Section 11:25–30

Jesus promised rest for the weary

In this section, Jesus prayed to God. He also invited people who were tired from following the law to come to him for rest.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus Offers Rest to People (New Century Version)
-or-
Come to Me and Rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jesus offers rest to weary people

Paragraph 11:25–26

11:25a

At that time: This phrase indicates that Jesus spoke the words in 11:25–26 soon after 11:20–24. He probably also spoke them at the same place.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

It was during that time
-or-
Then
-or-
After ⌊saying those things⌋

Jesus declared: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus declared can also simply be translated as “Jesus said” (as in the New International Version).

The words that Jesus said are a prayer. In some languages, it may be natural to use a verb that introduces a prayer. For example:

prayed this prayer (New Living Translation (2004))

11:25b

I praise You: Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I thank you (English Standard Version)
-or-
I am grateful (Contemporary English Version)

Father, Lord of heaven and earth: The word Father and the phrase Lord of heaven and earth are two titles for God the Father. In some languages, these two titles may imply that Jesus was referring to two different people. If that is true in your language, you may have to translate this as:

⌊My⌋ Father, ⌊you are⌋ Lord of heaven and earth

Lord of heaven and earth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “owner,” “master,” or “ruler.” It refers to someone who has authority over something. God the Father is the Lord who rules everyone and everything in heaven and earth.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

owner of heaven and earth
-or-
master over ⌊everything in⌋ heaven and ⌊on⌋ earth
-or-
you rule everything and everyone on earth and in heaven

11:25c

these things: The words these things probably refer to the deeper meaning behind the miracles and teachings of Jesus. These things showed that Jesus was the Christ, the Savior sent from God.

If people in your area will think that things refers to “physical things,” you may want to use a different word. For example:

these truths
-or-
the truth (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
all this (Contemporary English Version)

the wise and learned: This phrase is a doublet. This means that the words wise and learned mean almost the same thing. These two words refer to people who are intelligent.

Here are some other ways to translate these two words:

• Use two words that both describe intelligent people. For example:

people who are wise and smart (New Century Version)
-or-
wise and educated people (Contemporary English Version)

• Use one word. For example:

intelligent people

• Use one word with a modifier. For example:

people who are very intelligent

11:25d

little children: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus compared humble believers to little children. They are similar in that they realize that they do not know very much about spiritual issues, and they are willing to learn. They realize that they have to depend on God as a child depends on his parents. Jesus contrasted this type of people to those who are “wise and understanding.”

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

infants (New Revised Standard Version)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

those who are like little children (New Century Version)

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

ordinary people (Contemporary English Version)

-or-

the unlearned (Good News Translation)

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