His Yoke Is Easy

In Matthew 11 Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” We easily perceive this to be a loving invitation, but many of us might struggle a little to clearly understand what Jesus means when he says “my yoke is easy; my burden is light”. What is Jesus offering us? Please enjoy this old hymn and then let’s talk about Jesus’ invitation.

What is a yoke?

A yoke is a shaped wooden crosspiece bound to the necks of a pair of oxen — or occasionally to horses. It is held on the animals’ necks by an oxbow. The yoke allows the pair of animals to combine their strength to do work together, such as pulling a plow or farm wagon. We say a pair of animals with such a collar are “yoked”.

Animals yoked together can do more work as a pair than they would if independent of each other. Sometimes for training, a younger animal would be paired with a larger, older animal.

Jesus’ yoke

In life, everyone is yoked to something — or someone. We don’t get to choose whether we will serve a master. But we CAN choose the master. Some people are always trying to win approval from someone. Some serve their work. Some serve their children. Some serve their spouse. Some serve only themselves, but even then, are bound to some set of rules or values, either to serve pleasure, serve nature or some other task master.

When it comes to choosing our yoke, Jesus’s words light up like a beautiful sunrise. He offers that we may take his yoke, that it is easy and light. What does that mean? To pair up with Jesus means we gain power, strength and instruction enabling us to go from death to life, from being needy to having something to give to others, from living in fear to living in confidence, from suffering hurtful relationships without hope to having a way to build healthy relationships, from suffering painful home lives to building peaceful ones, and so much more.

When we take on the things of the Lord our lives become meaningful. In Jesus Christ we are able to throw off the yoke of fear — fear of death — fear of rejection — fear of life — afraid, sometimes, of our own shadows. Jesus watches and takes care of those who take his yoke — his way of living life.

Good yokes, bad yokes

The Bible tells of believers that were “fellow laborers”. Paul called Timothy his fellow laborer. Have you ever considered that when you do the work of the Lord like Paul and Timothy did, that you, too, are in Paul and Timothy’s circle of fellow laborers? It is a group that extends from generation to generation, and is not limited only to people living at the same time. If you are a servant of God, think about the team you belong to: Paul, Peter, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila, St. Francis, Martin Luther, Corrie ten Boom, Billy Graham — the list goes on and on. What wonderful company to share yokes with!

On the other hand, the Bible warns not to be unequally yoked with the wrong people, things or ideas. We need to pay attention and be selective of who — or what — we allow to influence us. Years ago “Leave It To Beaver” was a popular TV show. I recall the kid star being all excited with youthful exuberance about something. He was trying to get his mom onboard with the idea, saying, “It’s really cool”. Mom was not buying and wisely replied, “I don’t know, son. Sometimes “cool” means “not so hot.” It seems the Corinthians were thinking something was cool that God thought was “not so hot”. They heard God’s view by way of Paul who warned the Corinthians not be be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. He asked them, “For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

When it comes to choosing friends, spouses, work, entertainment and other important relationships, we do well to check to see if what we are trying to yoke ourselves to fits with the yoke Jesus offers. The yoke of Jesus is easy. The burden is light. With Jesus our lives make sense. Anything less than Jesus’s yoke will be less for our lives, and less honor to The One who has — and continues to — devote everything so we can have life with purpose. Life everlasting. Life to the fullest. His yoke is for our blessing. It is rest to our souls. What a wonderful savior! His burden is light. His yoke is easy!

God bless you lots!
Dale R.


Download this songsheet

LYRICS: His Yoke Is Easy (1898)
Text: Daniel S. Warner (1842-1895) and Dale Reichel (2021)
Tune: Elliott Warren (1867-1951)

I walked the road of this world and found
Its promises deceive;
But Jesus offered me higher ground
If only I would believe.

Chorus:
His yoke is easy, His burden is light,
He loves me so, He loves me so;
Serving Jesus is my delight,
The greatest joy I know.

Jesus shows us the best way to go,
We’ll never walk alone;
His streams of love forever flow,
He watches over his own.

My mind recoiled before the cross,
And Satan whispered there,
“No hope for you here, just pain and loss,
His yoke is hard to bear.”

Jesus gave me a brand new life,
When I was lost in sin;
He calmed my storms of fear and strife,
When He came to live within.

Now Jesus is Lord and His peace is mine
He won me with His love;
I’ll serve Him all my years of time,
And live with Him above.

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Song and lesson first posted August 22, 2021. Reposted April 23, 2023.

10 Replies to “His Yoke Is Easy”

  1. Dan R

    Hi Dale,
    Thanks for the blessing today as I listened to this great tune…very well done brother!!
    Thanks for all that you do.
    Love You………

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Dan, thanks for giving the songs a listen. Always a delight to hear from you. It’s a fun song. As I re-visited the song, I could not remember what I had said in the article. It was as if I was reading it for the first time. It was better writing than I expected. And I really like the song, too. It is not a dark, serious hymn … but it still carries a good message. Thanks for your note. God bless you lots … – D.

      Reply
  2. Linda Youmans

    Thank you Dale, I always enjoy the truth of God’s word that you share not only in song but in the teaching you present. What a generous and faithful heart you have to give it so freely. God bless you. This sure did bless me as I started my day this morning. Much love to you and Cathy!

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Linda, Thank much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me. God bless you! — Dale R.

      Reply
  3. Julia M Witchard

    Good early morning Mr dale, Thanks for reposting this amazing sermon and song again, if we didn’t get it the first time, try the second time, it’s still amazing, ….,, HIS YOKE IS EASY., HE HAS ALREADY PAID THE PRICE, HE STRETCHED OUT HIS ARMS AND DIED,,..,THE ULTIMATE PRICE, … Now all we have to do, is sit at .,. HIS FEET STEPS AND LEARN OF HIM,. , Again thanks for reposting this amazing sermon..,.,,.,,,. MEMORIES ARE AMAZING,,.,,.,… blessings upon blessings goes out to u both with lots of 💕

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Julia, Thanks for your note. Thanks for hanging in there with me with your encouragement to do these songs. I agree … this one was worth repeating, and it is a good message to recall. God bless you lots — D.

      Reply
  4. Julia Witchard

    Good evening mr dale,…all i can say is,…GLORY, GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH, …U JUST PREACHED A SERMON THAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE PUT IT THE WAY THAT U DID..YES , WE ARE TO TAKE HIS YOKE AND LEARN OF HIM..BECAUSE LIKE U SAID , WHEN WE DO ,WE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, OUR FATHER JESUS IS REALLY COUNSELING U, THROUGH OUR FATHER HOLY SPIRIT 🙏 ….HE HAS U AND CATHY IN THE PALM OF HIS HANDS, I HEAR U , LOUD AND CLEAR, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME….U AND CATHY HAVE WORK TO DO, SO PLEASE GET IT OUT THERE LIKE PAUL DID, AND THAT SONG IS AMAZING, I WISH U COULD PUT THIS SERMON , SOME WHERE ,THAT THE WHOLE WORLD COULD READ IT, BLESSINGS UPON BLESSINGS 🙏 GOES OUT 🙏 🙌 ❤ TO U AND YOUR FAMILY 👪…………MUCH BLESSINGS 🙏, AND ALL WAYS REMEMBER HOW MUCH OUR FATHER JESUS LOVES YOU 💘,…

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Julia, I love your comment, especially, “Always remember how much Jesus loves us”. We never need to feel lonely or without help. God bless you lots! – Dale R.

      Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Brother Frank, thanks for your kind words. I’m enjoying passing these songs along and hoping they can be put to use by others who enjoy making joyful noise, too! God bless you lots – Dale R.

      Reply

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