What’s the Easy Yoke?

You aren’t a beast of burden.

You aren’t called to bear the weight of the world.

There is a different yoke for you,

Child of God.

“Take my yoke upon you,

And learn from me,

For I am gentle and lowly in heart,

And you will find rest

For your souls.” (Matt. 11:29, ESV)

How odd.

To explain the levity of life

Available in Christ,

Jesus uses an image associated with

Beasts of burden.

Why?

“Yoke” was an ancient Jewish idiom,

A figure of speech,

That meant “way of life” or “school of thought”.

Every rabbi had a different “yoke,”

A different way of interpreting scripture,

His own unique approach to holy living.

So, when Jesus offers his “yoke,”

He’s offering His way of life.

Unlike the searing heat of law-based living,

The yoke of Rabbi Jesus is full of grace and rest.

His yoke is easy and light—

I bless you to wear it well today.