for the highest place, thirst to do large things, rivalry, and self-exaltation wear away life with perplexities, drive Christ from the heart, make disciples represent men of the world, and end in disappointment after disappointment. God's estimate is accurate while man's measurement deceives, so many first in privilege and talent will in the great test be found far below the humble, meek and lowly, and true Christlikeness and honor in the kingdom belong to humility and a disposition to serve God by serving others as faithful servants rather than competing for position. Longing to be higher, grumbling, criticizing, feeling great talents unappreciated, tearing others down to advance, and practicing dishonesty and fraud to gain desired positions must give way to inward change, faithfulness in the least, and bearing test and trial until Christ's image is reflected, with capacities proved by works done on Bible principles and every one reaping what is sown.

Trying to live the Christian life without His help makes His requirements a galling yoke and an intolerably heavy burden, while with Him promised rest is found. His yoke feels heavy only when people lack His meekness and lowliness of heart and keep gratifying and exalting self; the way to rest is to hide self in Jesus, stop carrying sin and guilt alone, and live in harmony with the Master through obedience and sanctification in the truth. His requirements remain a yoke and the Christian life still bears burdens, but they are easy and light compared with sin's burdens and Satan's power, and He invites the sin-sick, guilt-laden soul to bring every burden to Him for help.

Mere profession without transformed character gives no advantage and leaves the soul restless and dissatisfied, for rest comes only when truth moves beyond conviction of conscience to reception by the heart through the Holy Spirit to captivate the soul, renew the mind, surrender pride and ambition, and cause self to die. Carrying hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong into the Christian life, rejecting His invitation, and acting so as to stir up evil passions and display Satan's attributes instead of Christ's meekness and lowliness show a religion that is not genuine.

Dwelling on and judging others' faults weakens faith and leaves the soul without grace, peace and happiness, for learning from Him means taking His meekness and humility as the pattern. His yoke is not the burden of accusing others or carrying their guilt, since Christ alone bears sin, having borne sins in His own body on the tree and trod the winepress alone, with no angel able to bear the sins of one soul and no human able to bear even his own guilt. The yoke many bear by taking others' sins upon themselves and talking of their faults and errors is galling to the neck, brings no rest, and was never placed by Christ, so turning from fixation on others to Christ brings comfort, hope, peace and healing.

Satan misrepresents the yoke as galling and the cross as terrifying, inconvenient and too heavy to lift, in order to oppose the transforming work that fits people to be children of God and partakers of His blessing. Taking the yoke does not mean giving up everything that gives pleasure or yielding to arbitrary laws, nor does wearing it appear honorable to those without experimental knowledge of God, who prefer self-manufactured yokes and the way that seems right in their own eyes. It means entire submission of self to Him, consecrating self and all with whatever accepting the whole truth involves, loving God with all heart, soul and spirit in return for what He has done, and living out the principles of the Word, even in the family. When resolutely and cheerfully laid hold upon, the yoke does not gall and the burden does not crush, for Jesus Himself becomes the Burden-bearer and never-failing Friend, and the yoke becomes a support and strength that lifts the bearer.

Transformed Life and Service

Taking the yoke means learning to live a pure and holy life free from sin, with submission, restraint and obedience in meekness and humility, and this makes keeping the divine law possible. The path of willing obedience is marked by righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit, lightening perplexity and anxiety, and what first looks like a cross proves by experience to be a crown on the narrow way to everlasting life and its prize. Those who return to allegiance after transgression find blessing and rest, for the invitation joins love and self-giving that offer everlasting life to those who accept it.

Daily taking the yoke means entering the school of the greatest Teacher, who as Creator of heavens, earth, trees, grass, stars, sun and moon is the fountain of true knowledge, and learning from His lips meekness and lowliness that makes a person great in the Lord's eyes. It means not going to unbelieving authors who deny God while looking on His works, making no boast of knowledge, and standing so grounded in truth that nothing moves the soul. Rest comes by looking to Jesus and beholding His spotless purity, by which beholding the learner is changed, the old disobedient self dies, Christ lives within, and the person is born again with a new nature and a keen sense of accountability to God. In that living connection with One who is tender, loving and compassionate, inherited and cultivated traits cease to hinder sharing the divine nature, bondage to old traits is broken to receive the Holy Spirit, self-justification and selfish reasoning are put away, and entire surrender brings abiding rest. The light entered is softened and tempered to the learner's condition, spiritual perception grows clearer by daily beholding and practicing His virtues, converted every day as fruit-bearing branches of the Vine bearing love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, meekness, faith, temperance and godliness, which makes the yoke easy and the burden light.

Those who learn become meek and lowly in heart and show it by putting away doubt, evil suspicions and surmisings, dealing fairly and nobly with others at all times, and carrying the fragrance of Christ's righteousness wherever they go. This learning is daily and forbids suspicion toward those who differ, treating them as enemies, taking selfish advantage in dealing, or meeting their suggestions with sarcasm, wit and humiliating words that make a good point seem ridiculous. Such weapons come from selfishness, hurt religious experience and the souls of others even when right, tarnish the soul and sear the conscience as wrong actions grow into habits that deform Christian character, contrary to the spirit of the world. As the heart is kept under the Holy Spirit's control, the Spirit guides speech so that words sown can lead to eternal life.

The yoke is the restraint of the Holy Spirit and obedience shared with Him, not an oppressive burden of human devising, and those joined to Him refuse when passion rises to speak hot, fiery words. Wearing it gracefully means bringing oneself into line by gaining complete control of words, tones of voice and actions in His gentle and humble character, yielding to Him to find perfect peace and rest grounded in faith, confidence, trust, grace and assurance. This creates hatred for every action that would wound Him, and teachers are urged to heed the invitation and live and work together in His way.

This rest ends putting heavy yokes on others, ends faultfinding, ends treating disagreement as a virtue, and leads to dwelling on points of agreement. Those who take His yoke will not mark out a course for a brother to pursue, restrict another's liberty, or watch fellow workers with jealousy, for that controlling work belongs to Satan and his emissaries. So near the close of earth's history workers must not block the wheels of truth but come into line to pray and counsel together, trusting that when gathering for counsel is impossible God by His Spirit will instruct all who sincerely desire to serve Him. Taking His yoke is the opposite of human yokes of rules and restrictions, so those who wear it treat fellow workers as equals, trust them to use abilities wisely, lift restrictive requirements that hinder and cramp labor, and honor their love for souls and unselfish effort.

Wearing the yoke means drawing with Christ and never pulling apart from brethren, cooperating with Him and being one in the great plan of redemption at immense sacrifice to Himself for fallen man with all his mistakes. Refusing to unite and preferring to act alone because others do not exactly meet one's mind shows the yoke is not worn, and no one holding self-will or too high an estimate of his own wisdom while working in his own lines can be a wise and good soldier. The Christian soldier must act and step in concert with those connected with Him, not taking offense when other minds do not run in the same channel, exercising self-restraint to maintain concerted action, for God is not the author of confusion but of peace. The meekness and lowliness learned always leads to unity and hence to strength in united action, submitting personal judgment and ideas, obeying orders like soldiers under a noble Captain, serving with humility and love and relying on Him rather than being unruly or governed by selfish pleasure.

Wearing the yoke and learning its lessons leads to humble, self-denying service without pride, worldly display, worldly customs to win souls, or demanding a stipulated sum before engaging in God's work. It means practicing the same self-denial and self-sacrifice shown when royal glory was laid aside for a life of simplicity, lowliness and poverty to establish correct methods of medical missionary work. Those who demand set pay show they are not wearing the yoke nor learning meekness and lowliness, while under-physicians who stand in the counsel of God refuse extravagant wages and the high-wage plan, content with just pay because the yoke is easy and the burden light. If all wear the yoke in this way there will be sufficient means to establish gospel medical missionary work in many places, and hearing and obeying the invitation becomes practical experience for those serving others, including medical workers who find help as tempted ones from One tempted yet without sin.

His meek and lowly character is the pattern medical missionary workers must learn from Him as the great Medical Missionary, receiving power from the Saviour to reveal His characteristics, which brings peace and gives soundness to scientific work. Self-exaltation and any desire to uplift self prevent clearly discerning His character and doing the work He did, so putting it away is required to reveal healthy spirituality, call things by their right name, stand firm for truth, and advance the kingdom as if He were in person on earth. Taking His yoke means binding medical work with gospel ministry to draw people to testing truth for this time, using talent and knowledge without vanity, representing advanced principles of health reform, and carrying on the work in every place in harmony with His meekness so that people of wealth and influence feel safe where prayer is offered and the refining, cleansing, sanctifying truth and breath of the Holy Spirit rest upon the workers.

Those connected with God's work, especially ministers who labor in word and doctrine and all who teach others, are called to learn in His school to be meek and lowly like Him. Learning means depending on the Lord and not on self, hanging the helpless soul upon Him, searching the Scriptures daily and praying earnestly and constantly for divine enlightenment through the heavenly anointing, treasuring truth in the heart rather than learning with vanity or self-display. Those who so learn find rest, reveal heavenly wisdom, increase wisdom and influence for good, and have power attend their efforts with life and moisture in their discourses instead of dry, fruitless, self-woven labor cut off from the living Vine. Teachers must remain daily learners to be acceptable, God-fearing and intelligent, sit humbly at His feet for valiant service, put away self-confidence and harshness to show His gentleness, and never impose harsh exacting burdens on others while neglecting their own discipline under the great Teacher.

For parents this invitation means learning gentleness and humility from His perfect example of genuine courtesy, softness and beauty, bringing those qualities into family life and learning how to guide children for salvation. It means never letting children hear a word of impatience, giving them the help of a Christlike example, obeying His word and showing kindness at home, since anger, harshness, threats, scolding and passionate reproof do not teach children to love Him or reform them. Mothers must remain under God's discipline and discipline children only from that place, not giving way to impatience when children provoke in ignorance, but teaching obedience patiently and lovingly while remaining firm and not letting evil control them, and when they learn this meekness Christ will be victor in their children's lives. Parents who become learners are taught how to carry out their work acceptably, bringing rest, joy in service and sweetness of disposition into life.

Everyone holding a position of trust is personally called to learn meekness and lowliness, let Jesus superintend the church as its great Head, and put away human methods, selfishness, boasting, unkindness, discourtesy, oppression and coercion of purchased souls. Those who direct and advise others must train themselves in His character, treat workers with justice and mercy rather than impose burdens of their own making, and reflect His humility rather than selfish superiority or an overbearing spirit which shows He does not abide in the heart. Position does not make a leader infallible or give superior wisdom, so he is to depend on God, avoid a masterful manner, work as Christ worked rather than exercise authority over others, value fellow workers' contributions, and serve with humility, comfort and encouragement rather than discouragement.

Students must learn this all-important lesson of bearing the yoke of the meek and lowly One, keeping hold upon Him in order to stand against surrounding temptations and find rest. Failure to learn it leaves students, even inexperienced youth who travel far for education, unable to resist temptation and having lost their hold upon Him, in contrast to the strain of excessive study, for His yoke is easy and His burden light. When students hear and obey the call their lives become a public witness.

Life in His school includes daily lessons of self-denial and cross-bearing, denying self and taking up the cross to follow Him and carrying on soul-saving work in the way He marked out. Only those who obey that word are His disciples, and by wearing His yoke they obtain the kingdom and the crown they strive for, for sharing His glory comes after this service and the cross comes before the crown on the path to eternal life.

Learning does not require large offerings or great magnificent deeds, for all can learn it in humble service that helps others see Him more clearly, controlling the desire to be first and being filled with apostolic zeal. Meekness revealed in life opens places for service, and the unselfish act and warmth of a kindly spirit rests agitated souls and brings assurance, peace and hope. Parents and children learn it practically by denying appetite and dress, saving pennies spent on sweets and unnecessary expense and consecrating the money to help needy children attend school, counting utmost self-denial for Him who gave His life to seek and save the lost as the best offering, which brings the great Teacher's blessing. Humble labor that brings sons and daughters to God as trophies to lay at His feet, accepting less work and doing it slowly and humbly while bearing His burdens, is far better than spending years preparing for a large work and then winning no souls.

The invitation is to quiet, calm rest rather than hasty busy activity, sitting down under the shadow of His love, cultivating calmness and quietness, and learning quiet trust from His gentleness and humility. This inner rest is conditional, received only by meeting the conditions of coming, accepting and learning, and those who turn aside from dusty heated thoroughfares to rest there gain strength for toil and conflict, learn to lessen care and worry, and become possessors of His peace and rich blessings. Workers must hide self in Him and obtain wisdom from on high, giving themselves no glory when success comes, holding quiet communion with Him even in busiest activities, which alone gives clear discernment to recognize and seize every opportunity for blessing the world. Rest comes from sitting calmly at His feet, which prepares a person to speak timely words to the weary and to carry messages of peace and comfort to the sorrowing, disappointed, sad and broken-hearted, imbued with His Spirit and fitted for a good and important work in which cleansing from iniquity and the answer of willing sending is acted over and over, showing others the beauty of true holiness.