Man's Law and God's Law

In all the verses for the day, Jesus contrasts man’s law with God’s law. Man’s law was formed because of the Ten Commandments given to the Jewish people to guide them through the moral traps of life. However, well-intentioned religious leaders added to the Ten Commandments until it became its own trap. The rules and regulations became a huge burden.

Jesus responds to this situation with an invitation: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls". In those verses, Jesus is saying that people might be learned in religious rules, customs, and teachings, but our main source for understanding God’s ways does not come from that knowledge. It comes from receiving Jesus’ invitation and his message. Jesus does not propose that we go yoke-less, but that we accept his yoke, which is manageable as opposed to the harsh yoke of religious rules and regulations.