For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- KJV For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
- NKJV For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
- NASB For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”
- NLT For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Christ's yoke is easy and His burden light. Life under His lordship, though demanding, is sustained by His grace.
Overview
In contrast to the wearying demands of self-righteous religion, Jesus describes His yoke as 'easy' and His burden as 'light.' This is not the absence of obedience but obedience empowered by grace and motivated by love. Resting in His finished work, the disciple finds Christ's commands no longer crushing but the path of joy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Jn 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
- John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 2 Cor 12:9–10But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- Gal 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
- Mic 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- 2 Cor 4:17For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- 2 Cor 1:4–5who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
- Gal 5:18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Acts 15:10Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
- Acts 15:28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
- Prov 3:17All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 11:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.