Is following Jesus easy or hard? Conflict between passages

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In Matt 11:28-30 Jesus calls the labored and burdened to himself, because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He will give them rest.

But in Matt 16:24-25, Jesus says that whoever wishes to follow him must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and lose his life for Jesus’ sake. Carrying a cross and denying one’s self doesn’t sound like an easy yoke or a light burden. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, after all.

How are these seemingly conflicting passages to be interpreted?
 
It is relative to how much you love Him, love makes sacrifice easy, as does God’s grace.
 
Luke_K said:
In Matt 11:28-30 Jesus calls the labored and burdened to himself, because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He will give them rest.

But in Matt 16:24-25, Jesus says that whoever wishes to follow him must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and lose his life for Jesus’ sake. Carrying a cross and denying one’s self doesn’t sound like an easy yoke or a light burden. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, after all.

How are these seemingly conflicting passages to be interpreted?
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What is a yoke? A yoke was a large wooden mechanism that held two oxen together so that they would be able to pull a load one of them alone could not handle - it is an object that helps the two to work as a unit. It makes the burden on both lighter. It also means that the two oxen cannot go their separate ways, but are, literally, bound to each other in the carrying of the yoke. Christ here, I think, is saying that with Him the burden is easy, with Him the burden is light - but for it to be light, you MUST give yourself to Jesus, to work with Him and be bound to Him.

I hope this helps.
 
“Taking up your cross” is letting go of worldly things and accepting the hardships of this life; offering up those hardships for your sins. It can be hard for some people to let go of worldly things (like sin) and accept their hardships as a penance for their sins.

“Who ever seeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for the Lords sake will find it” - if you reject God for fear of being persecuted and killed, you will lose your eternal life with Him. If you are killed because of your belief in Christ then you will have eternal life. Losing your life due to persecution is not a requirement for salvation. Jesus is just guaranteeing salvation for those who endure it.

“…My burden is light and my yoke is easy” – A yoke is a wooden device used to hook two animals together so that they can work together more easily. It seems He is saying that working towards your salvation without Christ is more difficult than working towards salvation without Him (that is why he calls them weary, because they have worked so hard without Him). He is not necessarily saying that the work is easy, only that working with Him is easier because He can give you the strength you need. That is why the burden is light and the yoke is easy, because with Him you’ll have the strength to overcome sin.
 
Luke_K said:
In Matt 11:28-30 Jesus calls the labored and burdened to himself, because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He will give them rest.

But in Matt 16:24-25, Jesus says that whoever wishes to follow him must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and lose his life for Jesus’ sake. Carrying a cross and denying one’s self doesn’t sound like an easy yoke or a light burden. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, after all.

How are these seemingly conflicting passages to be interpreted?
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Hi, Luke!

It does seem as though the Bible has many contradicting Teachings/passages… just look at the story of Creation… Yahweh God Created Light on the very first day… yet the Sun and the Moon and the rest of the stars in the Universe were not Created till the 4th day… could the issue here be the Big Bang theory? …but one where the creatures of Light (the angels) were Created as the Universe was given its Form and Placed in Motion (a body in motion…)?

The passages you’ve cited do not contradict themselves… rather, it is our perspective that is clouded and finds a contradiction… we are called by Jesus to take on His Yoke and Burden while depositing, on Him, our own… remember His visit with Martha and Mary? …which one of the sisters released her burden and yoke? If we do everything prayerfully, in Jesus, He will provide the strength, the will, the ability… it is in Him that our Life takes on a higher definition, a deeper meaning, a fully developed accomplishment: the simplest and the hardest tasks are raised to a spiritual level where the will depends not on human abilities but on serving God (if you are forced to travel one mile, make it two); conversely, we cannot achieve this level of existence if we do not first take our cross (burndens and yokes) and all of our beign and surrender them to Christ (if you are maligned for following Christ it is your gain)–as St. Paul said, when we are weak it is when we are stronger because Christ Himself takes over… we are finite beigns that can and do succumb to various pressures (just check out the news on a daily basis); yet, when we offer ourselves to Christ we, as frail and incompetent that we may be, can move mountains (check out the lives of the Saints… the every-day Believer that takes Christ on His Word: Mother Theresa of Calcuta, Mother Angelica, EWTN, Padre Pio, St. Francis of Assissi… even the very old or frail in the local parishes… those that offer to Jesus every single burden, every single pain, every single need, every single joy, every single laughter, every single hope…); these two passages combined can be understood through St. Paul’s: “There is nothing I cannot master with the help with the One who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Maran atha!

Angel
 
I think from a worldly point of view, what Jesus is asking sounds like we have to give up everything and essentially never enjoy life or anything like that.

But I think that it is about letting go to our attachment and dependence on material things and our own intellectual devices we use to accomplish whatever we do. It isn’t that these things are bad, and I believe God gives us talents and gifts and expect us to use them. But when we depend on them, we tend to think we can or at least should be able to control our environment.

I think from a spiritual point of view, once we surrender our attachments to these things we actually become liberated from them – and from their limitations.

Clearly Jesus doesn’t want us to be miserable, for He came so that we may have life in abundance. But if you expect nothing from the worldly aspects of life other than the willingness to take whatever comes, you begin to live “in the moment” and enjoy life all the better.

Ten years ago, I suddenly lost my 20 year engineering career to a disability. I’m still struggling with many worldly concerns – not the least of which is the financial difficulties in raising a family with six kids, on disability pay. But the strange thing is, I am at a greater level of peace. I’ve had to give up on some of my worldly dreams and goals, which I used to be working toward. With the help of a great spiritual director for the first couple years and all sorts of other resources, I no longer have the uncertainty and fear about my religion that I used to have. I’ve come to understand things about myself, my family, and our society that I could never have understood any other way. Don’t get me wrong; if I were to be blessed with a large influx of money, I would be ecstatic – but even though I didn’t want my life to be this way, I think from my spiritual and emotional growth in the last 10 years I would appreciate it all the more.

And if anyone says to me, “money can’t buy happiness,” I might just say, “try me.” 😃

Alan
 
There are two different audiences in the verses cited.

In Matthew 11, Jesus is speaking to “The crowds.” Jews in general (the crowds) were under the heavy yoke of the Mosaic law. Peter speaks about the heavy yoke of the Mosaic law in Acts 15.

***Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? *(Acts 15:10)

Both Jesus and Peter acknowledge how difficult the Mosaic law was to keep. The strictest Jewish sect, the Phariesses (of which Paul was a member), taught that those who did not adhere to the “Holiness code” (see Leviticus 17 - 26) were actaully preventing the Messiah from coming. They insisted on the absolute strictest adherance to the holiness code of the mosaic law and that was the heavy yoke which Peter mentions. Jesus did away with the holiness code and replaced it with a new commandement - love one another. The new commandment has a mcuh lighter yoke than the old holiness code.

In Matthew 16, Jesus is speaking to “The disciples.” An odd thing about the Gosple of Matthew is that he never differentiates between disciples and apostles though he sometimes mentions “The twelve.” Here Jesus speaks specificaly about the conditions of discipleship and Peter is mentioned several times in the verses just prior. Recall that Jesus had just told Peter that he was the Rock and that he was to recieve the keys to the kingdom. Christ seems to be directing his comments more toward the leadership of his Church and to how they are to be servant leaders, pastors and shephards, ready to “Deny themselves” and give up everything (think priests) for the salvation of souls.

Both passages are pertinent today and in our own lives. Taking the verses in their context and looking at who the audience is helps clarify the message though.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
There are two different audiences in the verses cited.

In Matthew 11, Jesus is speaking to “The crowds.” Jews in general (the crowds) were under the heavy yoke of the Mosaic law. Peter speaks about the heavy yoke of the Mosaic law in Acts 15.

***Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? ***(Acts 15:10)

Both Jesus and Peter acknowledge how difficult the Mosaic law was to keep. The strictest Jewish sect, the Phariesses (of which Paul was a member), taught that those who did not adhere to the “Holiness code” (see Leviticus 17 - 26) were actaully preventing the Messiah from coming. They insisted on the absolute strictest adherance to the holiness code of the mosaic law and that was the heavy yoke which Peter mentions. Jesus did away with the holiness code and replaced it with a new commandement - love one another. The new commandment has a mcuh lighter yoke than the old holiness code.

In Matthew 16, Jesus is speaking to “The disciples.” An odd thing about the Gosple of Matthew is that he never differentiates between disciples and apostles though he sometimes mentions “The twelve.” Here Jesus speaks specificaly about the conditions of discipleship and Peter is mentioned several times in the verses just prior. Recall that Jesus had just told Peter that he was the Rock and that he was to recieve the keys to the kingdom. Christ seems to be directing his comments more toward the leadership of his Church and to how they are to be servant leaders, pastors and shephards, ready to “Deny themselves” and give up everything (think priests) for the salvation of souls.

Both passages are pertinent today and in our own lives. Taking the verses in their context and looking at who the audience is helps clarify the message though.

-Tim-
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Hi Tim,

I think you have a good message. Remember the story of the Rich man who had asked the question to Jesus, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” and Jesus responded to this man with three important questions because the message, and to everyone around who listened (Matthew 11:15), had everything to do with the greatest “part” of the Mosaic Law - the come follow, (Matt 22:36-40) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The last part of his message was the most important, "40 **All the Law and the Prophets **hang on these two commandments.”
 
TimothyH said:
Last thought:

That passage, I mentioned, is so great - because of the questions that Jesus asked, “17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

What one commandment did Jesus omit? and why? He saves this for the very last, "20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him,** If thou wilt be perfect**, **go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. **

It is the come follow me…A beautiful passage. Jesus, is beyond my own thoughts - so "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”.

To confirm your post, Tim, at the end of the passage or the message that Jesus convenes - was the fact that the rich man walked away because he had great wealth, and then Jesus adds “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” - however, the apostle were astonished and asked “who than can be saved?”, this remark seemed to have puzzled the apostle - but Jesus adds this thought! “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Yes, the laws were difficult to follow - amazingly hard to follow and to be perfect. However, remember these verses:

Luke 1:Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron// Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.

Mary - 37 "For nothing is impossible with God.”38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Noah - Genesis 6:8 "But “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

Abraham - Genesis 17:1 “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless."

Isaac - 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.”

Jacob -Genesis 32:28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

This passage tells us of a physical struggle that Isaac had with the angel but we know that there is spiritual struggle throughout our lives - we will struggle between good and evil, however, with Jesus, those struggles will be made light. We will always face trials and testing but with the law (and trying to walk blamelessly) Christ is saying that it is impossible for man to endure these struggles (struggles with the law and struggles with our faith/belief) on their own merit because God,as Moses explains in Deuteronomy 8 - “to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” and Deuteronomy 29:4-7, However, with God all things are possible - remembering the angel who announce the birth of Isaac, and Sarah - laughed because she didn’t understand how she could have a child, the angel replied "14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” So nothing is impossible with God, nothing. Remembering what the apostle Paul said “Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God” - Paul was, at first,against the Christians - but He became apostle for Christ through the will of God. Wasn’t it said in scripture "“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life.” (John 5:39,40).

Continuing a last thought:

Then when we read about Enoch – we know (and even from the Acts of the Apostles) that he walked faithfully with God – (Genesis 5:21-24 “23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God and as Paul the apostle states “all” of the ancestry and their faith toward God, Hebrews 11:1 “It is for their faith that our ancestors are acknowledged. – it is by faith that we understand that the ages were created by a word from God so that from the invisible the visible world came to be”. With the thought of that connation, came this verse “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that are unseen. **

Peace and blessings
Mary
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"Christ’s yoke is identical with his friendship. It is a yoke of friendship and therefore “a sweet yoke”, but as such it is also a demanding yoke, one that forms us. It is the yoke of his will, which is a will of truth and love. " --Pope Benedict XVI Homily June 29 2011
 
ZDHayden said:
What is a yoke? A yoke was a large wooden mechanism that held two oxen together so that they would be able to pull a load one of them alone could not handle - it is an object that helps the two to work as a unit. It makes the burden on both lighter. It also means that the two oxen cannot go their separate ways, but are, literally, bound to each other in the carrying of the yoke. Christ here, I think, is saying that with Him the burden is easy, with Him the burden is light - but for it to be light, you MUST give yourself to Jesus, to work with Him and be bound to Him.

I hope this helps.
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Very good. God bless:thumbsup:👍👍
 
Good afternoon, all,

All of these are good posts addressing the OP. I can only support them, as I can think of nothing to add.

God loves all of you, which includes the lurkers,
Don
 
=Luke K;8237685]In Matt 11:28-30 Jesus calls the labored and burdened to himself, because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He will give them rest.
Click to expand...
But in Matt 16:24-25, Jesus says that whoever wishes to follow him must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and lose his life for Jesus’ sake. Carrying a cross and denying one’s self doesn’t sound like an easy yoke or a light burden. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, after all.
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How are these seemingly conflicting passages to be interpreted?
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Allow me to get mt SMART ALEC remark out of the way first: Its easy to FOLLOW Jesus BUT HARD to Do what Jesus wants us to do:D

The Burden [although hard, difficult and burdensome] becomes “lite with light” 🙂 when we understand that their is a REASON for it. Both a cause and a purpose controlled by God.

When we accept what ever befalls us as GOD"S WILL, God helps us carry that cross. When we fight God, and try to control everthing ourselves, we add too the weight of the cross and have to desal with as best we can.

***Life offers ONLY TWO Choices…

God’s in charge
or
We ourselves are in charge and their is no splitting the responsibility.***

God accepts and respects BOTH options.

God Bless,
Pat
 
PJM said:
***Life offers ONLY TWO Choices…

God’s in charge
or
We ourselves are in charge and their is no splitting the responsibility.***

Pat
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To put it another way…

Love ourselves more than God
or
Love God and those around us more than ourselves

Every time I screw up, its root is self-love.

-Tim-
 
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