Peter called the law a yoke because it was a burden that neither Israel's fathers nor he himself could bear.
In Acts 15:10, Peter asks why anyone would tempt God by putting that yoke on Gentile believers. Les Feldick stresses that Peter, of all people, called the law a burden and that even Israel could not handle it.
Acts 15:10 — Peter explicitly uses the word 'yoke' and says neither the fathers nor he could bear it.
In Acts 15, Peter rises at the Jerusalem council and speaks about how God had chosen him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He reminds the council that God bore witness to the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit and put no difference between Jews and Gentiles, purifying their hearts by faith. He then asks, "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" The yoke is identified with the law that was being demanded of Gentile believers. Paul uses the same language in Galatians 5:1, urging believers to stand fast in the liberty Christ gave and not be entangled again with the "yoke of bondage."
Les Feldick teaches that when Peter spoke of the yoke in Acts 15:10, he was speaking of the law. Les emphasizes that Peter, of all people, stressed that the law was a burden and a yoke, and that even Israel could not handle it; 'the law was severe.' Les also connects Galatians 5:1's 'yoke of bondage' to law and legalism, explaining that legalism is anything that says you have to do something or go through a prescribed ritual. He contrasts this with grace, which says believers do nothing but believe the gospel and let God do everything. Les also notes that Peter's earlier visit to Cornelius, twelve years prior, prepared him to recognize that God made no difference between Jew and Gentile, purifying hearts by faith.
Peter was referring to the law. In Acts 15:10 he calls it a yoke that neither the fathers nor he could bear, and Les Feldick explicitly states, "Now that was the law." Les notes that Peter stressed the fact that the law was a burden, a yoke.
Peter was saying that even Israel could not handle the law. Les Feldick explains that Peter meant even Israel couldn't handle the law; it was severe. The law was a yoke of bondage that Israel couldn't bear.
Paul uses the same language as Peter, calling it a yoke of bondage. Les Feldick identifies the yoke of bondage as the law and legalism—anything that says you have to do a ritual or follow a prescribed route. Grace, by contrast, says believers do nothing but believe the gospel and let God do everything.
Twelve years before the Jerusalem council, Peter went to the house of Cornelius the Gentile, where God made choice that the Gentiles by Peter's mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Les Feldick says God reminded Peter of this, showing that God made no difference between Jew and Gentile, purifying hearts by faith.
Peter's Memory of Cornelius
Les explains that Peter was recalling his visit to Cornelius twelve years earlier, which providentially prepared him to defend the Gentile believers.
Peter Calls the Law a Yoke
Les directly identifies the yoke in Acts 15:10 as the law and says Peter stressed that it was a burden the fathers and he could not bear.
Even Israel Couldn't Bear the Law
Les explains that Peter meant even Israel couldn't handle the law; God purified Gentile hearts by faith, not by becoming proselytes of Judaism.
Yoke of Bondage and the New Covenant
Les notes that Peter and others called the law a yoke of bondage no one could bear, but points to a future covenant when God will put His law in Israel's hearts.
The Law Was Severe
Les repeats that the law was severe, a burden, and a yoke of bondage that Israel couldn't bear, and that faith's righteousness did not come through law.
Peter Was Still Under Law
Les explains that Peter was a typical Jewish believer not yet aware of the doctrines of grace, so he still practiced law; this sets up his later understanding.
Yoke of Bondage Defined
Les defines the yoke of bondage in Galatians 5:1 as law and legalism, and contrasts it with grace where believers do nothing but believe the gospel.
Law vs. Grace Consequences
Les illustrates the difference between law and grace by noting the law's death penalty for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, while believers are not under that law.
Acts 15:10: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Peter asks this at the Jerusalem council, referring to the law as a yoke that no one could bear.
Acts 15:9: And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Peter explains that God made no difference between Jews and Gentiles, cleansing hearts by faith rather than by law-keeping.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Paul uses the same yoke imagery to warn believers against returning to law and legalism.
Yes. Peter asked why anyone would put a yoke on the disciples which neither the fathers nor he were able to bear. Les Feldick explains that Peter meant even Israel couldn't handle the law; it was severe.
Les Feldick identifies the yoke as the law. The context of Acts 15 involves Gentile believers being pressured to keep the law, and Peter's statement refers to that whole yoke.
Les Feldick says the yoke of bondage is the law and legalism—anything that says you have to do a ritual or follow a prescribed route. Grace says believers do nothing but believe the gospel.
Watch the Teaching: Ishmael vs. Isaac: The Allegory of Law and Grace Explained