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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11: 29-30

You’ve no doubt heard of the term “yoke.” The yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.

In his sermon, Alistair also reminded us of the yoke a “Dutch milkmaid” would wear while carrying pails of milk. I could immediately see the figure in my mind’s eye. How about you?

In the end, the yoke was a tool to make the work easier whether it was between two animals or if a single human being used the tool.

So when we read that Jesus tells us to “take my yoke upon you” He is moving beyond the invitation to Come and now we move into the area of discipleship and so taking His yoke presents us with an obligation.

An obligation is something you agree to and a course of action you intend to follow. An example would be the commitment through the covenant of marriage. The husband and wife are obligated to each other based on the covenant ordained by God.

Now, what about that yoke? Jesus says that his ‘yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” It wasn’t until this week that I recognized the message behind Jesus’ command.

In the previous verse, He referred to how we labor and are weary, so each of us is carrying a yoke of some kind. Some carry the load of religion, relationships, and careers, but all carry a load.

In contrast to Jesus’ yoke, He commented on the religion of the Pharisees –

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Matthew 23:4

In contrast, Jesus promised this to those who take on His yoke –

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32

Freedom then comes from our obligation of discipleship.