A Wrong Yoke
A yoke was a wooden instrument that was hewn out in such a shape as to lay across the necks of two animals in order to link them together. When employed, the lead animal would determine which way to go, when to pull, and when to stop.
A yoke was a connecting device that made two into one. An unequal yoke was one where they would pair a mismatch of animals so that instead of teamwork, it would wear down the stronger animal due to having to do the work and pull the other animal as well. This is why the apostle Paul warned against being unequally yoked with unbelievers.
2Corintians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
When you become committed to the wrong person, instead of teamwork, it becomes a tug of war. Not only do you have the task ahead of you, but you have also allowed yourself to be yoked with someone who does not share the same desire or see that task as their purpose. This can also be true of an idea. A person can become committed to an idea that conflicts with what they should be about. This creates confusion and an inability to make the right choice, which immobilizes them and causes them to be stuck.
It is as Peter argued in Acts 15 when Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem over the issue of the Gentiles being told they must be circumcised and subject to the law of Moses. The Gentiles had the gospel preached to them, received it, and were baptized in the Holy Spirit, but men came along teaching them something that conflicted with the true gospel. So, Paul and Barnabas were sent to the Apostles and elders at the first church at Jerusalem to get it sorted out. A wrong yoke was being put on the Gentiles.
Acts 15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” 6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Peter saw it as testing God to put such a yoke on the neck of these new disciples. A yoke that neither they nor their fathers were able to bear. Being yoked to the law was death. None of them could ever truly keep it. The Law will always be stronger than anyone’s flesh. It will always out-pull you and wear you out to the point of giving up.
Thankfully, at the end of this deliberation, they came to the right conclusion and declared that keeping the law was not to be enforced, but rather, salvation would be by grace through faith in Jesus. They even wrote a letter to the Gentiles to break off this false yoke and free them in the gospel forever.
It is why Jesus said the following:
Matthew 12:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Which yoke are you under?
