Not All Yokes Are Created Equal...

Not All Yokes Are Created Equal

In today's episode, we will examine the natural or literal sense of the word, yoke. Discover the yoke Jesus had referenced in his parable and why it worked so well as an illustration.

All this and More coming up on the one sheep podcast...

You Know in biblical times, the term yoke was a familiar term to most people. Mainly because most people were either farmers, fishermen, or shepherds. 

So what is a Yoke? Well, I'm glad you asked.

A yoke is usually made of wood, hand-carved to fit the neck and shoulders of the animal to prevent pain or discomfort. Imagine just the top part of the Capital letter T, you then carve a half circle on both the left and right side of the the T Top and complete each half circle with a round little tree bent in the shape of a U, and connect it to the Stock or T Top after placing it around each animals neck. Thus keeping the two oxen together and forcing them to work in unison. This is the literal sense of the word Yoke.

In ancient cultures, the word yoke was a term that was also used to describe submission. So when someone was described as being yoked to someone or something, it was communicating the idea that he or she was in submission to that person or thing. This would then be the natural term for yoke as it applied to people.

So I guess you could say a Yoke has a dual purpose. Taming Oxen, and Taming men.

A Yoke is used for taming the oxen and making them mild and gentle. The oxen could not be brought into obedience to their owner, nor to do the work which he has for them, without the yoke. It is difficult to subdue the stubbornness of some oxen with the yoke; but it would be impossible to do it without the yoke. 

A Yokes sole purpose is to join two oxen at the neck, and to keep them together in their work, so they draw jointly, in good order. If they were not bound together with the yoke, one would draw one way, and the other another way, and the field could not be ploughed; but when they draw together under the yoke, they mutually assist each other in opening up the soil.

The yoke is of great help to the oxen in doing their master's work, after they have been accustomed with it. At first, it wounded them sorely, and they felt it heavy, painful, and very awkward: but it was their own resistance that caused the wounds and soreness from it, through their wriggling and kicking under it, "as a bullock unaccustomed with the yoke:" but the yoke is a profitable implement to the ox; when he has been exercised with it, they will bear it quietly, chewing the cud from morning till night; it feels both light and easy to him.

The same can be said of the Yoke as it applies to peoples and parables..

The term Yoke is found in the old testament to mean troubles, crosses, afflictions, etc. and probably that is the direct sense of the word; and if so, by bearing the yoke is meant, "enduring temptation," "humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God," "to accept punishment." It is good to bear the yoke in this sense: it is to humble the proud spirit of man, to bring down his high looks; to accustom him with troubles, in order to stop his career in sin, to slacken his progress in the broad way, to mortify his corruptions, to tame his wild nature, and to teach him to be content with whatever God ordereth for him. This is more likely to be effected in youth, than after having been long accustomed with prosperity, and hardened in sin and ease. "The prosperity of fools shall destroy them." Prov. 1. 32. But some, in old age, shall reap the fruit of bearing the yoke in their youth, even the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Some are yoked to the power of sin. They are under its control

Transcript

Not All Yokes Are Created Equal

In todays episode we will examine the natural or literal sense of the word, yoke. Discover the yoke Jesus had referenced in his parable and why it worked so well as an illustration.

All this and More coming up on the one sheep podcast...

You Know in biblical times, the term yoke was a familiar term to most people. Mainly because most people were either farmers, fishermen, or shepherds. 

So what is a Yoke? Well, I'm glad you asked.

A yoke is usually made of wood, hand-carved to fit the neck and shoulders of the animal to prevent pain or discomfort. Imagine just the top part of the Capital letter T, you then carve a half circle on both the left and right side of the the T Top and complete each half circle with a round little tree bent in the shape of a U, and connect it to the Stock or T Top after placing it around each animals neck. Thus keeping the two oxen together and forcing them to work in unison. This is the literal sense of the word Yoke.

In ancient cultures, the word yoke was a term that was also used to describe submission. So when someone was described as being yoked to someone or something, it was communicating the idea that he or she was in submission to that person or thing. This would then be the natural term for yoke as it applied to people.

So I guess you could say a Yoke has a dual purpose. Taming Oxen, and Taming men.

A Yoke is used for taming the oxen and making them mild and gentle. The oxen could not be brought into obedience to their owner, nor to do the work which he has for them, without the yoke. It is difficult to subdue the stubbornness of some oxen with the yoke; but it would be impossible to do it without the yoke. 

A Yokes sole purpose is to join two oxen at the neck, and to keep them together in their work, so they draw jointly, in good order. If they were not bound together with the yoke, one would draw one way, and the other another way, and the field could not be ploughed; but when they draw together under the yoke, they mutually assist each other in opening up the soil.

The yoke is of great help to the oxen in doing their master's work, after they have been accustomed with it. At first, it wounded them sorely, and they felt it heavy, painful, and very awkward: but it was their own resistance that caused the wounds and soreness from it, through their wriggling and kicking under it, "as a bullock unaccustomed with the yoke:" but the yoke is a profitable implement to the ox; when he has been exercised with it, they will bear it quietly, chewing the cud from morning till night; it feels both light and easy to him.

The same can be said of the Yoke as it applies to peoples and parables..

The term Yoke is found in the old testament to mean troubles, crosses, afflictions, etc. and probably that is the direct sense of the word; and if so, by bearing the yoke is meant, "enduring temptation," "humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God," "to accept punishment." It is good to bear the yoke in this sense: it is to humble the proud spirit of man, to bring down his high looks; to accustom him with troubles, in order to stop his career in sin, to slacken his progress in the broad way, to mortify his corruptions, to tame his wild nature, and to teach him to be content with whatever God ordereth for him. This is more likely to be effected in youth, than after having been long accustomed with prosperity, and hardened in sin and ease. "The prosperity of fools shall destroy them." Prov. 1. 32. But some, in old age, shall reap the fruit of bearing the yoke in their youth, even the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Some are yoked to the power of sin. They are under its control. 

We read In GALATIAN 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.(Sin)

Marrying is called a yoking, In Marriage, two bind themselves to live together until death; and in making such a contract, they ought to think of serving the Lord, and of mutually assisting each other in his service. It is, therefore, a grievous thing to think of being unequally yoked, to bind two together who have not the same nature and inclination: how will they draw together under the yoke? How can a child of God draw together with an enemy of God? How can one that goeth towards heaven, draw together with one that goeth towards hell?

We read in Deuteronomy 22:10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.

In (2 Corinthians 6:14) We read 

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 

15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

We read Jesus’s direct words in Matthew 11:28-30

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Let’s consider the context of Jesus’ words as paralleled with the literal meaning of the word Yoke.

Two oxen are chosen to share a yoke. The first is an older seasoned ox. He is trained and hardy from years of routine. The second is a new young ox. He has potential but is inexperienced. By sharing the same yoke with a veteran workhorse, the elder trains the younger.

Not only that, but the experienced one draws harder to bear the majority of the load. Since the older one leads, the younger ox does not have to wonder what to do, and his burden is lighter. He learns from his mentor and gains the knowledge and skill to teach others.

Jesus also declares that His yoke is easy. The word ‘easy’ here doesn’t imply ‘simple’, but ‘good’. If I’m yoked to Jesus, there’s peace in being yoked to someone

who is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, and temperance.

This is clearly an illustration of discipleship. Jesus invites us to ‘learn from Him’. There’s peace in not having to wonder if your on the narrow path if your steps are guided and your drawn in the right direction. There’s assurance as we let the Holy Spirit lead us where he will.

We read in (Galatians 5:16-26)

16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 

19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Lets put it all together the word or The Bible is the Yoke, and The Holy Spirit is your helper, or seasoned Ox.

Look at verse 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law

Led by the helper.

In submitting to the Yoke of Jesus. We learn to be doers, and not just hearers of the word. Through reading, prayer, and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Our steps can be guided as we draw together down the narrow path. Exhibiting, and bearing fruit with the Holy Spirit, doing the will of the father, and ultimately reaping the fruit of righteousness, and eternal life.

What Kind of Yoke Does Jesus Offer? He offers Eternal Life...

To have your steps guided Please listen to the Gospel Message of The One Sheep Podcast Episode titled What Must I do To Be Saved.

In closing I would like you to consider this: everyone is yoked to someone or something. 

The question is to whom or what do you want to be yoked? 

Not All Yokes Are Created Equal