My burden is light.

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Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
...

I have understood that it means, we don’t have massive requirements what we must do to follow him. And even if we have difficult job, he will make it so that we can bear it and so it is easier.
 
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David Hunter

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Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What do you think that means? When you look at Martin Luther King, Maximilian Kolbe and countless others like them it appears that their burden wasn't so light.

The only thought I have on it really is that it shows that we do have a burden, IOW God has work for us to do.

God does have work for us to do. The way I look at that verse/passage is that compared to working for the world, working for Jesus is a whole lot easier. Sure, you may be persecuted and go through tough times, but it's bearable with the Holy Spirit. Where, if you're living for the world it's all on you, no help from the Holy Spirit... Now that sounds like a heavy burden.
 
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Jesse Dornfeld

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I think to find the real answer to this question, you have to look up all the passages that talk about "yoke" in the OT. I've done this before. What I learned is that there are many passages in the Bible that talk about the "yoke" of Israel becoming "heavy" because of sin. It was like a curse that their yoke was heavy. It's much the same as when Adam sinned and God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden and then God took away blessings from them. For Adam it was that the ground would be hard to till and he would have to work it all his life. It's the same with how the word yoke is used in the OT. So Jesus is saying, "Come to me, you sinners, and I will give you rest from your sin and restore you."
 
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Jesse Dornfeld

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Here are all the passages that talk about "yoke" in the OT:

Genesis 27:40, Leviticus 26:13, Numbers 19:2, Deuteronomy 21:3, Deuteronomy 28:48, 1 Samuel 6:7, 1 Samuel 11:7, 1 Kings 12:4, 1 Kings 12:9, 1 Kings 12:10, 1 Kings 12:11, 1 Kings 12:14, 1 Kings 19:19, 1 Kings 19:21, 2 Chronicles 10:4, 2 Chronicles 10:9-11, 2 Chronicles 10:14, Job 1:3, Job 42:12, Isaiah 9:4, Isaiah 10:27, Isaiah 14:25, Isaiah 47:6, Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 58:9, Jeremiah 2:20, Jeremiah 5:5, Jeremiah 27:8, Jeremiah 27:11-12, Jeremiah 28:2-4, Jeremiah 28:11, Jeremiah 28:14, Jeremiah 30:8, Lamentations 1:14, Lamentations 3:27, Ezekiel 30:18, Ezekiel 34:27, Hosea 10:11, Hosea 11:4, and Nahum 1:13
 
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chilehed

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Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What do you think that means? When you look at Martin Luther King, Maximilian Kolbe and countless others like them it appears that their burden wasn't so light.

The only thought I have on it really is that it shows that we do have a burden, IOW God has work for us to do.
It's important to remember the culture this language arose in. An easy yoke is one that's well-fitted to the animal wearing it: no voids or hotspots, it distributes the load evenly. Like a perfectly fitted pair of shoes.

God's yoke for us is like that: perfectly suited to us individually for the work he intends us to do, and for our spiritual growth. That doesn't mean the work will be a pleasant experience.
 
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public hermit

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It's important to remember the culture this language arose in. An easy yoke is one that's well-fitted to the animal wearing it: no voids or hotspots, it distributes the load evenly. Like a perfectly fitted pair of shoes.

God's yoke for us is like that: perfectly suited to us individually for the work he intends us to do, and for our spiritual growth. That doesn't mean the work will be a pleasant experience.

This is really helpful. So, it's as if Jesus is saying, God created you to live this way. This way is fitting or appropriate for the creature that you are. Or, something like that?
 
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fhansen

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I'd say that believing that there is a God who loves you is a great comfort but it also carries the responsibility to reflect that love out into the world. This could end up costing you your life as it did for the two people mentioned in the OP so there can be a very heavy price to pay. It seems a lot easier in many ways to live a self-centred or a detached kind of life even though that's not so personally rewarding.
Our burdens are different, but Christ is there to help shoulder, and so lighten them, even when they're heavier than the burdens of others. It's written that Stephen's face was as that of an angel when they accused him, and he forgave as they were stoning him. Other martyrs in later years were said to have a peace, and would even pray or sing while being martyred.
 
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chilehed

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This is really helpful. So, it's as if Jesus is saying, God created you to live this way. This way is fitting or appropriate for the creature that you are. Or, something like that?
Yeah, something like that.
 
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TJB

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Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What do you think that means? When you look at Martin Luther King, Maximilian Kolbe and countless others like them it appears that their burden wasn't so light.

The only thought I have on it really is that it shows that we do have a burden, IOW God has work for us to do.

Very interesting observation, I've always felt that paradox too. Maybe as you get drawn close to God, you get an inner strength which then also brings you into conflict with all sorts of mediocrities and resistances. IF sin also manifests itself in a 'structural' way as well as being personal (i.e in society/groups/politics and the church sometimes) we are called to resist it ..... but with inner calm and strength...

Does that make sense in any way?
 
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Mink61

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Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What do you think that means? When you look at Martin Luther King, Maximilian Kolbe and countless others like them it appears that their burden wasn't so light.

The only thought I have on it really is that it shows that we do have a burden, IOW God has work for us to do.

Reading the whole passage: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light". Matthew 11: 28-30.

To me, this passage is about giving "it" to Jesus. Giving him our "burdens", that is, our worries, concerns, anxieties, unease, difficulties, troubles, and problems to him. Our mental and emotional "angst", so to speak.

Whether our worry is about the condition of the world and/or our own personal lives, we can rest in Jesus knowing that HE can handle it.
 
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Hmm

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Does that make sense in any way?

Yes it does.

IF sin also manifests itself in a 'structural' way as well as being personal (i.e in society/groups/politics and the church sometimes) we are called to resist it ..... but with inner calm and strength...

I think, too, that Christians should speak up about political values. Jesus was very political and we are to follow Him we need to share His concern for justice and the poor and weak. That's bound to bring us into conflict with all sides in political arguments because no side, left or right, can claim God as always being on its side.
 
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Religiot

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Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What do you think that means? When you look at Martin Luther King, Maximilian Kolbe and countless others like them it appears that their burden wasn't so light.

The only thought I have on it really is that it shows that we do have a burden, IOW God has work for us to do.
My own experience is that Christ's burden is light compared to the burdens I did bear before I turned my life to Him: He took the heavy stuff off my back, and put it on His, and then took me by the hand and lifted me up off the ground, and put His arm over my shoulder... ...His burden is light.

He saved me. And now I tell others about Him, and I love to glorify Him.

His commands are not burdensome, but the counsels of my greatest friend, my Maker, my Savior, my Master.

I've served others in the past, like my children: changing their diapers, and feeding them, and bathing them, and making sure they had everything they needed, was pure pleasure, because I loved them.

The Lord gave me my children, and my life: to serve Him is more pleasurable, even to the point of death; for I would die for my children, how much more for Him who gave them to me.

His gifts are good, because He is good, and on top of all of that, He paid for all of my errors, and all of my evils, this all, by giving His life.

I love Him.

I long to meet Him.

His burden is light.
 
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Mr. M

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For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
If we back up to verse 27 to better establish context, we see that the Lord is speaking in
regards to coming to the Father, for seeking reconciliation. Does Christ place any burden on
us in that regard?

Matthew 11:
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.
26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son
except the Father.
Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one
to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

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.

There are burdens in life for every man, woman, and child (obey your parents)

The world places burdens of difficulty on us. The enemy tries to steal our peace.
But a burden we must carry in order to approach the throne of God? [easy & light]
We have access in humility, and whatever burdens we do have, we cast them upon the Lord.
1 Peter 5:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
 
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