A yoke in olden times was a small transverse bar of timber that fit across an animal’s neck, usually an oxen, to draw a cart or plow. Figuratively, it means any burden imposed on a person as a token and means of subjection. Reference to the yoke is found several times in Scripture and is used in a beautiful and meaningful sense by our Lord in Matthew 11:24-30.

Negatively, a yoke is often imposed by men and religions that is too heavy to bear because it is wrong. The Lord Jesus said to the lawyers, in Luke 11:46:

“Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.”

Many sincere people are struggling and sorrowing with yokes they should not be shouldering. Countless numbers of religious “do’s and don’ts” that have been engendered by “customs and traditions” are keeping people from enjoying the Lord and life.

Often religious “yokes” are imposed when it is not God’s plan for this age. Many sincere people have been led to believe that if something is stated in the Bible they must do it, regardless of when it was spoken, to whom it was spoken, and for what purpose. Food, dress, sacraments, ordinances, and creeds become “idols” to many, and they think this is really living for God. In Acts 15 we have the account when the disciples gathered at Jerusalem to discuss the place of Gentiles in God’s plan and purpose. They discussed the rite of circumcision which typified the law given to Israel exclusively. Peter finally was led of God to state,

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear.” (Acts 15:10)

The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1,

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Again, it is stated in Colossians 2:8,

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Positively, it is a wonderful thing to be “yoked” to the Lord. That gracious invitation to rest and service spoken by the Lord Jesus is so precious:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)

Someone has aptly said that this invitation is:

• not to our sins but our service
• not to our guilt but our labor
• not to our conscience but our heart
• not to our repentance but to learning
• not to finding forgiveness but to rest.

In conclusion, believing people can be yoked together in scriptural, dispensational service for our Lord. In Philippians 4:3, Paul is led to say,

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.”

There are lots of advantages to being “yoked together” in spiritual service. A yoke helps in,

• distributing the load more evenly,
• making the load easier to manage and carry, and
• making the load more enjoyable, therefore creating better fellowship.

Remember, when things seem too difficult, the Lord Jesus said,

“My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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