These words, as recorded by St. Matthew - the Evangelist of the Jews - must have sunk the deeper into the hearts of Christ's Jewish hearers, that they came in their own old familiar form of speech, yet with such contrast of spirit. One of the most common figurative expressions of the time was that of the yoke' ({hebrew}), to indicate submission to an occupation or obligation. Thus, we read not only of the yoke of the Law,' but of that to earthly governments,' and ordinary civil obligations.' [3922] Very instructive for the understanding of the figure is this paraphrase of Cant. i. 10: How beautiful is their neck for bearing the yoke of Thy statues; and it shall be upon them like the yoke on the neck of the ox that plougheth in the field, and provideth food for himself and his master.' [3923] [3924] This yoke might be cast off,' as the ten tribes had cast off that of God,' and thus brought on themselves their exile. [3925] On the other hand, to take upon oneself the yoke' ({hebrew}) meant to submit to it of free choice and deliberate resolution. Thus, in the allegorism of the Midrash, in the inscription, Prov. xxx. 1, concerning Agur, the son of Jakeh' - which is viewed as a symbolical designation of Solomon - the word Massa,' rendered in the Authorized Version prophecy,' is thus explained in reference to Solomon: Massa, because he lifted on himself (Nasa) the yoke of the Holy One, blessed be He.' [3926] And of Isaiah it was said, that he had been privileged to prophesy of so many blessings, because he had taken upon himself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven with joy.' [3927] [3928] And, as previously stated, it was set forth that in the Shema,' or Creed - which was repeated every day - the words, Deut. vi. 4-9, were recited before those in xi. 13-21, so as first generally to take upon ourselves the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, and only afterwards that of the commandments.' [3929] [3930] And this yoke all Israel had taken upon itself, thereby gaining the merit ever afterwards imputed to them.
Yet, practically, the yoke of the Kingdom' was none other than that of the Law' and of the commandments;' one of laborious performances and of impossible self-righteousness. It was unbearable,' not the easy' and lightsome yoke of Christ, in which the Kingdom of God was of faith, not of works. And, as if themselves to bear witness to this, we have this saying of theirs, terribly significant in this connection: Not like those formerly (the first), who made for themselves the yoke of the Law easy and light; but like those after them (those afterwards), who made the yoke of the Law upon them heavy!' [3931] And, indeed, this voluntary making of the yoke as heavy as possible, the taking on themselves as many obligations as possible, was the ideal of Rabbinic piety. There was, therefore, peculiar teaching and comfort in the words of Christ; and well might He add, as St. Luke reports, [3932] that blessed were they who saw and heard these things. [3933] For, that Messianic Kingdom, which had been the object of rapt vision and earnest longing to prophets and kings of old had now become reality. [3934]
Abounding as this history is in contrasts, it seems not unlikely, that the scene next recorded by St. Luke [3935] stands in its right place. Such an inquiry on the part of a certain lawyer,' as to what he should do to inherit eternal life, together with Christ's Parabolic teaching about the Good Samaritan, is evidently congruous to the previous teaching of Christ about entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. Possibly, this Scribe may have understood the words of the Master about these things being hid from the wise, and the need of taking up the yoke of the Kingdom, as enforcing the views of those Rabbinic teachers, who laid more stress upon good works than upon study. Perhaps himself belonged to that minority, although his question was intended to tempt - to try whether the Master would stand the Rabbinic test, alike morally and dialectically. And, without at present entering on the Parable which gives Christ's final answer (and which will best be considered together with the others belonging to that period), it will be seen how peculiarly suited it was to the state of mind just supposed.