In Matthew 11 Jesus exhorts those who would be wearied by the yoke of the law to come to Him for discipleship in order to learn and find rest. A yoke is a tool to allow for pulling or carrying a load and it represents labor.
“25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:25–30, ESV)
Jesus says that we are using the wrong yoke.
Human effort at getting right with God will not suffice and will make us weary. If you love me you will keep my commandments (remember that John 14:15 is a promise to claim, not a litmus test to fear)! We need to take the yoke of faith in Jesus, a yoke of trusting in His work in us, a yoke of finding Him lovely and worthy of our praise. He speaks about the burden of seeking justification and right standing with God and how the little children who have their eyes opened should not labor under the example of the supposedly wise and understanding folks that are devoted to human effort at achieving justification by laborious efforts to comply with the law. Rather, we should take on this yoke of faith and know that God's love, which was poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 5:5) will bring about in us a desire to walk in His ways and it will be a joy, not a burden (cf. 1 John 5:2-5)!
“5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5, ESV)
“2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:2–5, ESV)
Note that in 1 John 5:2 the greek word for "love" is the verb form of Agape and refers to our loving of God. But the beauty of verse 3 is that the word "love" here is the noun form and is in reference to God as the subject of the action! So this means, like we considered in yesterday's Heart Check, that it is God's love in us by His Holy Spirit that he causes us to keep His commandments as a promise and we do so not laboring under a load, but empowered by God Himself! Strive not in our own strength, for his power is perfected in weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9)!
“9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)
Let us therefore put down the yoke of self-righteous attempts to conform to the law to prove our love. Let us rather find the victory in surrender to a love of our King. Let us ask for God to pour His love into our hearts daily and that He would work and will in us what we cannot do for ourselves (Philippians 2:13). Let us find joy in His ways rather than a task of obedience.
“13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13, ESV)
“20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20–21, ESV)
Soli Deo Gloria!
