Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins.
If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17b) The annual theme of our church is “Renovaré: I am doing a new thing.” Since the pastoral staff have set the theme at the annual pastoral retreat last October, I have been thinking about the parable of “New Wine and New Wineskin” from the New Testament. This parable is recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and I personally like Matthew’s the most, because Matthew added the last sentence of “No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:17b) In Jesus’s time, wine was kept in wineskin made of sheepskin. The new sheepskin has enough stretch so that when fresh grape juice produces gas during fermentation, it holds the new wine well. On the contrary, if an old sheepskin that lacks elasticity was used, it would burst during the process of fermentation without doubt. In order to protect both the wine and the wineskin (the Greek original meaning of “preservation” is also “protection”), the wine needs to be poured into a new wineskin. Jesus used this parable in response to inquiries from John the Baptist’s disciples and Pharisees about fasting, thus extending Jesus’ attitude towards so-called “dogmatic rules” and “religious traditions.” The appearance of Jesus was a new thing for the Jews of the time. They were amazed by His words and deeds, His teachings, and His miracles. The meaning of fasting was to humble oneself, let go of the needs of the flesh, and focus on God; however, the Pharisees regarded fasting as “merit” and made it obvious in front of people (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus harshly rebuked the Pharisees for their actions because they based their faith on “keeping the law,” forgetting that the most import essence of the law was to “love God and love men.” Jesus was the “new wine,” and apparently the Pharisees were keeping Jesus in “old wineskin.” They cling to past traditions, thinking, experiences, methods, systems, patterns, as well as the glorious achievements and history. They also cling to their self-righteous identification and knowledge of the Messiah. What a pity that they cannot be the vessels for receiving the new wine. What about us? When God wants to do new things in our lives, families, work, church, and ministry, are we ready to be the new wineskin to hold the new wine? Are we resilient and adaptable? Are we willing to let go of our insistence and let God adjust us? Are we willing to sept out of our comfort zone and embraces the new changes with faith and hope? May we all be the new wineskin and let the new wine fill!! Comments are closed.
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