I suppose most of you have seen I two horses yoked together drawing a wagon. Perhaps some of you have seen two oxen yoked in a plow; but few if any of you have ever seen the kind of yoke used in Palestine, from which our Bible lesson is derived. It was a piece of wood put across the necks of the two animals, which kept them under the control of their owner, and caused them to keep together.
Now there are four kinds of yokes mentioned in the Bible, which we may name.
We all begin with the SINNER’S YOKE. Boys and girls, even the youngest of you are in the bondage of Satan’s service. It is a hard service, and pays poor wages; “for the wages of sin is death,” Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). You cannot break this yoke and set yourself free, because Satan is stronger than you. But the Lord Jesus is the great Deliverer. He came “to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4: 18) by Satan’s iron yoke. He is the “Stronger” than Satan, who makes His captives free (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)). Have you accepted Jesus as your Deliverer?
The SAVIOUR’S YOKE was sin, our sins, which were laid upon Him when He hung upon the cross. He had no sins of His own, no yoke of sin or Satan ever came upon Him; He was the obedient One always pleasing God His Father. But He was our Surety, dying in our place upon the cross, and so closely did He identify Himself with us there, that He says — “The yoke of My transgressions is bound by His hand” (Lam. 1: 14). God “made Him to be sin for us,” 2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now all who believe on Him are free — free from sin’s penalty, free from sin’s power, free to serve a new master.
The SAINT’S YOKE (Matt. 11:2929Take 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 11:29)) is obedience to the Lord Jesus. His “yoke is easy”; it is a joy to obey such a kind Master; His service is perfect freedom. Happy are the boys and girls who follow Christ.
The SERVANT’S YOKE is also pleasant. How sweet to have a true companion and helpmeet in the Master’s service; to go together seeking to win others for the Saviour. But you must be saved before you can serve; you must learn of Christ before you can labor for Him. The sinner’s yoke must be broken before you can wear the yoke of obedience to Christ, or of service for Him.
ML 01/15/1967