Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you.” What is a yoke?

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart. It is normally used between two oxen to enable them to pull together on a load as a pair.

A yoke is also used to describe any burden or bondage. (Acts 15:10, Galatians 5:1). “Under the yoke” describes servants or slaves. (1Timothy 6:1).

Jesus desires a relationship with us that is reflected in the closest relationships we have in life – a friend relationship, a father-son relationship, a husband-wife relationship.

John 15:15 KJV - Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Galatians 4:7 KJV - Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV - For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

When God gave His commandments to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai, He considered their relationship to be as a husband and wife. (Jeremiah 31:32, Jeremiah 3:14, Isaiah 54:5).

When God gave His new covenant of the gospel, He likewise considers His relationship with His church to be as a husband and wife. (Romans 7:4, John 3:29, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-32).

There is a third meaning of the word “yoke.”

When a Jewish boy comes of age (at 13) and assumes the spiritual obligations of Jewish adulthood, it is called “accepting the yoke of the commandments.” He becomes a “bar mitzvah,” which means, “son of commandment.”

Accepting the yoke of the commandments means accepting 613 commandments. When there was a council in Jerusalem over a dispute whether the gentile converts were obligated to keep the Jewish Law, Peter spoke to the multitude.

Acts 15:10 KJV 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?  (Galatians 2-6)

Jesus spoke of His yoke of His new covenant:

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV - 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.

When we take the yoke of Jesus, we find rest for our souls. (Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 28:11-12, John 7:37-39)

We take the yoke of Jesus by repenting of our sins and being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins. Baptism in Jesus name is our covenant with Him. We are yoked together with Jesus. (Acts 2:38).

When we have taken His yoke upon us, He promises rest unto our souls. This promise is the gift of His Holy Ghost. His Spirit is our strength, peace, and joy to us that gets us through life. (Acts 2:39).

We become laborers together with Jesus, accomplishing His will in our life and in this world. We walk with Jesus through this life and with Him into Life everlasting. (1Corinthians 3:9, Matthew 9:37, 2Corinthians 6:1, John 10:10).