Posted on 12/02/2019 2:35:58 AM PST by paladinkc
I have been seeking a closer relationship with my God, and there is something that I have been looking for answers on:
Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you- What is Jesus' yoke, and what does it look like, I have gotten better with sharing my stuff with him, but find myself continually frustrated at how easy it is to get back into old habits that are unhealty
Check out Dennis Prager’s Rational Bible, Genesis, and Exodus at Amazon. Being sold at cost now (approx. $18). You’ll learn a lot.
This says it best; without trying to 'justify' it's value with scripture.
As we've already seen in this thread; you WILL get 'helpful' instructions from all over the Christian spectrum.
MY advice (and it IS quite valuable! - smirk) is to read the NT and realize that each book was written to a different audience, keeping in mind that things written in one, to a specific group or individual, may not be applicable to all who read the text later.
Pray for understanding (it'll come) and allow that still, small voice (the Holy Spirit) to guide you.
Temptation comes to all of us; even those you might consider to be 'bible savvy'.
Sometimes the most 'bible savvy' can slip and fall; but ther are MULTITUDES of others who are around to help restore the fallen one again.
You are NOT in this alone; and you can see this by those just in this thread that have taken time to try to hep you on your journey!
Vaya con Dios!
Lots of great posts.
For a long time I had seen it as a yoke of burden - like an oxen yoke. I’ll look into another’s comment regarding new clothing - that is interesting. But even as an oxen yoke, I have learned and now view it as being yoked with Jesus. He is powerful, and will do most of the pulling. He is Lord, and I need to follow Him - so I need to give up control and trust in Him.
start with the internet. proverbs 26:4, 29:9, 2 timothy 2:23-24.. And psalms 37:7..
Several points.
Don’t confuse “sin” with “good and evil”.
Sin is missing the marl of His Plan.
Good and evil are value judgments, which tend to distract us from fellowship with Him.
Salvation is only as difficult as we make it.
After the sacrifice on the Cross, all the work for salvation has been performed.
Our only chore is to follow His Plan and perform the Great Commission.
Bibleoptics.com
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Thanks
I want to say thank you to all of you for being so gracious,learning a healthy perception of God as a loving father has been probably the largest step towards spiritual health that I could have ever taken in my Christian walk, which has been almost 40 years, Thanks to Jesus who is ever so patient and willing to walk with me on this journey! I am ever so grateful for all of you for your kindness, which is also a new experience for my being able to let myself have for the first time in my 50 years on this planet. i am so grateful that we have such a wonderful and loving God
“ Catholic” means “universal”. The Catholic faith is the one true faith, ordained by God himself, not by man. Other Christian denominations will clamor for your attention.
Catholicism is the true “destination” faith. Accept no substitute.”
...
Always about Catholicism, and never about Christ.
Churches don’t save. Salvation is in Christ alone.
Accept no false substitute.
Go to Him.
Read your Bible for your self. Don’t let anyone tell you what it says.
Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you- What is Jesus’ yoke, and what does it look like
From Life Application Bible that I often use:
“A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen. It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull. A ‘heavy laden’ animal has a big load to pull. A ‘heavy laden’ person may be burdened with 1) sin, 2) excessive demands of religious leaders (23:4; Acts 15:10), 3) oppression and persecution, or 4) weariness the search of God.”
“Jesus frees people from all these burdens. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God, not the end of all labor. A relationship with God changes meaningless toil into spiritual productivity and purpose.”
God bless you as you grow closer in your walk with the Lord.
+1
The Yoke Yeshua is talking about is the Torah. The Sages called it the yoke of Heaven. Read Psalm 1. It’s plain and simple that the man who loves God loves His Law. That’s why the Master told us in Matthew 5: “Think not that I have come to abolish the Torah, for I tell you that until Heaven and Earth pass away not one jot or tittle shall pass from the Torah.” So it’s simple; we study it, meditate on it, and observe it. That’s the Yoke of Heaven. The big difference, according to Yeshua is WHY you observe the commandments. It must not be a proud display of righteousness, but the sincere expression of a grateful heart. That’s why John said: “He who says that he abides in him ought to walk as He walked. Jesus walked out the Torah with a perfect observance. He says “Come, follow me!” May we draw near and walk close to him every day.
For clarity...catholic does not mean Roman Catholic.
IF you're searching for Bible based answers for a lot of your questions you will not find them in Roman Catholicism.
Your best option is to find a Bible believing church that places the Word of God as the source of Truth. Roman Catholicism has added their man-made "tradition" to the Word of God.
I guess mine would be a more literal interpretation... if two oxen are not equally yoked, it can cause a lot of pain to both of them and the effort far outweighs the gain because they constantly work against each other. With Jesus, we are equally yoked. He shares our pains and we feel his joy. We work better together rather than alone.
Thanks ... but, surprise .... this is standard LDS Christian philosophy
First, let’s define ‘yoke’:
A device that is used to connect two animals, such as oxen, together to allow them to do the same work, like pulling a load, at half the effort.
Then, let’s analyze what Jesus meant by that.
Jesus wants you to put all the load on Him...............
The Road Less Traveled,[7] published in 1978, It is, in short, a description of the attributes that make for a fulfilled human being, based largely on his experiences as a psychiatrist treating patients.
in the end he discusses God and religion, He acknowledges that Grace can only come from a higher power.
the book was a life changer
When you are born again of the Spirit, you now are complete to commune with God again. The problem now arises that the soul doesn't want to give up control to the Spirit. Fasting and prayer is just a demonstration that your Spirit has overruled your soul. Your soul says" I'm hungry", but you Spirit says "I will live on the Bread of God's Word". The war inside of us is due to the soul not wanting to do what God wants you to do. The Bible shows Gods plan for us and His character. As hard as it is to "Love your enemies", that is what He requires of His children. As Children being weened from breast milk, we will mistake God's "meat" as someone starving us so we fight back. If we find it difficult to live like Jesus did, we are still in rebellion and need further training to get off of "soulish" thinking. A soul is mind, will, and emotions. We must be trained to know that God is NOT interested in what we think or feel, but are to follow the Scriptures instructions. I've heard people brag that they follow their heart. God says our hearts are dark and desperately evil.
Jesus was so different from the worlds thinking that they killed Him. A Christian is maturing when we hear the world saying we are "different". Living the Christian life will get you noticed if you are doing it right. If you have been redeemed from sin, then you will look redeemed and stand out from the lost.
Living in sin is actually destructive and will end in disaster and pain. When a depressed, self destructive, person comes to the Lord, He/she, will find Joy and meaning for their life. But it will become plain that the world doesn't like that person because the world is following Satan.
The "yoke" Jesus is speaking of is just taking on His similitude in Love for God. "What would Jesus do" is more than a slogan. Paul said "Death is gain". Can you live in a manor that you would give your life for God? Most cannot even attend church regularly or give money to the poor. Many will skip church to watch the Cowboys loose again. He's proven His love for you. We must decide that we prefer to live forever with God than live for less than 100 years down here. What is coming is more important than anything we have down here. When you no longer find living on earth a heavy load, even a death sentence means nothing to you because you are about to meet the love of your life in eternity. The world will crush you if you let it. Our hope is in God.
As you have seen already many people get different things from this passage...So I'll take this opportunity to tell you what I see...And what I see is what it says...No need to interpret...But a little bible study is required...
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
First off, it is one of the most profound verses of scripture in the bible...There's not a human on the earth that can provide rest, for your soul...That statement has some doctrinal reference (for the Nation of Israel); it has some spiritual reference for the Christian and some practical application for ALL...
The bible is an amazing book...You'll not find another like it in existence...
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
What is the yoke, and how do you find it???
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
What is Jesus yoke??? What other yoke is there???
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
And what is that yoke??? That yoke is the 613 or so oracles of the Law given to Moses by God that his people must obey...And of course they were not successful so were required to provide blood sacrifices to atone for their failures, with no guarantee that that would be successful either...
Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mat 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
That was the yoke of bondage...The Pharisees demanded that everyone follow those oracles to a T while they themselves wouldn't even try...
Jesus has a new yoke...
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Rom_13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Gal_5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
The yoke is no longer the fear of hell for not living the law...Jesus removed that curse...Jesus' yoke is Love...If you love fully, you have fullfilled all that is in the law...That's why Jesus' yoke is easy...Jesus says to love your neighbor, love yourself, love your enemies, love God...The idea is you will not sin against those things you love...Therefore, the law is fulfilled in love...
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