Christ’s Yoke of Grace

 Matthew 11:16-19,25-30; Romans 7:15-25

Jesus in Matthew 11 is bemoaning the Jews – especially the Pharisees who would not believe in him. They said that John the Baptist must have a demon. Jesus, the Son of Man, who did what they cried for – dance but when he came eating and drinking he was seen as a glutton, drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Jesus then gives thanks to God that the uneducated saw Christ for who he was – a reflection of God – while the “wise” Pharisees has it hidden from them.

Then comes a familiar verse: “Come to me those who are weary and carrying the heavy yoke of the law.” Yoke here is a metaphor for the law. But Christ’s grace is an easy yoke and his burden is light.

Paul in Romans 7 talks about the inner conflict he has between wanting to do what is right yet doing what he hates. He talks about the sin that lies in him in his flesh. When he wants to do good, evil lies close at hand making him do what he does not want. He tells about this conflict in his inmost self, calling himself a wretched person and asking who can rescue him from this body of death.

The answer comes in his thankfulness to God through Jesus Christ – one who died to sin in his place and created a new way. The law the Pharisees live by is no longer but now we have the law of grace. God through Jesus gives us power through the Holy Spirit over our sinful flesh, giving us the power to live the good.

No more do we have heavy yokes of following the law around our necks. For the yoke of grace gives one rest from this conflict. His yoke is easy and Christ’s burden is light. Amen.

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