Command 25: Take My Yoke
Study Question
Q: The Law of God prohibits the yoking of two animals of different sizes and strengths, such as an ox and a donkey. God also forbids the yoking of two people with opposing natures, such as a believer and an unbeliever. Why then, would God yoke a weak and faulty human being with a powerful and holy God? (See Deuteronomy 7:2–3, 22:10, and II Corinthians 6:14.)
A: The requirement for two beasts of burden to work in harmony under a yoke has caused the phrase “being yoked together” to be used metaphorically in describing an individual’s voluntary submission to another, as in the “yoke” of marriage.
The Law of God forbids the yoking of two animals of different sizes and strengths, because to do so would place the smaller, weaker animal in a position of constant pain and pressure. (See Deuteronomy 22:10.)
For this reason, Scripture admonishes believers not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (II Corinthians 6:14). Such a yoking would be unworkable bondage and wearisome servitude, since the nature of the believer is “unequal” to the nature of an unbeliever.
However, as we put on Christ’s yoke, we surrender our wills to His will. The resulting attitude is meekness: the yielding of our rights to God, putting our strength under His control. It is significant that Jesus describes Himself as “meek and lowly in heart” Matthew 11:29 and invites us to learn of Him. (See Matthew 11:29.)
God wants every believer to learn His ways and to develop Christ-like character. When we learn the ways of God, we become strong in the Lord and are no longer “unequally yoked,” for the “way of the LORD is strength to the upright” (Proverbs 10:29).
If we are yoked to Jesus, we will learn His ways as we yield to His leadership. As we are conformed to the image of Christ through an intimate knowledge of Him and His ways, we will learn by experience what is that “good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).
Your Thoughts
Have you thought of another study question and answer related to this command? Share it with us.
This study question and answer is adapted from the Commands of Christ, Series 4, book. For further study, this book may be purchased from our Online Store.