THE UNEQUAL YOKE
2 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 14 to chapter 7, verse 1
This portion forms a parenthesis, not continuing the previous theme. The "yoke" refers to the piece of wood (or metal) that joins two oxen pulling together. Here it means any company or union of believers with unbelievers, where there is no freedom of action with respect to biblical obedience, such as commercial companies, religious sects, political parties, marriages of believers with unbelievers, social clubs ... Any "yoke" of such "unequal" sort is forbidden to Christians. In this section there are seven arguments in this regard:
- Justice does not harmonize with iniquity;
- Light does not harmonize with darkness;
- Christ does not harmonize with Satan;
- A Christian does not harmonize with an unbeliever;
- The Church, "sanctuary of God," does not harmonize with idols;
- Believers are the temple of God - not Freemasonry;
- The commandments and promises of God (for Israel and the Church of God) call for separation and holiness.
Because of these promises (with commandments), believers should keep themselves separate from all that is sin - and the voluntary union with worldly associations can impede our spiritual progress as children fearing God (7:1). See 1 John 3:3.
Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE."
17 Therefore "COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU."
18 "I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY."
2 Corinthians, verse 14 to 18
2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians chapter 7, ver 1