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Oxen in Scripture
I have received several inquiries concerning these words that Jesus spoke to the weary and burdened, so I will attempt to address those questions here. I am not a pastor, nor have I studied Greek, but I do love Jesus Christ, and I trust that he will help me with this project. I have used 'Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance, the Expanded Edition', AMG Publishers, Copyright 2004, to look up the meaning in Greek of the words in Matthew 11: 28-30, and to find other verses that used that same Greek word. The words of Matthew 11: 28-30 are in bold print, Greek definitions are in brackets, related verses are in italics, and I have underlined any words in the related verse that use the same Greek word as Matthew 11: 28-30. Following are the results of my research: Click here for a discussion on: Two Different Yokes: Two Different Masters.
Come unto me, (come here, also used as an imperative, come ‘hither!’) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Matthew 25: 34 all ye that labor (load up, overburdened with ceremony or spiritual anxiety) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6: 28-29 Now Jacob’s well was there.
and are heavy laden (to load up as a vessel or animal, something carried as the cargo of a ship, to overburden with ceremony or spiritual anxiety, to load up with freight, with a task or service – in the verse below, 'burdens' is the same Greek word, and 'lade' uses this same word as its root) And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne (oppressive, hard to lift), and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Luke 11: 46 and I will give you rest (repose, exemption, refreshment). And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. Revelations 14: 13 Take (lift up or away, raise, sail away, weigh anchor) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 16: 24 my yoke upon you (to join by a yoke, coupling, servitude, a law or obligation), Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5: 1 and learn of me (to learn in any way); It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. John 6: 45 for I am meek (gentle, humble, mild – the following verses use a Greek word that comes from this base word) Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. Titus 3: 1-2
and lowly (depressed, humiliated in circumstances or disposition) He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. Luke 1: 52-53
in heart (the thoughts or feelings, the mind): Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14: 27 and ye shall find (to find, literally or figuratively, find, get, obtain, perceive, see) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7: 14 He that findeth his life shall lose it:
rest (intermission, recreation, repose, exemption, refreshment) And the smoke up their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Revelations 14: 11 Here is the patience of the saints:
unto your souls (breath, spirit) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Hebrews 10: 38-39 That the trial of your faith,
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
For my yoke (to join by a yoke, coupling, servitude, a law or obligation) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5: 1 is easy (employed in a useful manner or morals, to furnish what is needed) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth to repentance? Romans 2: 4 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;
and my burden is light (easy, push as with wind, oars, smaller in size, quantity, age, quality). For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
If we sin becomes a slave to sin, bound by the oppressive yoke of the Law; trying to be good enough to please; afraid of God’s judgment if we are not good enough. But every effort to create our own righteousness is sin. No sinner is allowed in heaven. Since Adam and Eve, no one is perfect. No one is holy. No one is righteous. And because God is holy, he will not allow sinners in Heaven, but condemns all sinners to death. And since all people everywhere sin, all are condemned to death; condemned to Hell. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3: 23 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:
But God loves us and doesn’t want us to die! The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3: 9 In fact, he loves us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth and do what no one else could do. Jesus is the Son of God and totally divine, but he is also the Son of man and totally human. Yet, although Jesus was human, he lived a perfect life, satisfying the requirements of the Law, he pleased God and did not have to die. But because he was perfect, he could do something no other human could do. He could pay God’s penalty of death for all those sinners who did have to die. And because Jesus loved his Father, he did everything his Father wanted. So Jesus died so that we could live. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1: 29 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus:
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Thank God that he has provided a way for us to be forgiven of all our sin and free from its bondage! Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But no man is justified by law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is ever one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Sprit through faith. Galatians 3: 6- 14 Now everyone who believes that God sent Jesus as a sacrifice for sin and that his death was for them, is forgiven of their sins and becomes God’s own child. God becomes their Father. And the really great part to this story is, that Jesus didn’t stay dead. Because Jesus was God, he rose again. He’s alive! And when we believe in him, he comes to live his perfect life with us and in us, freeing us from the yoke of trying to be good enough to please God. Because Jesus who lives in us is perfect and pleasing to God, we are perfect and pleasing to God. Because Jesus who lives in us died once, and now lives for eternity with God in heaven, we died with him and now live for eternity with God, beginning here on earth and continuing on into heaven. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20: 31 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
The Easy Yoke, with a light burden, offered to us: We have a new Master, One whose only burden he gives us is to believe in him. Believe that Jesus’ death completely satisfies God’s need for holiness, no matter what someone has done; believe that Jesus’ death completely pays for the death penalty of every sin in the whole world; believe that because God loves us, this gift of life is free to everyone who believes. We have a new yoke, one of following Jesus out of love for him. Like Jesus obeyed his Father because he loved him, out of love for the One who died to set us free, we can choose to follow him and his plan for our lives. This is our new yoke and it is not heavy, because through Jesus, God is completely pleased with us; we are no longer under the Law; we no longer have to try to be perfect! And God freely gives us everything we need to follow him for he gives us his Holy Spirit to live inside us, empowering us to serve him!
The Master Law no longer has any power over us, for we are righteous through our faith in Jesus Christ. We no longer enslaved to sin, to trying to be perfect on our own; no longer under in bondage to fear of death. We have died through Jesus. The penalty has been paid. We are now living forever in the sunshine of our Father’s pleasure; beloved children of the Almighty God.
Through faith we have been nailed to the cross with Jesus, and all our sins with us. Through faith, we have died and been buried with Jesus. And through faith, we have risen again and live through Jesus. Our sins are gone, and we are holy and righteous. When God looks at us, he sees his righteous and beloved Son living in us, and his Son’s blood covering us, and God is well pleased. And through faith, we are empowered to follow Jesus through God’s Holy Spirit who lives in us who believe. Glory to the Father and to Jesus Christ his Son!
*** After you believe in Jesus, do not go back to the old master, trying to earn God’s approval through what you do. As you have begun by faith in Jesus, continue to live by faith in Jesus. Take his yoke on you and learn from him. Learn who he is and let him make you more and more like him. even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2: 16 *** After you believe in Jesus, do not try to live on your own without any master. Only Jesus is the way to his Father. no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14: 6 I am the vine, ye are the branches:
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it;
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalms 5: 11
But unto you that fear my name
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| Our oxen Website: |
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| Our other websites: |
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| Our Farm | Cozy Country Cabin | Mural Mural on the Wall | More Art by Gloria | About the Artist | Drawing Lessons |
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