We hear so much today of “The anointing breaks the yoke.” This has become one of many Pentecostal mantras. This extra anointing is presented to be greater than the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is able to break ALL the bondages, everything that hinders ones success as a Christian. Certain ministers have made it their trademark. It is something that people need to have to be set free from financial debt, sin, sickness, oppression, anything contrary to God. So if someone does have a sin they are struggling with, or has not received the blessings of prosperity or healing, the implication is that they are not anointed yet. This teaching is no different than the divisive issue that tongues has been from some Pentecostals. If you don’t speak in tongues you’re not baptized in the Holy Spirit, and in some cases you are not even born again.

For what its worth I have taken time to write this, hopefully bringing into perspective what is and is not being said about this. We need to see how the Bible uses the words “yoke” and “anointing” before we accept this teaching that is being presented to us today.

Stephen says in Acts 7:5-7 “And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. “But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 'And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.” Here the Lord allowed and even ordained for Israel to be in slavery after Joseph became the ruler in Egypt.

God’s conditions to Israel after they were free from Egypt were if they disobeyed him they would be punished and brought into bondage. “Therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.” The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, “a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young.” Because Israel would not serve God, He judged them and they became slaves to men. God brought them into having the yoke of slavery on them again. They would then be obligated to serve their enemies in hunger, and thirst, and nakedness, wearing an iron yoke”(Deut. 28:48-51)

Lev.26:13 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.” In most instances the yoke was used as a figurative description of severe oppression.

In Leviticus 26 it is used in a metaphorical sense that signifies Israel’s freedom from Egyptian slavery and following God. The “yoke” and “bands” refer to the slavery in Egypt that Yahweh freed Israel from. He took them out from bondage and set them free so they could serve him.

The first thing to be done in order that their fasting would be acceptable to the Lord is to let the oppressed go free. The idea is, that they were to unbind their fellowmen, they were to break the bonds of slavery they had on others, not themselves. They had accused God of not responding to their fasts, God addresses their self -indulgence by their abuse of employees and even fighting. God gave Israel conditional requirements to be set free or he would not respond to them. He was working through a conditional covenant, do this and you will be blessed, disobey and you will not be blessed.

V.9-11 “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

Here is what God said through the prophet Jeremiah (2:20 NIV) “Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, 'I will not serve you!' Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.”

Sometimes to say the anointing breaks the yoke is not a good thing, it means the very opposite of what many are saying. Here Israel broke their yoke with the Lord. V.21-22 “Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine? For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before Me,” says the Lord GOD.”

When Israel really mourned over their wickedness God would supply the good things He had promised before, the blessings he had in mind for them. When Israel served other gods and disobeyed the true God they were put in bondage. All through the wilderness they disobeyed and so God allowed Israel to have a yoke of captivity put on her. We find God stating that He is going to punish Israel in the future for their disobedience. So who put the yoke on her and judged her? The Lord did! So this verse in no way can be used for what some are saying today.

Jer. 5:1-6 “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her. Though they say, 'As the LORD lives,' surely they swear falsely. “O LORD, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; you have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.”

Jeremiah pleads with the Lord about the truth and Israel being unresponsive, refusing to receive correction. They will not turn back. God says, “Surely these are poor. They are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the judgment of their God. I will go to the great men and speak to them, for they have known the way of the LORD, the judgment of their God.” But these have altogether broken the yoke and burst the bonds. Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the deserts shall destroy them; a leopard will watch over their cities. Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many; their backslidings have increased.” Because Israel had broken their yoke (allegiance to God) they have broken the covenant and all that is left is judgment. They set themselves free and God will punish them because he wanted to be in a yoke to be chastised.

Then God spoke to Jeremiah in Jer. 27:2 “Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck.”

This was a symbolical action, to show that the several kings should be brought under the dominion of the Chaldeans. The yoke of Babylon was to be there until they are conquered by the Medo Persians. If they do not submit to this yoke of the Lord they will be destroyed. Yet the false prophets told the people not to worry it would not happen; God is not bringing you into bondage because of your disobedience, he’s going to bless you.

Jer. 27:12-15 “ I also spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live!” Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD has spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?” Therefore do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon,' for they prophesy a lie to you;” for I have not sent them,” says the LORD, “yet they prophesy a lie in My name, that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you.”

God warns them against hearing the false prophets. These prophets flattered them, having them fall asleep into a false security. The prophet spoke, “You shall not serve the king of Babylon; you need not submit voluntarily, for you shall not be compelled to submit.” They even prophesied in the name of the Lord (v. 15), because they saw that they loved to slumber: “Hearken not to the words of the prophets (v. 14), they lie. Verse 16. God calls them “your prophets”, they were not God’s prophets; He never sent them; they did not serve Him, nor seek to please Him; they were of the people, they said what the people would have them say, their aim was to please the people. The pleasing prophet, yes we have them today.

What they said was a lie. They said that God sent them; but that was false; he disowned them: I have not sent them, saith the Lord. God told them to serve the king of Babylon and live (v.17). But instead they wanted to listen to their prophets, and because they have not submitted to God or his true prophets they will now have to submit to God through a cruel nation or be destroyed. It was a YOKE that God was going to put on them: using an enemy to get their undivided attention.

Take the time to read this carefully. Jer. 28:1-17 “And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,” Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.' Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.' And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ “Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! The LORD do so; the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD'S house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.” Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:” The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms-- of war and disaster and pestilence.” As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent.” Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it. And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'“ And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,” Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron.” 'For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also.” ‘“Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.” Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.’” So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Jeremiah was first willing to have the prediction come true, as he had no word from the Lord. So he states time will tell whether Hananiah was sent by God or not, if his prediction comes to pass. It is later Jeremiah receives an answer from the Lord for Hananiah. V.16. Jeremiah made a counter sign when it was fulfilled it discredited Hananiah as a prophet (v. 17).

Nothing has changed, as Israel goes so goes the church. 2 Pet .2:18-20 “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through licentousness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are servants of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.”

Look at those who use the phrase the anointing breaks the yoke. Who prophesy great things for everyone. They are the prosperity teachers, those who promise a successful life and blessing for all who listen to them and contribute to their ministry. They promise financial freedom at the expense of people in debt. They often promise instantaneous freedom from trials where God wants his people to go through the trial of suffering so they can learn lessons and be used if him. The people come to depend on them as they receive the anointing that will do all what they promise.

The anointing was for consecration; it meant Separation and it had everything to do with serving the Lord. The first mention of oil being poured on something was used on the stone by Jacob in Gen. 28:18; he called it the house of God. In Gen. 35:14 he again poured oil with a drink offering on the stone, in typology this speaks of Christ. The anointing with oil was a symbol of endowment with the Spirit of God. In the Old Testament the custom of the Jews to anoint with oil was to set apart Kings and Priests 1 Sam. 10:1,6; 16:13. It was for serving in the office to which a person was consecrated to (Lev. 8). It was a physical symbol consecrating them to service, showing they were appointed by God. In the Bible we find anointed places and objects (Exodus 29:36 anointed altar. Ex 30:26 anointed tabernacle and ark. All these were set apart for use in religious service, and for nothing else.) These are all types of ministry and service. In the New Testament it is people, living temples that God has the anointing dwell in and on.

In the Old Testament two elements that were present in worship were blood and oil. The blood was for cleansing and the oil was used for anointing. All these like the other elements used, are types and symbols of Christ. The tabernacle, the feasts are all typology of Christ.

Exodus 30: 31-33 “And thou shall speak unto the children of Israel, saying, this shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. Whosoever compounds any like it, or whosoever putts any of it upon a stranger, shall be cut off from his people.”

Israel was prohibited from making this oil for use in anything else but what it was intended for, it was not be as a common ointment, the punishment for doing this was excommunication. Nor were they to put it on the flesh of someone they did not know, because it was sacred and separate for those in service and ministry. They were not to take the oil of one and put it on another, it was “holy unto you.”

Oil was also used as a medication for the sick, and liniment for bodily pain (Isa.1:6). It was still used as a symbol for miraculous healing by the 12 sent out from Jesus (Mark 6:13). James uses oil in chpt.5 with the Old Testament model except they prayed in the name of the Lord. It was used for physical cleansing and the references to anointing as part of ordinary washing are numerous, in the Old Testament and New Testament. Ruth 3:3 as an expressive of joy. Ps. 23:5; Heb. 1:9; the disuse of oil could indicate grief (2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 92:10; Dan. 10:3).

The figurative use of this word anoint (chrio) is in reference to the Holy Spirit upon the individual (Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38). Only God anoints with the Holy Spirit (Heb 1:9; 2 Co. 1:21) because it is who God appoints and qualifies someone for a special function or calling.

When Priests, kings, and prophets were anointed the Oil was poured on the head of the person being anointed (Ex. 29:7). Kings were consecrated through the ceremony of anointing this was performed by a prophet. The Old Testament also records two instances of the anointing of a prophet, Samuel was sent to anoint Saul (1 Sam 15:1), Elijah was to anoint Jehu 1 Kings 19:16.

John uses the word anointing 3 times in Jn.2:20, and 27. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the believer’s aid, our helper to lead us in the knowledge of the truth. As the Spirit helps us to understand the truth of Jesus’ teachings we can apply it by His power who resides in us. So when someone understands His word they can apply it, walk in it and reap the benefits. This anointing that was once for kings, priests, and prophets in the Old Testament, is now for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. What was on the outside as symbol (with oil); is now on the inside as a reality of the New Covenant. In Mark 14:8 and Luke 23:56 we see the practice of anointing the bodies of the dead. In New Testament theology those who have died with Christ are anointed, they are those who have crucified the flesh can live unto God in his power. Those who do not continually die to the flesh are unable to use the power, though its available to them like anyone else. They then do not have the victories over the world, the flesh and the Devil like they should.

The anointing was also used figuratively, as Christ offered the church at Laodicea, “Anointing the eyes with eye salve”, which expressed an impartation of spiritual perception to those who needed to understand their condition (Rev. 3:18). Christ offered this to those who thought they needed of nothing, they had the blessing. When the fact was they were blind and naked.

So what of today’s teaching “The anointing destroys the yoke. The anointing is the burden-removing yoke-destroying power of God.” Referencing Isa.10:27. After looking at how the yoke and anointing is used, is what we are hearing today correct? They are biblical word but are they in the biblical context?

Isa. 10:27 “It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder and the yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing OIL.”

“ that the yoke, like the burden, will be taken away from Israel; but chubbal, that the yoke itself will snap, from the pressure of his fat strong neck against it… as a beast of draught. And this second figure is divided again into two fields. For yâsuur merely affirms that the yoke, like the burden, will be taken away from Israel; but chubbal, that the yoke itself will snap, from the pressure of his fat strong neck against it. (from Keil & Delitzsch)

So many times I have heard Isa.10:27 interpreted as destroy or annihilate the yoke as if it never existed. “The anointing destroys the yoke.” But this is not the meaning. Actually the verse says: the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing oil. The Hebrew word is shemmin, which is a liquid. It is not the word Machiach, for Messiah, or Christ. In the correct context, this passage refers to Israel in their bondage to the Assyrians. One needs to read the verse before to understand. It is the promise to the nation seen in verse 24. The Lord says to His people in Zion, Do not be afraid of the Assyrian who is going to lift up their rod and staff against you like the Egyptians. It is the promise of freedom for the nation Israel’s physical captivity, not a promise to release individuals from sin or poverty. God is going to break the yoke because of His anointing on his people. This is the general anointing relating to the purpose of God. V:26 “And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.” Isaiah means to say, that the destruction of the Assyrian would be a signal and total. “after the manner of Egypt”, which clearly indicates a nation released from slavery, not an individual.V.27 says” his burden” and “his yoke” shall be taken away, whose? The Assyrians. The anointing was upon the elect nation, its prophets, priests, kings, and its holy place. As seen in Scripture, many were anointed in the pit and in the pulpit, such as Jeremiah. Israel was just as anointed in bondage as when God delivered them. Paul was just as anointed in jail as he was in his travels starting churches. You are just as anointed in your trial as you are when all is well.

To use this verse for the teaching of the anointing breaks the yoke is quite a stretch. Not surprising as most of the grandiose promises are from a few words lifted out of their context.

Yoke is only mentioned 6 times in the New Testament, twice positive twice negative in reference to the law of the Pharisees and twice having nothing to do with either. There is no teaching referring to an anointing that breaks a yoke in the New Testament, nothing. It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses and God’s Spirit indwells the believers to give them power to not walk in bondage. This phrase was used specifically for Israel in their captivity. There is no experiential anointing taught, that would immediately break ones bondage. Anointing is mentioned four time and 3 are in 1 Jn.2 about our having this anointing already, once in Jms.5. Anoint is used 5 times and it is used twice for Jesus’ burial (Mk.14:6,16:1; the women anointing Jesus’ feet Lk.7:46, a rebuke on fasting Mk.6:17, and re.3 for the spiritually blind.)

This does not mean the Holy Spirit cannot deliver, He still does, but not in the “anointing package” that is being offered today by the prosperity teachers. If one looks at how yoke is used we find that it was not always good to break the yoke, for God puts a yoke on people for judgment. To try to release one from it was rebellion as in Jeremiahs time. But Jesus also asks us to take up a yoke. Matt 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you 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 yoke of the LAW, `was the necessity of obeying all the rites, ceremonies, commands of the Mosaic covenant. It was a hard yoke, but the Pharisees laws were even harder. When Jesus came he took the yoke of the Pharisees off the people (which was their made up laws) but replaced it with another, from Him. He asked the people to “take my yoke upon you.” The people were already weary and overloaded, they needed to take a new yoke upon themselves, in order to find rest! They removed the Pharisee’s yoke by trading it for one with the messiah. The similarity is found in Ps. 55:22. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee; i.e. trust thy soul and concerns to him, and he will carry both thyself and thy load.”

Jesus asks us to be yoked with Him, He has a yoke for us to walk in and asks to “Take MY yoke.” This is a Jewish metaphor for discipline and discipleship, for instruction. Christ alone is our Teacher who instruct us on God and brings us the rest of soul, his burden is light. It is a rest involving removal of sin's guilt and the assured possession of eternal life. The obligations involved in the Gospel are blessed ones, and strength to bear them is supplied with the yoke. What Jesus requires are easily done they do not oppress. They are not burdensome, like all other systems of religion as the Pharisees taught. So the Christian always finds them. In coming to him there is “a peace which passeth all understanding;” in believing in him, “joy;” in following him.

The true biblical anointing yokes us to Christ, if the “anointing breaks the yoke”, the question one needs to ask is when this yoke is broken what happens to the true anointing we have already received? Again, they are making it a separate experience after one is saved. Scripture says we were redeemed, bought out of the slave market of sin when we believed in the gospel. It is then that we have the yoke of bondage broken; we just need to walk in the Spirit to enjoy it.

Acts 15:10-12 After the gentiles have their hearts purified by faith. Peter says v.10 “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” He is affirming salvation by faith and not to go into the laws which was a yoke of burden even to their forefathers.

Gal 5:1-2 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. Here Paul explains that Christ has already set us free, but because of accepting teachings from the law the Galatians were brought back into bondage.” What are these laws? They would be conditions that if you do this, God will do that.

Is the anointing to break the yoke that the prosperity teachers promise --bondage in disguise? For one to get this anointing they must come to the preacher to receive it (and often give a good sum of money). What does the Bible have to say about this?

The anointing being transferred is a ruse to convince people who babes in the Word or  unable to read Scripture correctly. It is to convince you to come to them for what you need: that can only come from God. There is no need to get a fresh anointing; the anointing does not go stale. It’s not like the manna that fell in the wilderness that needed to be gathered anew each day, and what was not used from the day before becomes moldy.

John uses the word anointing 3 times in Jn.2:20, through 27. The gift of the Holy Spirit (who by the way is God) is to be a skilled aid for the believer to be lead in the knowledge of the truth, and give us power to live it. As the Spirit helps us to understand the truth of Jesus' teachings. So in this sense when someone understands God’s word they can apply it, walk in it and reap the benefits.

This anointing that was God himself, was once reserved only for kings, priests, and prophets of Israel in the Old Testament. It is now for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not for an exclusive group of leaders. What was on the outside as a physical symbol is now a reality on the inside because of the New covenant. This anointing is our seal (Eph. 1), being “in Christ” makes us all anointed. There are not some anointed and others not. The Bible says God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (in other words those who want to do His will and be in service to Him He will continually fill). He did not say go to this preacher or that one to receive it. Biblically we find Paul was anointed in prison just as he was when he was free. Jesus was just as anointed suffering on the cross as when he walked in His ministry.

The anointing that breaks the yoke is an unbiblical concept. If it it is used in an unbiblical way can it do what they promise? What actually makes us free in Christ. here are some Scriptures to consider. 

John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Not the anointing in and of itself but God’s Word when we live by it. This is directly linked to Jesus saying, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Heb 2:14-15 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” We receive the “anointing” when we are born again, we are then told we are new creatures. We may not always act like this but we now have the ability to walk in freedom.

2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

What is happening today is people are looking to the Spirit to do something miraculous that the Scripture states we already have. What really breaks the yoke or any kind of bondage or habit of sin in our lives is to simply obey and walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh and one will find freedom and have a non-guilty conscience. This is something you need to do on your own you can’t receive it from someone else.

Rom 6:17-18 “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

Col 1:13-14 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Notice these are past tense and many other scriptures describe this as continuing in being in the present tense.