Burden

Monday April 13, 2009: Matthew 11:28–30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Background: The Lord Jesus Christ speaks about removing the load of sin from a repentant soul and the life to follow.
Why is His burden light? He knows what we can bear and will not overburden us as we ourselves do.

Tuesday April 14, 2009: Matthew 23:1–2, 4

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Background: Over the years the Pharisees had added to the law many rules that God gave never Moses.
What was the effect of the additional rules of the Pharisees? The Pharisees interpreted them so they themselves were never in the position of suffering the heavy load.

Wednesday April 15, 2009: Galatians 6:4–5

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.
Background: These verses are the final bits of advice to the Galatian Church.
Why is it good to examine your own work? Self-examination of your work after it is done provides a great basis for improvement and leads to the joy of a job well done.

Thursday April 16, 2009: Acts 15:28–29a

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.
Background: A letter from the apostles in Jerusalem is going out to Gentiles who have believed in Christ.
What is left out? The Jewish laws and signs, like circumcision.

Friday April 17, 2009: 2 Corinthians 12:13–14

For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Background: Paul is defending his apostleship against slander.
What burden did Paul NOT lay on the Corinthian Church? Financial support: he worked as a tentmaker to support himself while he preached Christ to them.