His easy yoke and the winepress

[Age-enduring]

This has been building as a thought-feeling for a while.

I'm wondering how Jesus could say His yoke is easy and His burden light and yet there is a mandate for partaking in His sufferings, and we perhaps have an appointment with the winepress (Gethsemane) also.  Is He mixing metaphors, as in spirit versus flesh?  Thoughts appreciated.

[trettep]

I believe those translations are not very accurate.  Here are those translations:

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

I think it would be better to say:

"For my yoke is good, and my burden is light"

The yoke is NOT easy. 

[Dandelion]

Off the top of my head.....which, I suppose is a dangerous place to be................ :laughing7: I would say this:

Yes, we must take up our cross, and yes, the world will be daunting, but, He will carry us. Though it seems like a contradiction, there is not really one.

The world is difficult, but we have God with us.

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


Though what we must bear as Christians is difficult, the Spirit is with us, to carry us, and Jesus has conquered the world.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33


...3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time. 4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world's perspective, and the world listens to them....
1 John 4:3 -5

...29He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary....Isaiah 40:29 - 31

...17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and He will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19In a little while, the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live....John14:17 - 19

...9You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. 10Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' 11"Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish....Isaiah 41:9 - 11

...19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19 -20

My  :2c:, Age-enduring.

D.   

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Hi Age-enduring, good to see you here...... :banana:

Just my  :2c:, but I think it was about 3 years ago that I had a night vision of being lifted up by the Spirit and placed full body into a wood winepress. I didn't know it was a winepress, but I thought it was and looked it up and found one nearly identical from the time of Christ.  Blessings....

[Ross]

This has been building as a thought-feeling for a while.

I'm wondering how Jesus could say His yoke is easy and His burden light and yet there is a mandate for partaking in His sufferings, and we perhaps have an appointment with the winepress (Gethsemane) also.  Is He mixing metaphors, as in spirit versus flesh?  Thoughts appreciated.

I.M.O this is indeed about spirit and flesh. The spirit can be willing but the flesh is weak. Paul talks about this in Romans 7.
The key, for me, seems to be acknowledging that when Jesus says,
    ' The yoke is easy and the burden is light,'
He is pointing out that the cross covers every aspect of our life, spiritual and physical. He has paid in full so there is no failure.

Romans 8 says there is NO condemnation to them In Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin, and of death.
Romans 8;12-14 " So then, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh you will surely die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For it is those who are led by the spirit of God who are sons of God."

Knowing that secure position is inspirational, not negative.

[marie glen]

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


    :Chinscratch: Very interesting thread! which made me look up the verse(s)

Matthew 11:29-30 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

29 take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls,
30 for my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.'

easy/good (as mentioned above by trettep) and light/bouyant G1645 - http://studybible.info/strongs/G1645

[ http://studybible.info/IGNT/Matthew%2011:30 ]


I think He was comparing grace to law..

Whereas "picking up our cross" daily and carrying may be a little more difficult.. the dying to self.. and persecutions, and the possibility of persecution...

...yet along with that I can't help remembering, as encouragement, how the Philadelphians ("brotherly Love") are ones who will be kept safe from the hour of trial.. (As John apostle of love was?) And God being Love, the more and the closer we draw to Him the more we will love? (And perhaps perceive fierce persecution as it approaches so that day not come upon us as surprise? and snare?)

I know there's a tendency to highlight the possibility of fierce persecutions, but I also know there's lots of verses advising not allowing the day to surprise, and thus, snare one..?

And as Dandelion posted - :thumbsup:

Off the top of my head.....which, I suppose is a dangerous place to be................ :laughing7: I would say this:

Yes, we must take up our cross, and yes, the world will be daunting, but, He will carry us. Though it seems like a contradiction, there is not really one.

The world is difficult, but we have God with us.

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


Though what we must bear as Christians is difficult, the Spirit is with us, to carry us, and Jesus has conquered the world.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33


...3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time. 4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world's perspective, and the world listens to them....
1 John 4:3 -5

...29He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary....Isaiah 40:29 - 31

...17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and He will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19In a little while, the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live....John14:17 - 19

...9You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. 10Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' 11"Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish....Isaiah 41:9 - 11

...19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19 -20

My  :2c:, Age-enduring.

D.   

    :thumbsup: :cloud9:

[Dandelion]

Thank you, Marie.

Yes, the comparison of law and grace. I like that.

D.

[Ross]

Yes, the comparison of law and grace. I like that.

Key issue Paul talks about- law versus grace. As he says, salvation was there before the law, the law was just brought in to keep man from being too irrespective of each other. Play by the rules seems to be  part of moulding good behaviour.

[Dandelion]

The law was fulfilled by Jesus, who gave and taught us the ultimate law.....
which is Love!

:HeartThrob:

Whow! The story of salvation........I am in awe!

D.