Yokes return for a second look this week. They represent a relationship. Last week, it was the yoke of punishment in Jeremiah. This week Jeremiah has a yoke of covenant while Jesus claims an easy yoke with a light burden. Really, Jesus? That needs some consideration.
Last week, we read Jeremiah 28 when the Babylonians had completed their conquest and were carting away people and treasure. This week, we step back before the conquest to when the Babylonians were threatening in Jeremiah 5. The yoke to which Jeremiah refers this week is something different.
In chapter 5, the prophet notes how the yoke for God's people has been broken and their bonds torn off. The yoke represents God's covenant expectations for God's people.
Jeremiah is told to see if he can find just one righteous individual in the whole place. We hear (with some richly descriptive language) how all of the people have made a terrible mess of things.
On the other hand, Jesus memorably describes his yoke as easy and its burden light. That sounds really nice, but have you read the Sermon on the Mount? Do you remember the instructions to the disciples in mission from last week? Nothing is easy about any of that.
How is Jesus' yoke different from the yoke laid upon the people by the religious establishment of his today? For that insight and more, check out the sermon video below, and note the downloads below the video panel.
Last week, we read Jeremiah 28 when the Babylonians had completed their conquest and were carting away people and treasure. This week, we step back before the conquest to when the Babylonians were threatening in Jeremiah 5. The yoke to which Jeremiah refers this week is something different.
In chapter 5, the prophet notes how the yoke for God's people has been broken and their bonds torn off. The yoke represents God's covenant expectations for God's people.
Jeremiah is told to see if he can find just one righteous individual in the whole place. We hear (with some richly descriptive language) how all of the people have made a terrible mess of things.
On the other hand, Jesus memorably describes his yoke as easy and its burden light. That sounds really nice, but have you read the Sermon on the Mount? Do you remember the instructions to the disciples in mission from last week? Nothing is easy about any of that.
How is Jesus' yoke different from the yoke laid upon the people by the religious establishment of his today? For that insight and more, check out the sermon video below, and note the downloads below the video panel.
| 07-09-17-ff-answers.pdf |
| 07-09-17-weighing_yokes_and_burdens.pdf |