Part 4 of the “What Does It Mean?” devotional Bible study
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
As we journey through life with Christ, we often find the path difficult. Not just our circumstances, but our relationship to Christ.
We sense a distance as if God is not there. Thus, we start to believe we are not worthy of God’s attention.
We repeat prayers that seem to go unanswered.
We try and repeatedly fail to turn from our sins.
Ultimately, we decide that the Christian faith is just too difficult and we ponder giving it all up.
If this is where you are in your spiritual walk, it’s time to change your thinking.
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So, what are an easy yoke and a light burden?
If you think you are not worthy, or not good enough for God, you have fallen into the false doctrine of legalism.
Legalism is exactly what Jesus is condemning in this passage. The opposite of legalism is grace, and God’s grace is an easy yoke.
The context of this passage is this: the Pharisees believed they had to follow the letter of the law in order to be considered righteous.
And, oh my, did they have laws to follow! Over 600, to be exact. The laws included everything from what to eat and what to wear, to when to pray and what to celebrate. And, they were adding new laws often.
Trying to do everything right was a heavy burden and a rigid yoke. Jesus knew this and, in this passage, he calls for his followers to follow him, not the Pharisees.
A yoke, by the way, refers to “a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart that they are to pull.” Google Dictionary
We can imagine two very distinct images in this passage.
One, is the image of being yoked with the Pharisees. In this image, this wooden bar would connect you to the Pharisees and the bar would be rigidly pulling on you and the burden of the work you would be doing (following all of the laws) would be tiring and seemingly never-ending. There would always be more work and laws to follow as you and the Pharisees attempt to earn your righteousness.
The second image is of being yoked with Jesus. In this image, the wooden bar connects you to Jesus and, in this passage, he promises “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus is telling us to come alongside him and he will be our righteousness. By claiming his grace, we no longer have the burden of keeping all the laws that the Pharisees were working hard to maintain.
This is what makes his yoke easy and his burden light.
Think about it
What laws are you working so hard to maintain?
Do you think following/obeying those laws will earn you righteousness?
Are you yoked to Jesus, but trying to be the one to pull him along your desired path instead of letting him be the guide?
Be yoked to Jesus and let Him lead you. If you let go of control and humbly submit to His leading, you will find rest.
Please be sure to see the other posts in the “What Does It Mean?” devotional Bible study series.
What Does It Mean to “Be Still and Know That I Am God”?