New Wine into New Wineskins

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

New Wine into New Wineskins

Date: Nov. 23, 2016

Passage

Luke 5:33-39 (ESV)

33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:38

But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

First, the bridegroom and his friends (33-35). The Pharisees could not understand why Jesus' disciples were not very spiritual since they didn't fast regularly like them. Jesus answered them by telling them a parable. The friends of the bridegroom don't fast while they have the bridegroom with them. They eat and drink to celebrate their bachelor days with him. Later when he is gone, they will fast. Jesus is the bridegroom; the disciples are the friends. Now was the time to celebrate their Savior while he was with them.

Second, two parables (36-39). Jesus told two parables to show the Christian life vs. Jewish traditions. One cannot become a Christian by adding a few of Jesus' teachings like a garment to patch up his old life. Radical repentance is the only way. Likewise, one cannot continue to live according to traditional ways that are comfortable. New wine is poured into new wineskins. The gospel is explosive and dynamic like new wine. It demands life change. The disciples of Jesus were like new wineskins, willing to learn and grow in Jesus. But the Pharisees were unable to change like old wineskins. Disciples must embrace the gospel way of life that transforms one's whole life.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus our Bridegroom. Help me to be like a new wineskin ready for change.

One Word: New wine into new wineskins

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references