“Come Unto Me” — Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1855) Full Public-Domain Sermon Text Text: Matthew 11:28 — “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Introduction No text in the Bible has brought more weary souls to Christ than this one.
It is the Savior’s own voice, calling with infinite tenderness: “Come unto Me.” Not Come to Moses , Not Come to the church , Not Come to ordinances , Not Come to duties , Not Come to ministers , but Come unto Me .
Here is the heart of the gospel — A PERSON to come to, A PROMISE to rest on, A PEACE to receive. Let us consider: The people invited. The movement commanded. The promise offered. I. The People Invited — “All ye that labour and are heavy laden” This invitation is for those who are: 1.
Burdened with guilt. The load of sin bows them down. They feel: unclean, unworthy, condemned. 2. Burdened with fear. Fear of judgment, fear of death, fear of eternity. 3. Burdened with attempts to save themselves.
They have tried: reforming, praying, striving, resolving, and yet find no peace. 4. Burdened with sorrow. Sorrows of the mind, sorrows of the heart, sorrows of the conscience. 5. Burdened but honest.
Christ calls not the proud, not the self-righteous, not the indifferent. He calls the weary. Spurgeon says: “If you have no burden, this text has no invitation for you. But if you are heavy laden — it is for you, and for you alone.
” II. The Movement Commanded — “Come unto Me” 1. Not come to works. Works cannot save. Works cannot pardon. Works cannot bring peace. 2. Not come to feelings. Feelings change. Feelings deceive. Feelings cannot save.
3. Not come to ceremonies. Baptism, communion, and church membership have their place, but they cannot give rest to the soul. 4. Come to a PERSON — Jesus Himself. To come to Christ is: to trust Him, to lean on Him, to cast yourself upon Him, to rest in His blood and righteousness, to take Him as Savior, Lord, and All.
5. Come just as you are. Come: with your sin, with your guilt, with your fear, with your hard heart, with your doubts, with your misery. Do not wait to be better. Do not wait for a convenient season.
Christ does not say: “Come when you are prepared.” He says: “Come unto Me.” III. The Promise Offered — “And I will give you rest” 1. Rest from guilt. Forgiveness — full and free. Guilt removed. Sin blotted out.
2. Rest from fear. No condemnation. Peace with God. A quiet, cleansed conscience. 3. Rest from self-effort. The weary striving ends. Christ has finished the work. 4. Rest in Christ’s love. He loves eternally.
He keeps perfectly. He never casts out. 5. Rest now — and rest forever. Not someday. Not after long seeking. Immediate rest. Everlasting rest. Rest for the soul. IV. Reasons Why You Should Come 1. Christ invites you.
His call is mercy itself. 2. Christ will receive you. He never rejected one. 3. Christ died to save you. Your sins were laid on Him. 4. Christ is ready to give rest. The door is open. The feast is prepared.
The welcome is certain. 5. Christ Himself will be your rest. No other rest will do. No other rest exists. V. Exhortation 1. Come NOW. Delay is dangerous. Delay is deadly. 2. Come ENTIRELY. Not partly Christ, partly self.
Not Christ and works. Not Christ and feelings. Christ ALONE. 3. Come with all your heart. Let the cry rise from your soul: “Lord Jesus, I come. Burdened and weary, I come to Thee.” Conclusion The Savior still calls.
His arms are open. His heart is full of mercy. Hear Him: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Let your soul answer: “I come. In my guilt, I come. In my weakness, I come.
In my darkness, I come. Jesus, give me rest.” Amen.