The LORD JESUS said:
Matthew 11:29-30
King James Version
29 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.
30 For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.
First, what does "yoke" mean?
Here's what we found:
a: a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (such as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together
b: an arched device formerly laid on the neck of a defeated person
c: a frame fitted to a person's shoulders to carry a load in two equal portions
-- Source: Merriam-Webster
But what did JESUS mean when He used the word "Take my yoke upon you"?
Let's look at Bible translations:
Matthew 11:29-30
Easy-to-Read Version
29 Accept my teaching.[a] Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. 30 Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30
International Children’s Bible
29 Accept my work and learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will find rest for your souls. 30 The work that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is not heavy.”
Matthew 11:29-30
The Message
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:29-30
New Century Version
29 Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. 30 The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30
New International Reader's Version
29 Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. 30 Serving me is easy, and my load is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30
New Life Version
29 Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls. 30 For My way of carrying a load is easy and My load is not heavy.”
Mattityahu 11:29-30
Orthodox Jewish Bible
29 Take my ol (yoke) upon you and learn from me, for I am anav (humble) and have shiflut (lowliness) in lev (heart), and you will find menuchah (rest, security [RUTH 1:9]) for your nefashot (souls, YIRMEYAH 6:16].
30 For my [Moshiach’s] ol (yoke) is easy and my burden is light. [See Mt 23:4]
Matthew 11:29-30
Worldwide English (New Testament)
29 Do what I tell you. Learn what I teach you. I am gentle. I am not proud. Then your hearts will rest.
30 What I tell you to do is easy. What I give you to carry is not heavy.'
In SUMMARY, "Take my yoke upon you" means:
Accept my teaching.[a] Learn from me.
(Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy.)
Accept my work and learn from me.
(The work that I ask you to accept is easy.)
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
(Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.)
Accept my teachings and learn from me,
(The burden that I ask you to accept is easy;)
ecome my servants and learn from me
(Serving me is easy)
Follow My teachings and learn from Me.
(For My way of carrying a load is easy)
Take my ol (yoke) upon you and learn from me,
(For my [Moshiach’s] ol (yoke) is easy)
Do what I tell you. Learn what I teach you.
(What I tell you to do is easy.)
That means, we work in tandem with the LORD.
The LORD knows best.
We are to trust Him
Really pretty easy to understand, if your heart's right with JESUS.
Especially if you're born again, and being taught by SPIRIT.
Your belief is totally upon CHRIST.
Related material:
The Ox Face of the Cherubim - Keith Malcomson
Yoke (Wikipedia)
Image: Clipart Library
