Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
Read Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV):
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
What is “zoochosis,” and how does our society today exhibit something similar to “zoochosis”?
Why are people in our society often so weary and weighed down, despite all our modern conveniences?
After Jesus offered this invitation into his rest, he had two conflicts with the religious leaders – ironically – about the Sabbath. The religious leaders were upset that the disciples picked heads of grain on the Sabbath, and they were upset that Jesus healed a disabled man on the Sabbath. In Matthew 23:4 Jesus said of these leaders, “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”
What was Jesus getting at here? What was his issue with the religious leaders? Why did Jesus call the religious leaders hypocrites?
How does the Gospel impact our sense of identity?
What are some causes of anxiety and discontent in our society? If you have felt this in your own life, share about that.
St. Augustine said, “O God you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” Talk about what Augustine meant by this and how you have experienced this in your own life.
When is a “yoke” good? Why does Jesus offer us a different kind of yoke, rather than freeing us from all yokes?
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you.” What are the implications of the word “take” and how do we do this?
Jesus also urges us to “learn from” him. How do we learn from Jesus? How has learning from Jesus led to rest in your own life?
What did you sense God saying to you through this passage and this message?
