January Series Study Guide - Day 5

Picture oxen tied together with a yoke, plowing a field. What does it make you think of? What emotions does this image stir inside of you? If you are anything like me, it makes me think of hard labor and work. It seems kind of ironic that Jesus uses this metaphor as a picture of our relationship to him.

Read Matthew 11:28-30

Q: How does this passage relate to my relationship with Jesus?

Q: The yoke teaches us that we weren’t designed to carry the yoke on our own. Jesus is the one that joins our yoke. What would be/is your current burden? How do you normally try and relieve your burdens?

Q: The yoke teaches us that we are called to learn from his leading. How does Jesus describe his teaching in these verses? How would this of compared with the teaching of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day? How do you interpret His teachings today?

Q: The yoke teaches us that Jesus does the hard work with and for us. There is a bit of irony, the yoke was an instrument for work, what rest is Jesus talking about? If you replaced the word rest with rejuvenation, how would it change your perception of this passage? How do you keep yourself from doing things for Jesus but rather doing things with Jesus?