The Parable Of The Old Wineskins
(A Teaching On The Old And New Covenants)
Matthew 9:14-17
“Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of un-shrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”"
"Oh what a brilliant parable, the message clear and true,(A Teaching On The Old And New Covenants)
Matthew 9:14-17
“Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of un-shrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”"
Jesus made it known that He was starting something new!
It fills the heart with joy to read this story of fulfilment!
Christ’s Covenant would break the mould and bring us something different!
The cold, religious Pharisees did not reflect God’s heart,
So Jesus led the way and pulled hypocrisy apart!
Although this ancient institute had battled through all weather,
The Covenant of Christ would bring the Jew and Greek together!
A brand new institution, established by God’s Son.
A system not for “God’s elite” but made for everyone!
Christ wouldn’t just reform the old, repairing what had been,
This fresh, new Covenant would go beyond what they could dream!
He made it clear the old could not contain what He would bring;
A Covenant of mercy that would make the sinner sing!
Christ showed us how “religion” can at times, oppose His will!
His presence didn’t thwart the Law, instead it was fulfilled!
Oh praise our Great Messiah for the picture here to see,
The Church of Christ established for the likes of you and me!
New vessels now continue with His work through every nation.
Glory to the King of kings who brings our souls salvation!"
Hebrews 9:15
“For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."
Points For Reflection And Insight
The parable of the old wineskins can be found in three of the four Gospels in the New Testament. The books of Matthew, Mark and Luke all give an account of this conversation between Jesus and the disciples of John and then also with the disciples of the Pharisees which can be found in Mark chapter 2.
John’s ministry was quite strict in character and had a focus of genuine, humble repentance which can be seen from Matthew’s account in Chapter 3:1-4. John’s disciples reflected this character and showed humility in light of their own sin, hence their reference to their practice of fasting.
The Pharisees also fasted regularly, often twice a week but unlike John’s disciples, this wasn’t out of genuine humility and repentance. Instead their fasting was done out of pride and to impress themselves and others, wanting to appear spiritually superior to everyone else.
When John’s disciples ask Jesus why His disciples don’t fast like they do, Jesus’ answer addresses the fact that His presence make things different.
It wasn’t right for His disciples to imitate the hypocritical displays of the Pharisees, nor was it right for them to imitate John’s disciples in their humble fasting.
John and his disciples were living in preparation for the coming Messiah whereas Jesus’ disciples were living in the presence of the Messiah!
Jesus goes on to allude to the fact that there would come a day when they would be without Him, showing that fasting does have it’s place for the believer, but He was making the point that for His disciples who were currently with Him, it wasn’t right for that time.
The principle that Jesus is making is very clear here is that things are different now that the Messiah is here.
One thing that really stood out to me as I was reading through each chapter in the Gospels where this parable appears, is the number of incredible miracles performed by Jesus, surrounding this conversation.
What’s interesting to note is that the Messiah’s role as Healer was prophesied in Isaiah 35:5-6. The verses read,
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.
For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,
And streams in the desert.”
The miracles of Jesus were not only testimony to the fact that He was sent by God but also that He was the anticipated Messiah!
The miracles He performed were not for dramatic effect but to minister to the humble needs of humble people. He wasn’t bringing fire down from Heaven as a show of great signs and wonders, He was performing humble acts of kindness to ordinary people.
Jesus showed that He was a friend of sinners which was in stark contrast to the attitude of the Pharisees at that time.
We see Jesus addressing this attitude in Matthew 9:13, just before the parable of the old wineskins. Seeing how legalistic and cold the Pharisees were towards the needs of the people, He quoted Hosea 6:6 to them and told them to go away and learn what it means that God desires mercy and not sacrifice.
He was reminding the Pharisees of the Scriptures that they should already know and be putting into practice.
Jesus was making it very clear that these so-called “religious leaders” didn’t know God or understand His heart for people at all, highlighting the reason why He would be creating a new covenant as opposed to simply repairing the old.
The illustration of the old wineskins left people in no doubt that the present institution of Judaism could not and would not contain His new wine. Jesus came to introduce something completely new that would bring both Jew and Gentile together in a new body, a body known as The Church.
Have you ever felt oppressed by a religious establishment that misrepresents the heart of God? Have you allowed this misrepresentation to create a wrong perspective of Jesus in your mind? Looking at this parable and seeing how Jesus addressed these issues, how does it make you feel to know that God loves people and has a heart of mercy towards repentant sinners?
It’s clear from this passage of Scripture that Jesus’ words and deeds revolutionised the times and teachings of the day. Have you ever thought of Jesus as a revolutionary?
Thanks to Jesus, the door has been opened for all people to come into a relationship with God. May our hearts be filled with His Spirit today and may we be as vessels, full of the new wine, ready to share the Gospel with the lost and hurting world around us.
