BE YE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER

When it comes to the question of separation, Paul is very emphatic in teaching the Corinthian believers that to be receptive to the truth of God they needed to be separated from all that was contrary to His word. But separation is not isolation, 1 Cor. 5. 9-10; John 17. 11,15,18. The believer, in this world but not of it, is not commanded to retreat into a monastery; rather, he is urged to live a holy life in harmony with the word of God. In emphasising the message Paul uses the illustration of the yoke, a device used to ensure that the oxen worked together in harmony. The Israelite was not to yoke different animals, for the ox and ass were different in nature, the one clean, the other unclean, and different in walk and in strength, Deut. 22. 9-11. He highlights the differences between believer and unbeliever:

Righteousness and lawlessness - this indicates a difference in position and practice. The believer is justified by faith on the grounds of the finished work of Calvary, Rom. 5. 1. The unbeliever is still in his sins. The believer pursues personal righteousness in daily conduct, 2 Tim. 2. 22. The unbeliever has no commitment to this at all, Rom. 1. 29-30.

Light and darkness - suggests a difference in understanding, for the believer is enlightened through Christ, Matt. 4. 16; Eph. 5. 8; 2 Cor. 4. 6, while the unbeliever is blinded.

Christ and Belial - summarises the essential difference in leadership, for while the Christian bows to the authority of Christ, the unsaved are, consciously or otherwise, under the dominion of Satan, Eph. 2. 2.

Believer and unbeliever - indicates a difference in faith, for, although all believe something, only those illuminated by the Spirit of God have placed their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and submitted to the teachings of His word, Rom. 1. 5; 16. 26; cf. 2Thess. 1. 8-9.

Temple of God and idols - highlights the difference in worship.

Paul doesn’t give specific examples of the unequal yoke here but elsewhere we can note: marriage, 1 Cor. 7. 39, business, Matt. 6. 24, church, Acts 2. 42 and social contact, Jas. 4. 4.