Matthew 11:29

11:29 Take my yoke ¹  on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 18:3-4

18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, ²  unless you turn around and become like little children, ³  you will never ⁴  enter the kingdom of heaven! 18:4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

John 13:12-17

13:12 So when Jesus ⁵  had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table ⁶  again and said to them, “Do you understand ⁷  what I have done for you? 13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, ⁸  for that is what I am. ⁹  13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 13:15 For I have given you an example ¹⁰  – you should do just as I have done for you. 13:16 I tell you the solemn truth, ¹¹  the slave ¹²  is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger ¹³  greater than the one who sent him. 13:17 If you understand ¹⁴  these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

[11:29]  ¹ sn A yoke is a wooden bar or frame that joins two animals like oxen or horses so that they can pull a wagon, plow, etc. together. Here it is used figuratively of the restrictions that a teacher or rabbi would place on his followers.

[18:3]  ² tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[18:3]  ³ sn The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.

[18:3]  ⁴ tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.

[13:12]  ⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[13:12]  ⁶ tn Grk “he reclined at the table.” The phrase reflects the normal 1st century Near Eastern practice of eating a meal in a semi-reclining position.

[13:12]  ⁷ tn Grk “Do you know.”

[13:13]  ⁸ tn Or “rightly.”

[13:13]  ⁹ tn Grk “and I am these things.”

[13:15]  ¹⁰ sn I have given you an example. Jesus tells his disciples after he has finished washing their feet that what he has done is to set an example for them. In the previous verse he told them they were to wash one another’s feet. What is the point of the example? If it is simply an act of humble service, as most interpret the significance, then Jesus is really telling his disciples to serve one another in humility rather than seeking preeminence over one another. If, however, the example is one of self-sacrifice up to the point of death, then Jesus is telling them to lay down their lives for one another (cf. 15:13).

[13:16]  ¹¹ tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”

[13:16]  ¹² tn See the note on the word “slaves” in 4:51.

[13:16]  ¹³ tn Or “nor is the apostle” (“apostle” means “one who is sent” in Greek).

[13:17]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “If you know.”