On the left is my hand and on the right is Andy’s =) haha. I like this picture.

Matthew 11:28-30
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.

YOKE...

Today I will be sharing with you readers what is the meaning of yoke and how we can find rest in sharing Jesus’ yoke.

First of all, what is a YOKE?
Note: This is important. You need to understand the meaning and uses of a “yoke” before you could understand what Jesus meant in the Scripture above. Take some time to read this, you will gain something.

The Greek word for “yoke” is “zygos” and it is also pronounced “zeugos” which means “a team”. The English Concise Dictionary tells us the word “yoke” is a noun. It is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and it is attached to a plough or cart which the animals will pull in unison. A yoke is a bar of wood constructed to unite two animals, usually oxen, enabling them to work in the fields. With the yoke on the oxen, farmers can use it to carry loads, to pull heavy loads or to plow the fields and carry instruments used for farming. Like those you see on TV remember? Get the picture? =)

Here are interesting things you have to know about the yoke. This is will give you better understanding on the Scripture in Matthew 11:28-30. A yoke is also referred negatively as something burdensome or oppressive, like “the yoke of imperialism”.

A yoke is often made for two animals, usually oxen as mentioned above. This then enables the two oxen to work together and thus reducing the burden. Imagine pulling a cart full of bricks all alone, wouldn’t it be easy if there is one more person helping you?

The Greek word “syzygos” means “yoked together” and is translated as “yokefellow” in the English language. It is a common word among Greek writers to refer to those united by close bonds. For example, married couples who are loyal to each other are often referred to as “yoked together in marriage”. The word is also used to refer to labor where two workers are “yoked together” to help one another to lessen the burden. The word “yokefellow” is only used once in the New Testament:

Philippians 4:3
Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, to help those women, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers.

A yoke can also be used to refer to servant hood. The oxen that are yoked together are serving their master and listens to him. They plough the fields as ordered by their masters. Here is a form of the yoke used to refer to the nature of servant hood:

Jeremiah 28:14
I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him.

Summary:
A yoke is an object used to unite two animals, usually oxen, together to plough the fields in farms. So figuratively a yoke UNITES two people (yokefellows) so that they can HELP ONE ANOTHER.
A yoke of oxen listens to the voice of their master and do whatever that has been told. So a yoke is a form of SERVANT HOOD.
A yoke can be a burden for the oxen and the word yoke is also used to refer to something burdensome or oppressive. A yoke CAN BE BURDENSOME. But we will see how a yoke can NOT BE BURDENSOME.

You might have guessed and figured out the meaning of Matthew 11:28-30. If not, read on and you will get it.

Jesus tells all those who are weary and burdened to go to him and he will give us rest. But why is that? He goes on to ask us to take his yoke upon us and learn from him, which means to put his yoke on us.
But why did Jesus say he is humble and gentle in heart? A nature of a servant is to be humble and gentle. A servant is one who is humble enough to obey his master and do whatever that has been told without complaining or retaliating. A servant is one who is gentle in his ways and does not go against the will of his master or the one whom he is under. A servant has a heart of humbleness and gentleness, and Jesus refers himself to a servant. Why is that? He came to earth in a form of a servant (Philippians 2:5-11) and by doing so; Jesus was serving his Father in Heaven. Jesus also set an example for us to follow when he washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:5) – Jesus has the heart of a servant.

Jesus ended with “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This is the main point in this verse. Until we know what Jesus’ yoke and burden is, we will not be able to fully grasp the meaning of the verse.
A yoke is often referred to something that burdens someone because of the heavy load one has to carry, especially the oxen. But Jesus says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. What can we draw from here? I can go on sharing another message to you and this will then be a really long post but I will not do so. Understand the meaning of yoke and you will understand Jesus’ message in Matthew 11:28-30.

God’s will and command is your yoke and it is not burdensome.

1 John 5:3
This is love for God: to obey his commands.
And his commands are not burdensome.

Matthew 11:28-30
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.

GOD BLESS ALL...

Yoked With Jesus,
Zlwin Chew.