Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 11:29

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." — Matthew 11:29 (ASV)

Take my yoke. This is a figure taken from the use of oxen, and therefore signifies labouring for someone, or in the service of anyone. The yoke is used in the Bible as an emblem:

1. Of bondage or slavery (Leviticus 26:13).
2. Of afflictions or crosses (Lamentations 3:27).
3. Of the punishment of sin (Lamentations 1:14).
4. Of the commandments of God, as in this place.
5. Of legal ceremonies (Acts 15:10; Galatians 5:1).

It refers here to the religion of the Redeemer, meaning that they should embrace His system of religion and obey Him.

All virtue and all religion imply restraint—the restraint of our bad passions and inclinations—and subjection to laws. The Savior here means to say that the restraints and laws of His religion were mild, gentle, and easy.

Let anyone compare them with the burdensome and expensive ceremonies of the Jews (Acts 15:10), or with the religious rites of the heathen everywhere, or with the requirements of the papal system, and he will see how true it is that His yoke is easy.

And let His laws and requirements be compared with the laws which sin imposes on its devotees—the laws of fashion, honour, and sensuality—and he will feel that religion is "freedom" (John 8:36).

"He is a freeman whom the truth makes free, and all others are slaves."

It is easier to be a Christian than a sinner; and of all the yokes ever imposed on men, that of the Redeemer is the lightest.

For I am meek, and so forth. See the notes on Matthew 5:5.

This was eminently Christ's personal character, but this is not its meaning here. He is giving a reason why they should embrace His religion: namely, that He was not harsh, overbearing, and oppressive, like the Pharisees, but was meek, mild, and gentle in His government.

His laws were reasonable and tender, and it would be easy to obey Him.