Jesus spoke to the multitudes in Matt. 11:28-30 and spoke about those who are weary, the burdened. He alluded to the yoke of an oxen to illustrate what he meant. He also alluded to "learning" "learn from me" Further, he spoke of his own yoke which in not burdensome but light.
From this passage today lets mine the meaning a little and come to grips a little with the RED Letter of Jesus in this passage.
When we hear the English word "yoke" today, we most likely think of oxen, or other animals "yoked" or harnessed together to pull a load. But, the Greek word translated "yoke" in Matt. 11:29 & 30 is "zugon", which simply means "joined", or "linked". In the ancient world, "zugon" had many meanings, and the context in which it was used determined the meaning.
In the New Testament, we find at least four of the original meanings:
1. SLAVERY: In a context of slavery, it refers to one who is under the "bondage" of slavery, 1 Tim. 6:1. In a context of being "unnecessarily troubled", it is used of the "burden" of keeping the Old Testament Law, or the commandments and traditions of men, as opposed to the freedom we have in Christ, as in Gal. 5:1.
2. TRADE: In the context of measuring merchandise, "zugon" meant "measuring scales", in that they were "joined" on a balance beam, as in Rev. 6:5.
3. LEARNING: In a context of "learning", and "increasing in knowledge", "zugon" meant to become "linked" to a "teacher" or "tutor", for the purpose of education. Of course, in the context of Matt. 11: 28-30, Jesus states the purpose of His "yoke" is to "learn". Jesus is stating for us His vision for discipleship.
4. RELIGION: In Matthew Chapter 11, Jesus is speaking to multitudes of people who are "heavily burdened" or "overloaded" with religious servitude. In Matt. 23:4, Jesus even chastised the Scribes and Pharisees for overloading the people with unnecessary religious burdens.
Thoughts of Slavery, Trade and Learning are extra to the real issue that Jesus is wanting to tackle. the real issue is the overbearing burden of being under a religion that does not bring freedom but further misery and oppression.
Jesus and the Yoke of Religion:
In this study it is right that we take time to look at the meaning of "zugon" in the context of Matthew 11: which takes us to the HEART of Jesus' comments in vs 28-30. One of the things that Jesus is concerned with in this context is the "Yoke of Religion". A religion that places a burden on people who are already broken with life.
Elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus berates the Pharisees for laying burdens on people’s backs and not lifting a finger to help them to carry them. Is He not doing the same here? For Jesus in this passage the Pharisees actions and religion are exactly what he has in his sights. He is coming against the very heart of the matter that the Jewish religious institution has laid intolerable burdens on the the lives of people who are broken already. Instead of easing and freeing broken people the institution is adding to their misery, by demanding obedience that cannot be lived up too. Even the Pharisees find ways of being disobedient to the laws of the institution. Jesus cannot stomach this.
The issue of Sin is a big thing for many of the commentators and theologians. When many leading commentators comment on this passage Sin is the main consideration (The slavery aspect - slaves to sin) We have all from time to time heard and encountered this passage being preached and being preached well, I might add. Often this passage is used to speak of Jesus' call to freedom from Sin and to have a life of rest where he is Lord and we are linked (Partnered, "Yoked" with him) In a real sense you cannot find fault with that kind of preaching as there is no doubt that Sin is the burden that we are all weary with.
You can see how this fits within the passage, however, I do feel that Jesus in this context is coming against something more particular. In General a whole institution but in particular as it relates two three towns and the impact it is having on it's citizens. The institution that is enslaving and placing intolerable burdens on the lives of it's people. Jesus has something to say about these towns in Matthew 11. Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum come under attack from Jesus. We can be sure that he is not judging broken people but he is making a judgment about the rejection of himself by the Jewish institution in those places. After all it was in those places that Jesus did the most miracles including the feeding of the five thousand.
In the"Come to me passage"we find two yokes. 1. The Yoke of Religion. 2. The Jesus Yoke. Jesus compares the two yokes and makes it plain to those who are listening. One brings burdens, the other brings freedom. One will weary you, the other give you rest. One speaks of Religion, the other of Salvation. One is a kingdom of servitude, the other a kingdom of life. Jesus is attacking the very fabric of community life. He is attacking power that corrupts.
It is not to difficult to see that Matthew in his gospel is again sharing with his readers that Jesus is the only one we need to be concerned with. That he is the Lord of life. That being in relationship with him (Yoked) brings freedom and rest. In other words Salvation to those who follow. not only in the life to come but in the life that now is.
We may ask what are the religious powers in our day that enslave people and make their lives more burdensome? I am sure that there are many answers to a question like this. We can be sure that if Jesus was with us in the flesh today he may well have a go at powerful religious institutions that have no compassion for the ordinary burdened person on the street. Religious institutions that make a living at religion. Religious institutions that enslave people under the disguise of faith. If the church are the followers of Jesus then where Jesus positions himself is where we must go too. Compassion on the poor and broken and condemnation on the acts of the powerful and spiritually blind.
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