For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 (NKJV)
The subject of this passage of Scripture is the contrast between the harsh and hard labor of the struggle to keep the law and the restful ease of the life of trusting in Jesus. Beginning from Matthew 11:28 Jesus says –
Come to Me, all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
He was talking to the Jews who were laboring to keep the law, to live right and please God in their own human efforts. They were under a heavy unbearable burden they couldn’t carry.
Even today so many are doing the same thing – trying to keep certain rules and please God in their own strength. The Jews couldn’t and no one can today.
Thank God Jesus tells us:
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.
For My yoke [is] easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29, 30 (NKJV)
Here yoke means teaching. In Jewish society a rabbi’s teachings or doctrine is his yoke. You’re joined to and one as it were with that rabbi or teacher through his teachings.
So Jesus’ yoke is His teachings, doctrine or Word.
His teaching and the life that results from it is easy. It is rest.
Then burden means requirements, or demands.
What the law required or demanded none of us could meet.
What Jesus requires or demands from us is easy. It is to trust in Him. It is only to hear and believe in Him.
The life Jesus brought and gave us can only be received and lived by believing – Romans 1:17 and the believing comes by hearing – Romans 10:17.
Our relationship and fellowship with God is easy as we hear and believe Jesus. We are made right with God through hearing and believing Jesus who:
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the Righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21(NIV)
Our Salvation is not the result of our painful hard labor, but rather believing in Jesus.
Acts 16:30-31 (NKJV) And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
The Holy Spirit and his power and miracles in our lives is not the result of our strenuous striving to do certain hard things to please God but rather by hearing and believing Jesus.
Galatians 3:2,5. (NKJV) This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, [does He do it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
The only burden Jesus lays on us is resting or believing in Him and what He has already finished for us. It’s the burden of carrying no burden. Oh that’s such an easy burden!