Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

New Wine

Date: Apr. 24, 2021

Passage

Matthew 9:14-17

A Question About Fasting

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

Key Verse: Matthew 9:17b

17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

1. A joyful feast (14-15)

Jesus and his disciples looked like a very odd bunch compared to normal religious standards and practices. Jesus rarely played it safe for general acceptance. We cannot know Jesus from afar. Jesus was often questioned but could always answer with wisdom. For those who knew and were with Jesus, it was a time of joy and celebration feasts. But there would come times of fasting as well.

2. New wine (16-17)

Jesus' ministry and teaching are like new wine. They are dynamic and transformative. Even today, Jesus' radical grace and ministry challenges our fixed ideas and closed minds. The gospel requires us to be born again and made new, always becoming and embracing change by God's grace. God's kingdom is always advancing in new wineskin hearts.

Prayer: Lord, change is not easy, but by your grace, you can renew my mind day by day in your wisdom and kingdom vision.

One Word: Know Jesus, be ready to change

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Today's Question

See answer and references