What is in Your Yoke

What is in your yoke? That’s a great question! We are yoked to a lot of things in life, some by choice and others not by choice.

Some of us have been yoked to fear, insignificance, poverty, sickness, offenses, un-forgiveness, and religious works. Some of us are yoked to our careers and for some they are yoked to unhealthy relationships.( 2 Corinthians 6:14 )

When we look at the word yoke in the Bible it represented servitude, subjection, hardship, slavery, and bondage. It was used as a word picture for burden or demand. It also referred in a good sense to partnership- ( Philippians 4:3 ). We see this in animal husbandry with oxen or horses. A wooden frame that fits on the necks of animals to hold them together while working (New Century Version Dictionary.)

The yoke was a metaphor for the Old Testament law. We see the nation of Israel was under the yoke of the Egyptians in the Old Testament. (Acts 15:10, Exodus 1:14, Exodus 13:3). As we get into the new Testament we see the word yoke refers to the Old Testament law.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) (See also Rom 7:6).

During Jesus time as we see in the gospels the Jewish people had been under Roman rule, an overbearing yoke and the demands of the Old Testament Law, which was another yoke. We are familiar with the ten commandments but in actuality there were 6i3 commandments. They include “positive commandments”, to perform an act and “negative commandments”, to abstain from certain acts. We see this with the religious leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees) of Jesus day- (Matthew 23:13 , Luke 11:52 ). The Jewish people were under tremendous pressure culturally, religiously and politically. Its no wonder they were waiting for the messiah to set them free.

Yet Jesus at this time was not to be a political King, to overcome the Roman empire. Jesus said my Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). Jesus was on a totally different mission. Jesus had compassion on the multitude and the burdens they were under. Look at the following scripture:

What a great promise for us today! Here is the mission of Jesus: John 1:17 (NKJV) 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Jesus also came to destroy the works of the devil, the one ultimately behind bad yokes.( 1 John 3:8)

The people were about to enter a whole new ballgame, a different administration. What Bible scholars call the Age of Grace or the dispensation of grace or the Church Age. The context of this scripture was that Jesus was urging them to come to Him and to escape out of the religious law that they could not keep totally

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

James 2:10

Jesus request was to those who were suffering under a heavy burden. He was offering them rest, a faith rest not based on performance or keeping the entirety of the whole Law ( Hebrews 4:1-2 ) He was offering a new way of life ( Hebrews 10:19-24 ). To be yoked with Him. He was offering grace instead of the works of the law. The grace he was offering would free the people from religious bondage. He would give them a new commandment, a commandment to love God and others. (John 13:34 , Matthew 22:37-40 ). It would start with them having a personal relationship with Christ, accepting Him as Messiah. He would be the true vine and they would be the branches. You can’t be both the vine and the branches, that would be self effort, self righteousness and a performance mentality. ( John 15:1-5).

Grace flows from the vine into the branches to produce a fruitful life. Even though the cultural yoke, and the political yoke still existed, this new spiritual yoke would help them to overcome difficulties by faith. They would see things from Gods perspective rather than their own.

In the book of Titus we read ( Titus 2:11) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Salvation in the Greek is soteria and it means deliverance, to rescue, healing, to save. Jesus is the messiah and it means anointed one! Only He can break unnecessary yokes, whatever they may be.

It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing .

– Isaiah 10:27

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Acts 10:38

He is the yoke breaker and offers a new yoke of rest! ( Matthew 11:28-30 )Today whatever you’re facing in your life and you may have some bad yokes. Jesus can set you free. Its the anointing that breaks the yoke. Gods Word is anointed. Renew your mind with His yoke breaking promises! ( Romans 12:1-2, 2 Peter 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:16 ) A personal relationship with Him is where it starts. Jesus has done all the work and that is grace. He fulfilled the law in its entirety, because He knew you couldn’t. He has given us His righteousness and right standing with God. Ask Him into your heart today if you haven’t already.( Rom 10:9-10 ) We now have access to this grace.(2 Corinthians 5:17,Romans 5:1-2 ) No longer do we have to have unhealthy yokes in our life. They can be broken off if we choose to! Grace is what God does, faith reaches out and receives that grace! ( John 8:31- 32 ) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 14:6- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

One final thought; That is the yoke of un-forgiveness. I think this is a big one that people deal with. Its hard to let go of. Please realize that un-forgiveness hurts you! That un-forgiveness turns into bitterness. Look at this scripture: (Hebrews 10:15 )15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; You see this bitterness affects other in a negative way. The Passion Translations says, Poisons the hearts of many.” This is why we can’t walk in un-forgiveness. We have to do it by faith, even when our emotions challenge us not to.

Some would say I cant forgive, your right in the natural you can’t. You need faith and grace to do so. You have both if you are yoked to Jesus. No one said it would be easy but what kind of life is it to have un-forgiveness and bitterness in your heart? Its just going to hurt you and others and you’ll never find peace in your heart. So let those bad yokes go, don’t delay. Make a God given effort to do so. You will be blessed by your obedience to forgive. ( Mark 11:22-26, Matt 6:12 -14, Matthew 18:21-2, Luke 17:4-6 ). If God can forgive, He can help you to forgive! Trust Him to help you. He will if you ask Him. ( Luke 23:34 )

So what’s in your yoke? I hope its Jesus! He is the best yoke of all!

Brent and Linda