Series: Renewal
Galatians 5:1 ESV
Galatians 4:8 ESV
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Romans 6:8 ESV
Romans 6:14 ESV
At yoke used on an animal is not generally a modern day tool that is used, so understanding the full implications of the use of a yoke can be difficult to understand.
By definition a yoke was “a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.” (Oxford Language Dictionary)
There is a definition of a yoke that a seamstress might use today that describes, “a part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and to which the main part of the garment is attached, typically in gathers or pleats.” (Oxford Language Dictionary)
Without knowing what it was called, I have made blouses that have a yoke.
The purpose of the yoke (both kinds) is to hold more than one thing together.
Galatians 5:1 tells us, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
In this case the Koine Greek term for yoke is “Zugo”and when Paul wrote Galatians it literally meant a yoke. In the first century a “zygós was – properly, a yoke; a wooden bar placed over the neck of a pair of animals so they can pull together” (https://biblehub.com).
Now to the point…why did Paul use the word “yoke” in terms of slavery?
First we have to remember that in that region of the world the Roman Government held a tight reign on life throughout the empire. There were slaves and the slave owners held a tight reign on their property. The Roman Government upheld the slave owners rights.
Even those who were free knew a slave had very few rights.
Because the words yoke or “zugo” and slavery or “douleias” in the Greek were words that were ‘power-packed with imagery’ Paul’s readers would have clearly understood the implications of his words.
Even the readers who were not slaves in the sense of being owned, the common man knew in that region they were (in a sense) slaves to the powerful Roman Government.
Paul in particular probably would have had regular dealings with the Romans.
The letter to the church in Galatia would have been written sometime between 48-55 A.D. Galatia was a Roman province under Roman rule. Paul’s audience comprised descendants of the Celts and converts of paganism. Paul made reference to that in Galatians 4:8 when he wrote, “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.“
The new converts would not have had knowledge of the Hebrew life Paul and the followers of the people of the Way were taught from birth.
They were starting from scratch.
They would however have understood Roman rule and slavery.
It seems like even free men were ever aware of the hold the Roman Empire had on everyone throughout the empire so Paul was reminding them to stand firm. He wanted them to know they belonged to Jesus now and the Spirit of the living God would not fail them.
Paul’s reference to the yoke of slavery reminded them that fear was part of their old life.
He was telling them their new life in Christ was indeed a NEW life.
I have to admit, many centuries later even those of us who have relied on Jesus for a very long time can get caught up in a similar yoke of slavery. Today that looks very different but it still exists.
We can be enslaved to anything that turns us from the reminder of God’s grace. Really anything that causes us to think we are unworthy. Say, if a person seeks to put you down (which is their way of elevating their ego) that can eat at us and cause us misery. According to Paul’s words when that happens we need to remember we have been set free by God’s grace and we need to recognize that is part of our old life.
Our new life in Christ gives us a very different narrative. We are free from sin.
We need to turn to God and stand firm. We can ask Jesus to cover us with His grace.
Matthew 11:28-30 reminds us what Jesus said about His yoke, “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.”
Romans 6:8 tells us, “we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”
So, live with Christ!
Paul goes on to write in Romans 6:14, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
So, receive grace. There are many schools of thought about submit once, submit again, and I’m not here to argue which is right or best. I only know what I know and it’s been my experience that I can get caught up in life and in what life throws at me. When that happens, I’ve learned to stop and receive what God has for me in that moment.
I need to remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 11…come to me. Then I realize I am carrying a heavy load. I am carrying the load. In that instant (in one second) when I lean into God I receive God’s rest, I am no longer carrying the load.
Then I am able to connect to a different yoke. This yoke is not a yoke of slavery, it’s a yoke that connects me to Jesus. When I connect to Jesus, I am set free from carrying the heavy burden myself.
Now…Jesus carries it FOR me. The yoke of grace that connects us to Jesus was there all along; we just need to remember it’s there and let Jesus carry it.
Spiritual Practice: Yoke of Grace
Connect to Jesus. Receive/remember the yoke of Grace.
In God, Deborah
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