When Jesus said those famous words: “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” (Matthew 11:28,29), He was in actuality directing this invitation to the Jewish people of His day who were labouring under the heavy yoke of convoluted law of Moses which had morphed into 613 laws of strict observance (See Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 258-9; Jewish Virtual Library, Judaism:The 613 Mitzvot (Commandments)).
So what was the ‘easy’ yoke that Jesus offered to the oppressed who laboured under these overwhelming laws? Quite simply, it was His gospel; the new, easier doctrine fulfilling the law of Moses. Admittedly, it was the higher ground of morality and honest living yet still it offered more spiritual and mental freedom and rest to one’s soul than the yoke that came with 613 burdensome laws.
We, modern day Israel, have two yokes to choose from: the yoke of Christ or the yoke of the world. One is light and easy and comes with restful respite while the other is a relentless yoke of bondage and misery born from sin, worldly pursuits and world’s crippling ideologies. The yoke that the world would put upon our shoulders offers false freedom which lasts
but a moment and becomes heavier and heavier to bear. It would make of us beasts of burden that the yoke is in reality meant for. It’s a yoke that costs dearly with an ever increasing price. Contrast that with Christ’s invitation to come unto Him and ‘buy milk and honey without money and without price’ (2 Nephi 26:25)……because the price has been paid, the burden made light, the freedom assured.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: The Divine Gardener by Greg Collins)
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