An Easier Yoke

By Rob Nieminen

“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 11:29–30 (NIV)

In today’s high-tech world, the word “yoke” in today’s Scripture can feel antiquated, unless you’ve lived or worked on a farm. What’s a yoke anyway, and why is Jesus asking us to put His on?

In ancient Israel, farmers would attach a wooden crosspiece to the necks of two animals, like oxen, for the purpose of plowing. Oftentimes, they would pair a younger animal with an older, stronger, and more experienced one to guide the other in the learning process.

Jesus is using this word picture to make an important point about not only our need to learn from Him but also to show how starkly different His yoke is from anyone else’s. You see, the ancient Jews commonly used yokes to express someone’s obligation to God, explains Bible commentator Adam Clarke: “There was the yoke of the kingdom, the yoke of the law, the yoke of the command, the yoke of repentance, the yoke of faith, and the general yoke of God.”

Can you feel the weight of all those burdens people tried to carry? Jesus understood this perfectly well and had compassion for those who felt weighted down by them. In Matthew 23:4 (NIV), Jesus said the teachers of the law “tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” In other words, the Pharisees were making it more difficult for people to draw near to God, rather than easier.

What I love about Jesus is that He’s inviting us into a simple way of life where He demonstrates how we can be like Him. But so often, we try to do big things for God, busy ourselves doing good works, or try to live up to God’s laws and commands. If we’re honest, many of us are completely burned out by all our striving and acts of service, as well-meaning as we may be. Bible commentator David Guzik notes: “If your yoke is hard and your burden is heavy, then we can say that it isn’t His yoke or burden, and you aren’t letting Him bear it with you.”

It’s no wonder we’re exhausted and why Jesus invites us to rest in the verse preceding this one — because we’re trying to do it all in our own strength! But that’s not what Jesus is asking us to do. In John 15:5 (NIV, emphasis added), He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Beloved, if you’re tired, weary, worn out, and feel weighed down by religious expectations, rules, and regulations trying to follow God in your own strength, remember that Jesus “does not call us to do what he did, but to be as he was,” writes Dallas Willard in The Divine Conspiracy. “Then the doing of what he did and said becomes the natural expression of who we are in him.”

Pause: Take a moment to take inventory of your heart, mind, body, and soul. How would you describe the load you’re carrying? Is it heavy or light?

Practice: Go back and read the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42. If you feel more like Mary, busy about serving the Lord and distracted by all you have to do, take some time this week to simply sit at Jesus’ feet and soak in His Word.

Pray: Jesus, I confess I’ve been burdened by many things, not all of which You’ve even asked me to carry. Today, I lay them at Your feet and ask You to give me Your yolk, and I receive Your promise of rest for my soul. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.