Exposition of the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 11:28-30)

March 3, 2021

(Yoked with Jesus)

Questions to be answered in this study

1. How was the yoke that Jesus offered different from the one the Pharisaical Rabia’s offered?
2. What is the meaning of the word Pharisee, which explains their true purpose?
3. What was the original meaning of the word “Yoke” in New Testament times?
4. What exactly is a yoke, and what is its purpose?
5. In what ways does Christ’s death on the cross benefit those who trust in Him?
6. What is a person’s first action when they realize they need help to confront all life’s problems?
7. What is the only way we will ever find peace in a troubled world?
8. What Did Jesus mean when He said, “Take my yoke upon you?”
9. What is the key to living the victorious Christian life?
10. What are the direct results of taking the yoke of Jesus upon us?

Introduction

It is of the essence we understand what Jesus is talking about in these verses. What He is not saying is that all our troubles will go away once we take His yoke upon us. In the book of Job, we read what we all shall experience in life on earth: “Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward,” (Job 5:7, KJV).

All across the world today, people are experiencing what we read in this quote: “There are the pressures of want, need, sorrow, unpopularity, persecution, and loneliness. Some suffer for what they have done. Others suffer because of what people do to them. Many suffer because they are victims of circumstances which they cannot control,” Bible.org.

Jesus made it clear concerning trouble: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33 KJV). That is why we must clearly understand the specific words and how they apply. What Jesus is promising is a way to overcome and control the problems we face just as He did, as we shall see as we go forward.

Matthew 11:27-28, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.”

The Pharisaical Rabia’s used the same term Jesus used, “Take my yoke upon you,” but with a different meaning. Pharisees were teachers who invited new students to come and join their school. They used the term “take my yoke,” which meant “come learn from me” The yoke the Rabia offered was an additional burden, while the one Jesus offered lightened the load. The Pharisees imposed thousands of rules in the Mishna (1,500 rules for the Sabbath day alone), which addressed every aspect of daily activity and only added additional burdens to life.

The Pharisees fasted several times a week, prayed several times a day in public places, memorized thousands of lines of text, did washings repeatedly, etc. All his wakened hours, a Pharisee was bearing the burdens of that yoke. The Word Pharisee comes from an Aramaic word meaning “separated ones.” They wanted to be seen as separate from the general population. In Luke 18:11, we read: “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” The publican the Pharisee referred to smote himself on his chest and said God be merciful to me a sinner and was gratified, not the proud Pharisee.

It would be altogether unimaginable for us today to bear the immense, heavy burdens the Pharisees imposed on their followers. God’s Word is different from the Mishna the Pharisees followed; it is an instruction manual for how to live in such a way as to glorify God, not self. One of the messages and the greatest is an invitation to come to Jesus, take His yoke upon us, and learn from Him.

Many books have been written that are outdated and of no use today, but the Bible is the exception; it never goes out of date, is never irrelevant, and nothing should be disregarded. Perhaps few know that the Bible has the answers to all the problems we face every day; therefore, we need to read it and submit to its message. There is no better thing than to hear from the Lord who created us and knows our every need. That is the invitation in today’s study of Matthew 11:28-30.

When we hear that we are to take a yoke upon ourselves, it may sound like an additional burden. Maybe that is because we have already seized upon ourselves some of the world’s yokes that offer help that does not turn out to help but results in an additional burden. The world with all its wisdom does not answer our needs, especially our spiritual needs. The yoke Jesus is talking about is different from all those of the world.

We need to understand the original purpose of a yoke. Yokes were used in days of old and still are in some places across the world, to join two oxen together to bear a burden. Without the yoke, it would be impossible for the oxen to bear the burden. Therefore, it was an aid to them, not an additional burden.

For the Pharisees, their religion meant carrying additional burdens added to the everyday burdens. But when Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you,” meant that his teaching was light and easy and not burdensome at all. Following a strenuous religious system keeping thousands of rules was bondage, but Jesus came offering freedom from all that. Righteousness is not gained by rule-keeping but is already earned by Jesus’ death on the cross. How do we benefit from Christ’s death on the cross? We receive forgiveness and eternal life and the guiding Holy Spirit to help us through life.

The law was burdensome, but Jesus kept it perfectly in our stead, and at the point of salvation, God now credits us with the work Christ accomplished for us. That is why when taking the yoke of Jesus, the burden is light and easy to bear. Jesus paid it all for us and died in our stead for our sin. When we accept Jesus, God gives us credit for all He did. Therefore, we now need to take on a new attitude like that of Jesus. Paul explained the gentle, humble attitude of Jesus: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” Phil. 2:5-8 (KJV). 

It is a terrible thing to carry a heavy load of burdens every day that weighs us down, and we are even unable to rid them when we lay down at night to sleep. Many, worldwide, have the feeling of defeat, discouragement, and helplessness and go through life with no hope or any way to escape. So, many take their own lives in hopes that they will bring it all to an end, and then they have to face God. Many are unprepared and face eternal separation from the living God.

Our very first need is to come to Jesus for salvation to receive Him as Savior and Lord. We then become united with Him, or He is yoked with us to help bear the burdens of life. It doesn’t mean we are suddenly free of all the problems that life brings. Just as Jesus told His disciples, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33 (KJV). We can expect trouble. He does promise to be with us to make the burden bearable. He said, “I have overcome the world.” He wants to help each of us do the same. Jesus wants to teach us, but how can we learn if we don’t study the Word?

Anxiety and fear will not overcome us and keep us from sleep because He offers us peace and rest. The world, in general, is on a quest to find peace and never quite achieve it because they are looking in the wrong places. Only through Jesus is there any hope of ever knowing peace in this world. Many try to find an outlet in drugs, alcohol, sex, or even in relationships to only learn that these attempts fail and can even worsen the problems. “Take My Yoke:” Jesus’ yoke is about having a relationship with Him by first accepting Him as Lord and Savior, then trusting Him through all life throws at us. It means the end to our self-reliance and casting our all upon Him.

A transformation takes place when we have a relationship with Jesus, one that will last all eternity. Jesus wants us to learn from Him by taking on His character a “gentle and humble heart.” The pride and haughtiness dissolve away, and we become a new creation in Christ: “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV). 

What did Jesus mean He said “take my yoke upon you.” Jesus becomes our life; we are born again, resulting in being clothed with things good, fruits with divine inner beauty. The New Birth brings new life, one filled with hope instead of despair, reflecting God’s love instead of anguish, experiencing empowerment instead of hopelessness.

During His Galilean Ministry, when those with various physical needs cried out to Jesus, He healed them, including those with leprosy, which had never been cured before. No one understands our needs like the Lord and wants to fill those needs if we trust Him. Jesus was a man, God in the flesh; he knew anguish and sorry like any of us, but He also knew that He could persevere all that came His way with the heavenly Father. You and I also can do the same with the presence of God’s Holy Spirit residing within us. Jesus said He would send the comforter. Strangely, some believers never acknowledge that the comforter is within them, ready to comfort them through any trial in life.

The yoke Jesus offers us is the key to living the victorious Christian life. It assures us that it is easy, and His burden is light. The results are, we are never alone, defeated and without hope, for He promised us in Matthew 28:20, “…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” When we are yoked with Jesus, He bears the bulk of the weight of our burdens and also strengthens us, enabling us to live under any circumstances, no matter how difficult they may become. In Galatians 5:22 (KJV) we read that God promises us peace and joy if we are willing to walk in the power of His Holy Spirit.

It is a relief and blessing to be assured that the Christian life is not dependent on what we can do in our strength but on what Christ is willing to do in us. He tells us to learn of Him and constantly abide in Him and His truth, which results in a changed life.

When you come to Jesus, you will “Find rest for your souls.” We learn from Jesus when we place our trust in Him for all things. It does not end when we trust Christ for salvation; it continues as we trust Him to bear our burdens and to calm our anxiety, fears, and despair.

The key to living the victorious Christian life is surrendering all to Jesus. We used to sing that old hymn, “I surrender all to Him.” I think we don’t sing it anymore because it is a lie for so many. When you do surrender all to Him, He tells you in Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” There’s nothing in this world is lacking when we are yoked with Jesus, for he is the all-powerful, all-knowing God who died for us that we may be forgiven our sins and inherit eternal life.

We should acknowledge His presence in our life at the beginning of each new day in our prayers, believing He will answer our prayers, help us to bear our burdens, forgive every sin, and provide our needs for that day. When we learn to live our lives one day at a time, trusting Jesus for everything, it dispels the anxiety and worry that plagues the world. When we walk with Him, he is in control, guarding and protecting us and enabling us to experience His joy and peace as we calmly walk through life.

Are you struggling under a load of sin, faltering under the heavy burdens of life? Does it seem there is no hope, and only darkness prevails, adversely affecting everything you hope to do in life? Why don’t you think about taking the yoke of Jesus upon you and allowing Him to comfort your weary soul? He wants to lead in your life and give you calm, assurance, hope, and a future in heaven with Him and the heavenly angels. If you are ready to come to Jesus, I want to provide you with step-by-step instructions, based on the Bible, on how you may invite Him into your life. It is so easy and will transform the way you live. Just CLICK HERE.