Matthew 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Is it hard or easy? In Matthew 7:14, Jesus speaks of the way as being hard, and yet in Matthew 11:30, He encourages us by stating the yoke is easy.

It just didn’t make sense for me, and, as a paradox is wont to do, it took me outside of my usual way of thinking.

Is it hard or easy?

First off, lets take a moment to consider what a “way” is, and after we understand this, we can compare Matthew 11:30 with our understanding of His yoke.

A “way” is a road, a path, a track, a route or a course upon which one travels from point A to point B. Each and every day, we are experiencing opportunities to choose different “ways”, or paths to an end result or place. Each and every person has these opportunities.

What I have come to realize is that without an end goal clearly identified in my mind, I will always choose the easy way, the way of no difficulty, the way of no confrontation, the way of no conflict, the way of no problems. The easy way. So you see, if I have no goal, no problems! The way is easy, not hard!

Jesus, in this passage of Matthew 7, is speaking of a principled life, of the difficulty of living a life that has a goal. Not just any goal, but one that is focused on the narrow gate, the path that leads to life.

In Matthew 11:30, I believe He is now focusing His disciples (and us) on the specific goal of a believers life. Matthew 7 speaks of a general goal and the hardness of the path to get to life. It doesn’t speak of the motivation, the strength, the guidance of the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus that is with us in travelling the hard path.

We must admit that if we have come to understand the proper goal, that is to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, the path will be difficult. The path, to be blunt, will be impossible! We are weak, crippled people that have the pension to wander, to be distracted, to fall off the path.

In Matthew 11:30, Jesus is providing Himself. It is no longer a teaching of the path, but of the One who carries us along the path, and of the character of the Savior.

As we come to know Him as the gentle and lowly Servant, we recognize many of the hardships along the hard path are taken up by Him. He is good, and we desperately need to consider His invitation

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The path is hard, but the burdens of the path are lightened by our Servant Savior!

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