The exchange of yokes.
It is remarkable that so much attention should be given to the first clause of this very familiar and beautiful passage, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden," and so little attention should be given to the later clause, "Take my yoke upon you." These later clauses present the very suggestive thought, that our spiritual dealing with Christ is an exchange of yokes. The "yoke" gives us the idea of a burden which calls for effort, and even strain, to bear it, and keep on bearing it. There is an exchange in all yoke-bearings of love. We and these whom we love bear yokes together. My friend bears mine, and I bear his.
I. OUR YOKE, AND THE WAY IN WHICH CHRIST TAKES IT. Our sins, our cares, our sorrows. Estimate what these are to Christ by what they are to us. Never think they become lighter because our Lord takes them on himself. But what a relief to us that shifting of our yoke is! Christ takes it:
1. Wholly. We need keep none for lonely bearing.
2. Cheerfully. Making us feel as if it were be that was benefited by the taking.
3. Lovingly. As if he would melt and win us by the taking.
"'Tis enough that he should care;
Why should I the burden bear?"
II. CHRIST'S YOKE, AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE TAKE IT.
1. Yoke of Christian profession.
2. Yoke of Christian living.
3. Yoke of Christian duty.
4. Yoke of Christian affliction.
These go to make up Christ's yoke, as it can become our yoke. We too often beat' it half-heartedly, as a sort of must. Persons will sometimes say, "Oh yes, I submit, for there is nothing else I can do." But a true submission is willing submission, whether anything else can be done or not. Or we bear Christ's yoke carelessly, as though nothing were involved in the bearing, not even the supreme honour of our Divine Lord.
How different Christ's yoke for us appears and is! We never really find out what it is while we only look at it. We know it when we lift it up on our shoulder; then we find that the "yoke is easy, and the burden light."—R.T.
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Matthew 11 - matthew-11 - worlddic.com