Two Yokes

Yokes are intended to equalize the weight of a heavy load between a team of animals. It serves them well as long as the animals don’t rebel under the yoke.

God told the prophet Jeremiah to fashion a yoke around his own neck as an illustrated sermon to show the people of Israel that they soon would be under the yoke of the King of Babylon because of their sin. He warned them not to listen to their false prophets who would say that all was well and that God would not put them under the foreign King’s yoke, but He did just that, and then dealt harshly with the false prophet.

But, in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus speaks of another kind of yoke. He said, “Come unto me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you..." He meant that we can exchange the heavy yoke of sin and shame for His yoke of rest and peace, for His yoke is easy to bear and His burden is light.