Invitation to the The Rest

Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Jesus gives the invitation for spiritual rest--to come to him for that eternal life that is free, received through believing in Him as the Christ, the Son of God who saves from the wages of sin through believing in him for it.

The "heavy laden" would seem to reference the burden placed on the people by the religious leaders, making the way of eternal life dependent on one's ability to meet the demands that the leaders set.

We see a similar invitation to salvation in the book of Revelation: "And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."  Revelation 22.17

The way of eternal life is received through faith in Christ alone for it.  The "rest" is the ceasing from the labors that were an impossible burden, that could not give life, in which there was no rest.  But in Christ, there is rest, and He invites all to come to him for eternal life and rest.