Take My Yoke

Allow Messiah to Guide You in His Way

Matthew 11:28–30 — 28) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I shall give you rest. 29) “Take My yoke (G2218) upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your beings. <Jer 6:16> 30) “For My yoke is gentle and My burden is light.”

Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary:

Yoke, noun (Wiki link)

1c: a frame fitted to a person’s shoulders to carry a load in two equal portions

1g: a clamp (or similar piece) that embraces two parts to hold or unite them into position

3a2: Servitude, bondage

3b: Tie or link, especially MARRIAGE

Strong’s Concordance:

G2218 ζυγός zugos (zï-ğos’) n.

1. a coupling.

2. (figuratively) servitude (a law or obligation).

3. (literally) the beam of the balance (as connecting the scales).

[from the root of zeugnumi “to join, especially by a yoke”]

KJV: pair of balances, yoke

These are the definitions of yoke (see the Wiki link above for the full list), as a noun and as a verb. Although the context is not a verb, don’t eliminate them, but set aside the verb definitions, they will come back later AND when we accept His yoke, the verb applies.

Take a look at the specific cross-reference: Jeremiah 6:16

YHVH says… But man says…

He said:

Walk in the old path, the Way He gave originally. There you will find rest.”

But religion says,

“No way, man! We have grace.”

Oh…kay…

Messiah says:

“Take on My yoke…”

Religion says:

“We are free from the yoke of Torah.”

Huh? Where in this passage, or anywhere in context and content of Matthew 11 is Torah?

Before you run to verse 13, CONTEXT AND CONTENT of the verse and the passage:

Matthew 11:13 — “For all the prophets and the Torah prophesied till Yoḥanan.

This is a positive reference to the prophecies of John (the baptizer) within the Tanak, not anything more, nor anything less.

Messiah goes on to be critical AGAIN of the takanot and ma’asim of the Pharisees:

Matthew 11:16–19, 20 — 16) “And to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to their companions, 17) and saying, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we lamented to you, and you did not beat the breast.’

This is an allegory. It means that because of their childish nature, the Father has ignored their performance — BECAUSE — it is just a performance. It is not true worship, nor is it from the heart. Then He compares this to the manner in which He and John had been received:

… 18) “For Yoḥanan came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19) “The Son of Aḏam came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘See, a man, a glutton and a winedrinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ And wisdom was declared right by her works.”

20) Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles had been done, because they did not repent…

And that is what He does through verse 24.

But notice the END of verse 19:

… And wisdom was declared right by her works.

This is its own separate statement and is NOT part of the quote that others are saying about Messiah. This could be read: the wise are declared right by their works. However, that isn’t entirely the context here. He is pointing out that their ignorance is proven by that lack of knowledge to identify the prophet sent to announce the Messiah and the Messiah Himself, both prophesied in the Torah and the Tanak — over and over.

** I have said before Messiah had a snarky streak.

Then He moves into something seemingly unrelated, but it isn’t. It is literally a moment of the Spirit speaking directly to Messiah in front of the witnesses:

Matthew 11:25–27 — 25) At that time יהושע responding, said, “I thank You, Father, Master of the heavens and earth, because You have hidden these matters from clever and learned ones and have revealed them to babes. <Luke 10:21> 26) “Yes, Father, because so it was well-pleasing in Your sight.

27) “All have been handed over to Me by My Father {this is Messiah’s authority, the Father gave it to Him}, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.

It is as if right in the middle of the conversation with the disciples, the Father speaks to Him, through the Spirit, and He takes a moment to thank the Father. (v25–26)

Then in verse 27 He is again speaking to those with Him.

Matthew recorded what was most significant to him and the audience of his gospel — he wrote about the suffering servant of Elohim to the Hebrew people. What was most significant in that moment for the Hebrew believers and followers was that Messiah was returning believers to the original faith given by the Father in the beginning, the old path. <Jer 16:6>. The “not too hard for you” path. <Deut 30:11> He contrasted it to the heavy, cumbersome, man-made religion of Pharisaical Judaism that they were mired and stuck in. It is this exact same man-made religion that they all challenged in chapter 15 & Mark 7, Acts 10–11, 15, and throughout several of Sha’ul’s letters.

However, Luke did not record this in his gospel. Rather, he recorded the next event in the sequence — the rich young ruler — probably among the 70 evangelists and not necessarily the same rich young ruler from Mark 10.

This is not the only time in the Apostolic Writings that the yoke of Messiah is mentioned. In fact, the authors of the AWs well understood that following Messiah came with a yoke, an easy, freeing yoke of the faith in YHVH that was practiced before men came along and added to and took away from it.

Acts 15:7–11 — 7) And when there had been much dispute, Kĕpha rose up and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago Elohim chose among us, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. 8) “And Elohim, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Set-apart Spirit, as also to us, 9) and made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by belief. 10) “Now then, → why do you try Elohim ← by putting a yoke on the neck of the taught ones which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11) “But through the favor of the Master יהושע Messiah we trust to be saved, in the same way as they.”

→ Notice he said that it was those who “tried Elohim” that put on the yoke. It was not the Father’s/Messiah’s yoke to which they were referring. ←

Cornelius and his family were not run-of-the-mill Roman pagan worshippers. Go read Acts 10 and the lesson, “It’s About People, NOT Meat.” Cornelius was a fearer of Elohim, a worshipper of the Creator. He studied Torah and the Prophets — which means he attended synagogue because it would have been the ONLY place where he could hear the Word of Elohim in those days. He was obedient to Torah, kind and generous to the Hebrew people, and was zealous to know the Word and more. No doubt he had previously heard some about the Messiah and prayed to the Father that He send someone who could introduce them.

Kefa goes to these Gentiles, a CRIME in the eyes of the oral traditions. Yet they receive the Spirit of Elohim BEFORE Kefa even reaches the “amen” in his teaching. It must have been as overwhelming of a moment again as that first time in Acts 2. Except that, probably in a similar manner to Jonah expecting the city of Nineveh to be wiped out, Kefa was surprised by the whole room filling with the Spirit before he reached his conclusion.

Cornelius and his family WANTED to know Messiah and were EAGER for all they could learn. The Father honored their desire for Him with His Spirit. It makes me wonder if this Roman family receiving the Spirit was more for Kefa’s benefit? He clearly struggled with — and later in Galatians 2 — continued to struggle with, that heavy yoke of the oral traditions.

In Acts 15, Kefa recounts this — again — and explains that Cornelius and his family were not Hebrew, rather they were Roman. The enemy of Israel. Yet, because they WANTED the Messiah of YHVH more, they received what Kefa and the others received. But the Yehudim in the room were also surprised because they were also still stuck in the oral tradition that instructed them that the nations were unworthy of the Father. Taught by the Pharisees and priests that the Hebrews were commanded not to associate with the nations. <Acts 10:28>

It’s an oral tradition and IS NOT in Torah. Kefa relates the story again BECAUSE the argument is whether or not the new believers need to go through the full process to become Yehudim (which includes taking on the ORAL TORAH — the traditions of the Pharisees) in order to receive the Spirit and be saved. The oral tradition — the oral Torah — is the YOKE to which Kefa is referring. He is telling the Jerusalem leadership that non-Yehudim DO NOT need to accept the oral traditions, rather to follow only what the Messiah taught in order to be saved and receive the Spirit. He witnessed it first hand!

→ What did Kefa witness in Cornelius and his family? Torah obedience in love — a desire to serve the Father according to His Will.

That is backed up by what they decide in the following verses. Everything they give to the nations as first steps are from Torah. These are the steps given to New believers so they can go into the synagogue on the Sabbath to hear the Word of Elohim — that is stated pointedly by Ya’akov in the text. <Acts 15:21>

In his letter to Corinth, Sha’ul gives what is used for relationship advice today. But let’s read it all.

2 Corinthians 6:14–18–7:1 — 14) Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. <Deut 22:10>For what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness? <1 John 3:4> And what fellowship has light with darkness? 15) And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya‛al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16) And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” <Lev 26:12; Exo 29:45; Jer 31:1; Ezk 37:27>

We all already know this, right? But he didn’t stop writing or change the subject. He fully explains what this means:

… 17) Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you. <Isa 52:11>

Well… Wait a second.

All those unclean laws were abolished, right? Before the letter to Corinth…

{deep sigh…}

No.

… 18) “And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says יהוה the Almighty [El Shaddai].” <Isa 43:6; Hos 1:10>

He quotes Torah and the Prophets to support that new believers should not tie themselves with others who are not believers — they should not YOKE themselves to those who are not YOKED to Messiah — LIKE — the unbelieving Pharisees preaching their man-made religion.

Do you see that?

It’s right there in the passage. While this certainly applies in relationships and marriage, IT APPLIES in ALL relationships and human interactions where there is a bond or connection established.

Why?

… 7:1) Having, then, these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting set-apartness [holiness] in the fear of Elohim.

Do you see again how the chapters and verses break up the concepts that the writer was originally attempting to convey? You have to flip the page, so to speak, to get to the conclusion of his statement. Having the promise of Messiah of salvation, having been set free from bondage to sin, and the penalty of death having been paid, we are to CLEANSE ourselves (through the power of the Spirit) from the defilements of the flesh and the world! THAT MEANS WE HAVE WORK TO DO! And we should be set apart in fear of Elohim.

Fear the one who can destroy the immortal soul. <Mt 10:28>

Galatians 4:28–5:6 — 28) And we, brothers, as Yitsḥaq was, are children of promise. {All believers IN Messiah are adopted — engrafted — into the house of Israel and given full inheritance to the promises.} 29) But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him born according to the Spirit, so also now.

Ishmael tormented and tortured little Isaac, the son of promise to Abraham and Sarah. The same is happening by these Pharisees who have given up the promise for their man-made religion of those accepting the yoke of Messiah and returning to the old path, the original faith given by the Father. They’ve been disinherited.

… 30) But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the female servant and her son, for the son of the female servant shall by no means be heir with the son of the free woman.” <Gen 21:10> 31) Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female servant but of the free woman.

Cast off the yoke of slavery to man-made religion and follow Messiah in the Spirit of Truth.

…5:1) In the freedom with which Messiah has made us free, stand firm, then, and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery…

… to the man-made religions of the world which rewrite, overwrite, and abolish His Word — which is sin. <Deut 4:2, 12:32; Prov 30:6; Rev 22:18>

He just connected the passage here with the passage in 2 Corinthians with the passage in Matthew. We have been set free from the bondage of sin — slavery to sin — this includes following man-made religions of the world that re-write and overwrite and abolish His Word. We are free from the heavy burdens of false worship, rituals, doctrines, and dogmas that some man made-up (or adopted from paganism). Now Sha’ul continues by explaining the man-made religion compared to the freedom from it we received in Messiah Yeshua.

… 5:2) See, I, Sha’ul, say to you that if you become circumcised {go through full conversion to man-made religion, Judaism in this case}, Messiah shall be of no use to you. 3) And I witness again to every man being circumcised {into Judaism the religion} that he is a debtor to do the entire Torah {both the Word of Elohim Torah AND the man-made oral traditions of the religion}. 4) You who are declared right {who declare yourselves right} by Torah have severed yourselves from Messiah, you have fallen from favor.

He’s going to say it next, but let me also state: Being obedient to Torah WITHOUT Messiah and the Spirit of Elohim to guide, leads to worthless, meaningless works without belief. Sha’ul covers this in tremendous detail in Romans.

… 5:5) For we, in Spirit, by belief, eagerly wait for the expectation of righteousness {something that must be done}. 6) For in Messiah יהושע neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength {it doesn’t matter if you are genetically Yehudi or Gentile to start}, but belief WORKING through love.

Here again, Sha’ul is addressing this same issue. It is significant to note that this letter was written AFTER the events of Acts 15, possibly immediate after, but after nonetheless. SO much false doctrine comes from this passage because there is no understanding of the problem Sha’ul is addressing, nor understanding of the time line.

Into the assembly in Galatia have sneaked Pharisees — NON-BELIEVING Pharisees. They come in and say something like this:

You want to be saved by the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and receive the plethora of promises given to His Chosen People. You don’t need that Yeshua-fella, just follow what we wrote and what we say. You must get your willie-wacked, study at the feet of a priest, and follow us in rote obedience to this other text…and some lip-service to the Tanak… we neither fully understand nor believe.

Okay, snarky hyperbole aside… These Pharisees were not even obedient to Torah, let alone their giant book of religious rules (Talmud and Mishna). How can I say that?

Deuteronomy 18:18–19 — 18) I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. <Act 3:22–26, 7:37> 19) And it shall be, the man who does not listen to My Words which He speaks in My Name, I require it of him.

Did you know that belief in Messiah Yeshua is a Torah commandment? Sha’ul did but the Pharisees sneaking into Galatia decided they didn’t want to follow the Word of Elohim. They wanted to follow their OWN man-made rules for religion. Doesn’t this sound familiar? They were doing what they thought was right in their own eyes rather than what the Word of Elohim commands. Losing possible new converts to their Judaism TO the original faith given by the Father meant losing power. Why does your church demand you follow its doctrine? Power. Nothing more, nothing less.

1 Timothy 6:1 — 1) Let those who are servants under a yoke regard their own masters worthy of all respect, lest the Name of Elohim and His teaching be blasphemed.

Whose yoke are believers under?

Who is the Master?

To WHOM must we regard worthy of all respect?

Is it the pope? Is it the Buddha? Is it Rev. Sun Yung Moon? Your pastor?

You?

WHO IS THE MASTER OF US, the servants?

It is significant to note that Sha’ul ALWAYS refers to himself as a servant of Messiah. In several translations it specifically states: bond servant, a more accurate translation. A bond servant is one who CHOOSES to remain a slave to the Master. So, even though the literal application of this verse applies to literal slaves — in which there were many believers — it ALSO applies SPIRITUALLY to ANYONE who CHOOSES to be a servant of the Most High and His Messiah.

Sha’ul was a Pharisee. He was a servant to Judaism and ALL the oral traditions AND the Torah. As he teaches in nearly every letter (sometimes he writes about other things, i.e.: Philemon), he explains that belief has a second component, the same component that Messiah laid out — obedience. Get used to this in my work, the Spirit Himself gave me these words:

Obedience is not the Narrow Path to the Kingdom of Elohim,

It’s what keeps us on the path.

It is important to note what follows this verse in 1 Timothy 6.

1 Timothy 6:3–6, 10 — 3) If anyone teaches differently and does not agree to the sound words, those of our Master יהושע Messiah, and to the teaching which is according to reverence, 4) he is puffed up, understanding none at all, but is sick about questionings and verbal battles from which come envy, strife, slander, wicked suspicions, 5) worthless disputes of men of corrupt minds and deprived of the truth, who think that reverence is a means of gain — withdraw from such.

Don’t hang out with those that teach ANYTHING that Messiah didn’t teach. Don’t listen to them, don’t go to their gatherings, and certainly don’t put any money into their pockets. Read on in the passage, but here is verse 10, just for you to think about:

… 10) For the love of silver {money} is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some, by longing for it, have strayed from the belief, and pierced themselves through with many pains.

Just put your money into the “faith bucket” today and receive blessings tomorrow! I’m looking for those seeking the blessing of Jeee-zuz to put in $1,000 today! I prophesy that the LORD will bring greater back to you than you put in.

If you are falling for this “prosperity gospel” garbage, I’m sorry that you have no discernment. I am sorry that you are sucker. I am sorry that you are yoked to your love of money and that through it you allow that desire for more of it to draw you into these scamming, false teaching, death leading, cultic sects.

If you love Messiah and the Father, and He provides you with what you need, as is promised, but you toss it away into some “faith bucket” expecting it to be doubled or tripled or whatever — out of greed — are you being faithful with what the Father has provided? No, you are not. You missed verse 6:

1 Timothy 6:6 — But reverence with contentment is great gain.

GREAT GAIN! Let’s bring this back around. Being yoked to the easy yoke of Messiah means that you will live your life in obedience to Him, not to some religion. Denomination is being yoked to the heavy burdens that are hard to bear of religion — it doesn’t matter what religion.

Oh… Don’t misunderstand. If you like your church, keep going, but start listening and weighing and measuring and most especially evaluating what is being taught. Does it truly line up to the Word of Messiah — the Word of Elohim? Or does it follow — first — the words of men, then pay only lip service to the Father and His Word? If the church doctrine changes the Word of Elohim to fit the doctrine, it’s a lie, false, fake, made-up.

Test everything against HIS WORD.