For My yoke is comfortable, 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.
- BSB For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
- NKJV For My yoke is easy 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 loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
- John 16:33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
- Phil 4:13I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
- 2 Cor 12:9–10He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- Gal 5:1Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
- Mic 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- 2 Cor 4:17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
- 2 Cor 1:4–5who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
- Gal 5:18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Acts 15:10Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
- Acts 15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
- Prov 3:17Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
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.