“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 · The Bible, King James Version
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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
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About this quote
Meaning
This verse offers an open invitation to anyone carrying a heavy load, whether that burden is grief, guilt, exhaustion, or simply the weight of daily life. The promise at its heart is rest, not the passive absence of activity, but a deeper kind of relief that comes from no longer having to carry everything alone. It speaks directly to the reader in the second person, making the invitation feel immediate and personal rather than distant or abstract.
Context
The verse appears in the Gospel of Matthew, in a passage where Jesus addresses the crowds after a series of teachings and encounters. The New International Version renders the language in a clear, accessible style that has made this particular translation widely used in contemporary worship and personal devotion. Within the chapter, the verse is part of a longer reflection on the nature of wisdom and the relationship between a teacher and those who follow. Its simplicity and directness have made it one of the most quoted passages in the entire New Testament.
About the author
The Gospel of Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels of the Christian New Testament. It is traditionally attributed to Matthew, a disciple of Jesus, though scholars note that the text was likely composed in the late first century and draws on earlier sources. The gospel places strong emphasis on fulfillment of Hebrew scripture and on the teachings of Jesus as a guide for living. Its language is structured and deliberate, qualities that have helped make verses like this one endure across generations of readers.
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