Collinsville-Troy CHURCH OF CHRIST

My Yoke Is Easy

Renn Ferguson

In Matthew 11:28-30 our Lord extended this invitation,

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

First, notice the recipients of this invitation those "who labor and are heavy laden". In context, this would be those burdened by the Law and especially the traditions imposed on them by the religious leaders of the day. This would also be all those burdened by the weight and guilt of their sin. This is more applicable to us today. For the contentious heart, sin brings with it great grief. Jesus had earlier stated, "blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). The weight that accompanies sin can destroy one mentally, emotionally, and ultimately spiritual. It is those who experience this that Jesus invites to be with Him. Not the worldly person who has no conscientiousness of sin or the self-righteous who likewise does not feel the weight of his own imperfection.

Second, notice the promise of the invitation, rest. While those who desire to be pleasing to God often experience this burden Jesus promises relief. We do not have to be weighed down by our sin any longer. It is because of this relief that we can have certainty of our standing before God (1 John 5:13) and have confidence going into the day of judgment. We can live a life that is free from the guilt and weariness of sin. That is the promise and comfort of Jesus.

Third, notice the response to this invitation, we must take Jesus' yoke upon us. Initially this may seem contrary to the promise of relief. Yet it reminds us that though Jesus promises freedom there are certain responsibilities that come with that freedom. We must live for and serve Him all the days of our lives. Another aspect of this response to learn of Jesus. He is to be our master, and we are to be like Him (Matthew 10:25). On this occasion the two qualities that Jesus wants us to learn are His meekness and humility. He is not an overbearing master. That is why He can then say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. There is nothing that Jesus requires that is too difficult for us to do.

Let us praise God that we serve such a gracious and merciful Master!

Serrefine

Bob Prichard

13-year-old Evan O'Dorney of Danville, CA took home the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee championship by spelling the medical term serrefine (small forceps). Spelling bees have been around since before we were children, but seem to be getting new life these days, with the finals of the spelling bee making prime time on ABC. I applaud this, because correct spelling is having a hard time competing with email and text messaging short cuts. [RU4it?]

Jesus commented about spelling: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18). The jot referred to is the Hebrew letter yod, the smallest letters in the alphabet. The tittle referred to a small marking that distinguished some Hebrew letters from others. Both served significant purposes for understanding, despite being very small.

Jesus stressed the importance of the law and obedience to it, and that His life and ministry would fulfill the law. His death brought reconciliation. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:13-15). He fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law, just as He promised. His life and death spells hope for us—and that is a spelling bee we all need to win!

-Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016.
-Article obtained from bulletingold.com